Birżebbuġa spearfishing forecast — wind, swell, visibility, tides & live cameras

• dusky grouper
  Epinephelus marginatus · 8–35 m · ⚠️ release
  Ċerna (dusky grouper): no licence needed, but it is highly vulnerable — please release it. Scuba and night spearfishing are banned.
• bluefin tuna
  Thunnus thynnus · 5–40 m · 📋 permit only
  Bluefin tuna: permit only (ICCAT/BCD quota). Do not take without authorisation — heavy fines.
• white seabream
  Diplodus sargus · 0–12 m ·
• gilthead seabream
  Sparus aurata · 2–20 m ·
• common dentex
  Dentex dentex · 12–40 m ·
• common dolphinfish
  Coryphaena hippurus · 0–30 m ·

• ✓No licence is required for shore or breath-hold spearfishing. Using an aqualung (scuba) and night spearfishing are both banned (EU Reg. 1967/2006 & 2019/1241).
• •Each year Transport Malta closes designated swimmer/bathing zones to spearfishing for the season (roughly summer to mid-October) — stay well clear of buoyed bathing areas and check the current notice to mariners.
• ✓Dusky grouper (ċerna) is a species of national concern — releasing it is advised. Bluefin tuna may be taken only with a special authorisation (ICCAT/BCD).

• ⛔ Fan mussel (Pinna nobilis) — strictly protected, taking/disturbing prohibited (mass die-off from a pathogen).
• ⛔ Date mussel (Lithophaga lithophaga) — harvesting strictly banned (destroys the reef).
• ⛔ Seahorses (Hippocampus), loggerhead turtle (Caretta caretta) and monk seal (Monachus monachus) — protected, taking/disturbing prohibited.

Rules change and the seasonal bathing-zone closures are set yearly by Transport Malta. Before heading out, check with the Department of Fisheries & Aquaculture (servizz.gov.mt) and the current notice to mariners; stay well clear of buoyed bathing areas.

• Sets: watch the wave trains ≥15 min before entering; Hmax ≈ 2×Hs, the wash can run 50 m past the foam line. A lull >10 min with period >12 s = a big set «overdue», do NOT enter; enter right after a full set passes and re-check at minute 30.
• Exit FIRST: find your exit AND a backup before entering. On a rocky/boulder shore a 0.5 m rise in swell can make the exit impossible — getting pinned/unable to climb out is the main killer.
• Headland rip: prominent points often have a permanent topographic rip regardless of the model — locate it, enter/exit on the windward side, never swim against it.
• Cold: wetsuit per the SST chip; the first shiver = a metabolic surge and a drop in breath-hold → get out at the first steady shiver. Cap the session at 45–60 min below 15 °C.
• Solo discipline: buoy up; tell someone the spot and exit time; conservative breath-hold (never push it in cold/murky/surfy water); visibility <3 m — don't enter.
• Afternoon wind: on many coasts the wind builds from midday — plan to be out of the water by midday; the chop builds — get out.
• UV 11:00–15:00 (UVI ≥6): sunscreen and cover up on the surface interval.
• Solo is a fundamental risk (hypoxic blackout with no buddy). Any doubt = No-go.