Spearfishing in Spain
Spain's coast is three seas in one: the cold, upwelling Atlantic of Galicia and the Cantabrian coast, the warm, clear, all-but-tideless Mediterranean, and the subtropical Atlantic of the Canaries, with blue, clear water almost year-round. Each façade dives differently — but the calm-sea window rules them all.
In Spain spearfishing is breath-hold only (no scuba) and the licence is issued by each autonomous community, not the State, though it is valid in the exterior waters of the whole coast. This guide explains the national rules (RD 347/2011) and the regional ones, how sizes change by caladero, what the tides do on each coast and where it is banned — and links to the per-city sea forecast, refreshed every day.
Open the flagship — Vigo →How to read the conditions
The deciding factors are the same across the country: swell (height and period — a low, long-period swell stirs the bottom more than a high, short one), wind and wind-sea (they ruffle the surface and drop visibility), water turbidity (it shuts a hunt down more than anything) and temperature. spearo.app folds them into a single go / marginal / no-go verdict per city, with the week ahead — but the golden rule doesn't change: a calm entry can break on the exit, always decide with a margin.
What does change from coast to coast is the tide. On the Cantabrian coast and the Northwest (Galicia) the tides are big, several metres: they move a lot of water, open and close rock access and set the best entry moment. In the Mediterranean (Catalonia, Levante, Murcia, the Balearics) the tide is minimal, only a few centimetres: it stops being a factor, and the solunar calendar and the light windows (dawn and dusk) take over. The Alborán Sea (Mediterranean Andalusia) has a small tide, a touch larger than the rest of the Mediterranean. In the Canaries the tide is moderate, with the great advantage of high visibility almost year-round. And in Galicia the summer upwelling brings up cold, rich water: it fills the sea with life, but can drop the temperature and visibility all at once.
The season, too, depends on the façade. In the north Atlantic (Galicia, the Cantabrian coast) the best time is summer, when the northwest storms ease and the water clears; in winter the sea shuts almost everything down. The Mediterranean (Catalonia, Levante, Murcia, the Balearics) gives the longest, steadiest season, with warm, clear water from late spring to autumn. The south (Andalusia) and the Canaries can be dived almost all year, always working the coast's wind-sheltered side.
Safety — especially solo
Always dive with a signalling buoy in view (it is mandatory and you must stay within 25 m of it), never hyperventilate before a dive (risk of shallow-water blackout) and stay within depths you control. Spearfishing in Spain is breath-hold only — no scuba, no compressed air — and you never carry the speargun loaded out of the water.
The golden rule of freediving is never dive alone — «one down, one watching». Solo, scout the exit from land before you get in, take long surface intervals, surface before the strong urge to breathe, leave the water with energy to spare, and tell someone your plan. This tool is a planner, not a safety guarantee — the call is yours, on the rock.
Where to dive, by region
Galicia
Cold Atlantic northwest, with big tides and sheltered rías between exposed capes. In summer the upwelling fills the water with life, though it can chill and cloud it suddenly; it's the best season, once the storms ease. Mind the Atlantic Islands National Park, where it's banned.
- Viveiro — The ría of Viveiro opens almost due north, so a NW to NE sea walks straight in.
- A Coruña — A Coruña looks north-west into the Atlantic.
- Muros — Muros sits inside a ría facing south-west, with Monte Louro guarding the mouth.
- Ribeira — Ribeira is the tip of the Barbanza between two rías.
- Sanxenxo — Sanxenxo faces south-west on the Ría de Pontevedra.
- O Grove — O Grove is a near-island between open Atlantic and the Ría de Arousa.
- Vigo — Vigo's real hunting is across the ría on Costa da Vela, facing the Cíes: rocky drops with grouper and sea bream, wide open to NW seas.
- Baiona — Baiona combines a calm inner bay with one of the hardest capes in Galicia.
Cantabrian coast
Open, cold Cantabrian coast, with the biggest tides in Spain (several metres) that dictate rock access. Exposed to the north swell: it opens mainly in the summer calms, with green, life-rich water. Rock and reef for those who know the sea.
- Gijón — Gijón faces due north onto the Cantabrian Sea, so NW and N seas set the agenda.
- Llanes — Llanes is a run of small coves on the eastern Asturian coast, all open to the north-west.
- Santander — Santander's open coast faces north-west from Cabo Mayor to Liencres.
- Castro Urdiales — Castro Urdiales opens to the north. Under the castle at Punta de Santa Ana, grouper and conger sit in cracks at 10-20 m; east toward Islares the coast…
- Getxo (Bilbao) — Getxo guards the mouth of Bilbao's estuary and looks north-west.
- Bermeo — Bermeo is a fishing town beside Cabo Matxitxako, a cape famous for sea bass and bream that catches the full NW sea.
- Lekeitio — Lekeitio hunts around Garraitz island, whose north face gives a drop-off at 10-15 m with bass and bream.
- Ondarroa — Ondarroa is a working port first, with a big fleet through the Artibai mouth, and the harbour is closed to spearfishing.
- Mutriku — Mutriku is the doorway to the flysch: slabs, gullies and coves east of town, and Idurrepe's seven coves to the west, reached only by swimming or by path.
- Deba — Deba lies inside the Deba-Zumaia biotope.
- Zarautz — Zarautz faces north, between the Getaria peninsula and the Oria mouth.
- Orio — Orio lives off its estuary, and the bar and channel are shipping water closed to spearfishing.
- Hondarribia — Hondarribia sits on the French border at the Bidasoa mouth.
Andalusia (Atlantic)
The Atlantic Gulf of Cádiz: here there is a tide, and sizes follow the Atlantic caladero (sea bass, 36 cm). Warmer water than the north, but often with some turbidity from the estuaries and the Atlantic itself. You dive looking for the small-sea days and cleared water.
- Algeciras — Algeciras bay is a working port with tankers, ferries and a refinery, so both marks sit on the western shore, away from the traffic.
- Tarifa — Tarifa is where the Atlantic meets the Strait, and the wind rules.
- Conil de la Frontera — Conil faces west-south-west, open to the Atlantic Poniente.
- Cádiz — Cádiz is a city on a rock in the Atlantic, facing west.
- Chipiona — Chipiona sits at the Guadalquivir mouth, and the river often clouds the water; base visibility is around 5 m.
- Isla Cristina — No marks are published for Isla Cristina, deliberately.
Andalusia (Med)
The Alborán Sea, where the Atlantic meets the Mediterranean: warm water with a small tide, a touch larger than the rest of the Mediterranean. Good visibility and rich life, with the great Cabo de Gata-Níjar reserve off-limits. A long season, nearly all year, working the wind-sheltered side of the coast.
- Almería — Almería's bay faces south; a westerly works the west side, an easterly the east.
- Carboneras — Carboneras faces east, on the edge of the Cabo de Gata reserve.
- Adra — Adra sits on its river delta, with the Contraviesa behind.
- Motril — Motril's coast faces south between the Guadalfeo and Cabo Sacratif.
- Almuñécar — Almuñécar spreads around two bays. Cerro Gordo, west of La Herradura, lies inside a nature area where spearfishing is not allowed. Punta de la Mona, under…
- Nerja — Nerja sits beside the Maro cliffs, and the Maro coves are a no-take area.
- Málaga — Málaga's shore is mostly sand and heavily built.
- Fuengirola — Fuengirola is sand, groynes and beach bars from Torreblanca to the river.
- Estepona — Estepona looks south-west toward Gibraltar, so the Poniente is its wind.
- Ceuta — Ceuta is the eastern gate of the Strait: the tidal stream wraps Punta Almina and the water changes inside an hour.
- Melilla — Melilla's open water is the northern cliff line; the port, its moles and the military beaches are closed.
Murcia
Warm, clear Mediterranean, all but tideless. Cabo de Palos and Cabo Tiñoso are legendary, but their marine reserves are closed to spearfishing — you dive outside them. Clear water almost year-round; light and wind rule, not the tide.
- Cartagena — Cartagena looks south onto deep water. Cabo Tiñoso is the renowned ground, with drops holding grouper, dentex and sea bream, but very exposed to S seas. El…
- Cabo de Palos — Cabo de Palos points east, and the Islas Hormigas reserve beyond it is forbidden ground.
- Águilas — Águilas is a volcanic coast facing south-south-east with many marks.
Levante
Mild, low-tide Mediterranean, with clear water much of the year and a more open, flatter coast than the Costa Brava. The Cap de Sant Antoni reserve (Xàbia–Dénia) is off-limits. As across the whole Mediterranean, the light windows and the day's wind matter more than the tide.
- Peñíscola — Peñíscola is a rock peninsula crowned by a castle, facing east.
- Benicàssim — Benicàssim is a beach town, sand from the Torre Sant Vicent south-west.
- Burriana — No marks are published for Burriana, and that is deliberate.
- Valencia — Valencia's coast is long sand, so the hunting happens on man-made rock.
- Cullera — Cullera's cape stands alone on a sandy coast, facing east.
- Dénia — Dénia marks where sand turns to rock. Les Rotes is low rocky coast with Posidonia, sea bream and gilthead; Punta Negra goes deeper toward the cape. Cova…
- Xàbia — Xàbia is the richest rock on this coast: cliffs, coves and capes facing east.
- Benidorm — Benidorm's bay is sand and boat traffic all summer, and the Serra Gelada side to the east is a natural park whose marine rules are not verified, so nothing is published there.
- Santa Pola — Santa Pola's cape faces south-east. Under its cliffs, Cala del Palmar gives rock drops with sea bream and gilthead; Cala Galera mixes rock and sand, and the…
Catalonia
Near-tideless Mediterranean: warm, clear water and a long season, from late spring to autumn. The Costa Brava offers rock and drop-offs for the hunter, but with reserves where it's banned — the Illes Medes, Ses Negres and parts of Cap de Creus. Light rules here (dawn and dusk), not the tide.
- Roses — Roses faces east across its bay, so the Llevant is the wind that closes it.
- L'Escala — L'Escala faces east under the Montgrí, right beside the Medes boundary, which must be respected.
- Palamós — Palamós looks east-south-east, and E swell is what spoils it.
- Tossa de Mar — Tossa de Mar faces south-east beneath its walled Vila Vella.
- Barcelona — Barcelona's waterfront faces south-east and the city coast is sand, breakwaters and port, so this page carries no marks of its own.
- Arenys de Mar — No marks are published for Arenys de Mar, by design.
- Sitges — Sitges sits at the foot of the Garraf massif, facing south-south-east.
- Tarragona — Between Tarragona's port and Cambrils the coast is sand, so the rock sits at its two ends.
- L'Ametlla de Mar — L'Ametlla de Mar is a low rocky coast facing east-south-east, cut into small coves.
Balearics
Mediterranean islands of blue, clear water, all but tideless — some of the best visibility in the country. Rock, drop-offs and plenty of fish; the grouper has its own size (45 cm, 50 in reserves) and mandatory marking. Spearfishing is banned in the marine reserves except in Badia de Palma, Migjorn and Llevant de Mallorca (with a licence).
- Palma — Palma's bay faces south-south-west. Inside, Cala Gamba and Portitxol are urban rock, sheltered for beginners. West, Cap de Cala Figuera and Cap Andritxol…
- Alcúdia — Alcúdia's bay looks north-east, open to the Gregal and Tramuntana.
- Maó — Maó faces east from its long harbour. S'Algar and Cala Rafalet give rock drops with Posidonia, sea bream and dentex; Illa de l'Aire is rich but exposed,…
- Ciutadella — Ciutadella faces west, where Menorca is real stone: sheer marès, caves and fast drops.
- Sant Antoni (Ibiza) — Sant Antoni faces west across its bay. Punta Galera and Cala Salada give drops and boulders with sea bream and gilthead; Cap Nunó is deeper. Cala Bassa and…
- Formentera — Formentera's south coast faces the open sea.
Canaries
Subtropical Atlantic: blue, warm, clear water almost all year, with a moderate tide. Volcanic rock dropping fast to blue depths and its own species (parrotfish, red porgy). A special regime (Decreto 182/2004): a «2nd-class» licence and several closed reserves, such as La Restinga or La Graciosa.
- Las Palmas (Gran Canaria) — Las Palmas looks north-west from La Isleta.
- Maspalomas — No marks are published for Maspalomas. In the Canaries spearfishing is lawful only inside the official acotada zones and only by day, and the south face of…
- Los Llanos de Aridane — No marks are published for the Aridane valley.
- South Tenerife (Los Cristianos) — South Tenerife faces south-south-west. Punta de la Rasca under its lighthouse has volcanic drops and caves with parrotfish and amberjack, exposed to SW…
- Puerto de la Cruz — No marks are published for Puerto de la Cruz: Canary rules limit spearfishing to official acotada zones, and none sits in front of the town.
- Playa Blanca (Lanzarote) — Playa Blanca faces south at Lanzarote's southern tip.
- Arrecife — No marks are published for Arrecife. In the Canaries spearfishing is allowed only in official acotada zones, and no verified one lies next to the city. The…
- Corralejo (Fuerteventura) — Corralejo looks north toward Lobos island.
Frequently asked questions
Rules current as of 2026 — always confirm with your autonomous community before you go. Legal basis: RD 347/2011 (BOE) and EU Regulation 2019/1241 in the Mediterranean; each autonomous community has its own rules (licence, sizes, closures).
Do I need a licence to spearfish in Spain?
Yes. A spearfishing licence is mandatory and your autonomous community issues it (not the State), though it is valid in the exterior waters of the whole coast. Each community has its own procedure and name (for example «Clase C» in Galicia or «2nd-class» in the Canaries) and its own validity (1, 3 years…). Some recognise others' licences — Cantabria, for instance, gives «full validity» to those issued by the State or other communities. Spearfishing is always breath-hold (scuba is banned) and the catch may not be sold.
Official source ↗Can I dive at night or with scuba?
No to both. Spearfishing is only allowed in daylight: it is banned from sunset to sunrise (RD 347/2011, art. 16.d). And it is breath-hold only — using a tank or compressed air (scuba) is banned (art. 3). You also may not keep the speargun loaded out of the water (art. 16.a) and must stay at least 300 m from professional fishing boats that are working (art. 12.b).
Official source ↗What's the minimum size for sea bass? Why does it change by area?
Because in Spain sizes go by «caladero» (fishing zone), not by a single national number. Sea bass is the best example: 42 cm on the Cantabrian coast and Northwest (recreational size, RD 347/2011), 36 cm in the Gulf of Cádiz, 25 cm in the Mediterranean (EU Regulation 2019/1241) and 22 cm in the Canaries. The same goes for other species (gilthead bream, 20 cm in the Mediterranean; grouper, 45 cm). Always check your caladero's table — undersized fish go back, and only the species in Annex I of RD 347/2011 may be taken.
Official source ↗Where is spearfishing banned?
In marine reserves and protected zones (without a special permit), in ports and at busy beaches and bathing areas. There are fishing reserves where it is closed — for example the Atlantic Islands (Galicia), the Illes Medes and Cap de Creus (Catalonia), Cap de Sant Antoni (Levante), Cabo de Palos–Islas Hormigas and Cabo Tiñoso (Murcia), Cabo de Gata-Níjar and Alborán (Andalusia), and several reserves in the Balearics and Canaries (La Restinga, La Graciosa…). There are also Natura 2000 areas with restrictions. Always check the no-take zones on the map and confirm with the autonomous community before you go.
Do I need insurance for the licence?
In most communities, yes: the spearfishing licence requires a medical fitness certificate for freediving and accident + civil-liability insurance, which the federative licence usually includes. It is mandatory in the Basque Country, Murcia, Asturias and Galicia; the federative licence covers it in Galicia, the Balearics and Cantabria. The Canaries do not require the insurance but do require a medical fitness certificate (freediving / «a pulmón libre»); Andalusia likewise requires no insurance and a responsible health declaration is enough. Confirm the requirement with your autonomous community.
From what age can I get the licence?
Generally from age 16, but each autonomous community sets it and there are extremes: Andalusia lowers it to 14 (spearfishing modality / class 4) while Murcia raises it to 18. Those under the minimum age may only fish in surface modalities accompanied by a licensed adult.
How do the tides work in the Mediterranean?
Very little. The Mediterranean is an all-but-tideless sea (only a few centimetres), so it stops being a factor: instead of the tide, the solunar calendar and above all the light windows take over — dawn and dusk, when the fish move. It is the opposite of the Cantabrian coast and Galicia, where the tides are big (several metres) and set rock access and the best entry moment. The Canaries have a moderate tide, and Alborán (Mediterranean Andalusia) a touch more than the rest of the Mediterranean.