Podvodni ribolov na Filipinima
The Philippines is 7,641 islands strung across three seas, at the very heart of the Coral Triangle — the richest reef life on the planet. Breath-hold spearfishing is legal nationwide for personal use, and no licence is required. But two things trip up newcomers: "spearfishing is banned in the Philippines" (FALSE — free-diving spearfishing is legal everywhere) and "you can just run a compressor" (effectively off-limits — it is barred by local ordinance in many towns and turns criminal if it damages the reef). This guide sets the facts straight.
The single thread from Luzon to Mindanao is the same: read the sea. The northeast monsoon amihan (Nov–Apr) is the clean, flat season on west-facing coasts; the southwest habagat (Jun–Oct) blows those coasts out and cleans the east; and the typhoon belt (Jul–Nov) sits over the Visayas and Luzon. This guide explains the frame, walks the nine coastal regions, and links to a daily go / borderline / no-go forecast for every city.
Otvori zvijezdu — Siargao →The legal frame in brief
It rests on the Fisheries Code — RA 8550 (1998) as amended by RA 10654 (2015) — plus each municipality's own ordinances. There is no single national registry of spot-by-spot rules, so the golden rule is: check the local Municipal Fisheries Ordinance and the MPA boundaries before you get in the water. The essentials:
- Breath-hold is legal, and free. Free-diving (apnea) spearfishing for personal and family consumption is legal nationwide and needs no licence. Selling your catch is a different, regulated activity — keep it personal.
- Municipal waters (0–15 km) belong to the LGU. Each Local Government Unit governs its own nearshore waters and may ban spearfishing, restrict it to zones, close it at night, or limit gear. Many dive-tourism towns close it in practice — verify locally.
- Any take inside a marine sanctuary is prohibited (Sec 101, RA 10654). Regardless of gear or species, extraction inside an MPA / fish sanctuary is illegal. The Philippines has thousands of these — many are small barangay no-take zones you won't see marked at sea.
- Compressor and scuba are not banned by name nationally — but treat them as off-limits. RA 8550 and RA 10654 never mention compressor, hookah or scuba. But many LGUs (e.g. Naga in Cebu, Cavite City, the province of Pangasinan) ban compressor breathing by ordinance, and it becomes a national crime if it pounds/damages the reef (Sec 97) or is paired with poison (Sec 92). Assume prohibited unless a specific local ordinance permits it.
Protected species — never take these
The national do-not-take list (FAO 208-1 s.2024 + RA 9147 + FAO 193/168) is short but strict: whale shark, all sharks and rays, manta and devil ray, sawfish, sea turtle, dugong, humphead (Napoleon) wrasse — "mameng", giant clam ("taklobo") and seahorse. Note the naming trap: in the BFAR list the local name "mol-mol" belongs to the Napoleon wrasse, not the parrotfish. Bumphead parrotfish and giant grouper ("kugtong") are NOT nationally banned, but both are IUCN-vulnerable and often protected by local MPAs — release them.
Gdje roniti, po regijama
SZ Luzon
NW Luzon — west-facing surf-and-reef coast (La Union/Zambales/Pangasinan); the amihan is prime, the habagat murks it.
- San Juan (La Union) — Središte surfa i ronjenja na dah La Uniona, pred Urbiztondom i Monaliza Pointom.
- Bolinao — SZ rt Pangasinana — rt Bolinao i Patar zadiru u Južnokinesko more.
- Alaminos (Hundred Islands) — Nacionalni park Hundred Islands leži u zaklonjenom Lingayenskom zaljevu — slikovit, ali rezervat sa zabranom izlova, a okolne plićine zaljeva su muljevite.
- San Antonio (Pundaquit) — Zambaleska baza za obilazak otoka u Pundaquitu — otoci Capones i Camara pred otvorenom zapadnom obalom.
- Masinloc — Oyonski zaljev i grebeni San Salvadora u Zambalesu.
- Pagudpud — Sjeverni vrh Ilocos Nortea — Blue Lagoon / Maira-ira na Babuyanskom kanalu.
- Basco (Batanes) — Otoci Batanes na krajnjem sjeveru, otvoreni prema Luzonskom prolazu.
Batangas
Batangas — Verde Island Passage reefs and coves; strong tidal streams, hunt near slack.
- Anilao / Mabini — Filipinska prijestolnica ronjenja na Balayanskom zaljevu — golema biomasa na Prolazu Verde Island, ali gusta mreža MPA-ova obavija cijeli poluotok.
- Tingloy (Maricaban) — Otok Maricaban i zid Verdea, južno od Anilaa preko prolaza.
- Calatagan — Rt Santiago na ušću Balayanskog zaljeva.
- Nasugbu — Otvorena zapadna obala sjevernog Batangasa — otok Fortune i grebeni Matabungkaya.
- San Juan (Laiya) — Laiya na strani Tayabaškog zaljeva u Batangasu — istočno, zaštićenije lice pokrajine.
- Lobo — Obala Submarine Gardena na južnom kraju prolaza Verde — dobra stijena i greben.
Mindoro
Mindoro — Puerto Galera reefs and the offshore Apo Reef bank; Verde Passage currents, dry-season best.
- Puerto Galera (Sabang) — Ronilačka meka na Prolazu Verde Island, UNESCO-ov rezervat Čovjek-i-biosfera.
- Sablayan (Apo Reef) — Ulazni grad za Apo Reef na Mindorskom tjesnacu — grad je na kopnu; sam Apo Reef je pučinski park bez izlova (samo liveaboard).
- San Jose (Occ. Mindoro) — Vrata južnog Mindora — otoci Ilin i Ambulong pred zapadnim Mindorom.
- Bulalacao (Or. Mindoro) — Čisti skup otoka (Tambaron, Aslom) na jugu istočnog Mindora.
Bicol
Bicol — Pacific-facing pelagic coast; the habagat is the calmer window, typhoon-prone.
- Donsol — Donsol na prolazu Ticao poznat je po zoni susreta s kitopsinama — zaštićenom području gdje je lov isključen.
- Matnog — Južni vrh Luzona na ušću tjesnaca San Bernardino — otočići Tikling i Calintaan.
- Gubat — Pacifičko lice Sorsogona — surf i greben pred Rizal Beachom.
- Caramoan — Survivor otoci na Lagonoyskom zaljevu i Pacifiku — Matukad, Lahos, Gota.
- Virac (Catanduanes) — Pacifički otok Catanduanes — snažno izložen pučinskim valovima.
- Legazpi (Albay) — Albajski zaljev i kanal Sula pod vulkanom Mayon — voda je nešto mutnija zbog zamuljivanja.
- Gasan (Marinduque) — Otoci Tres Reyes pred Marinduqueom, na tjesnacu Tablas / Sibuyanskom moru.
Palawan
Palawan — El Nido/Coron limestone and wrecks; LGU limits and many sanctuaries, dry-season best.
- Coron (Busuanga) — Otoci Calamian i flota olupina iz Drugog svjetskog rata u zaljevu Coron — zaklonjeno, more svjetske klase.
- El Nido — Vapnenački otoci Bacuitskog zaljeva — prekrasni, ali područje zaštićenih upravljanih resursa (MRPA) s teškim turističkim ograničenjima.
- San Vicente (Port Barton) — Long Beach i otoci Port Bartona na Suluškom moru.
- Puerto Princesa (Honda Bay) — Ronilačka zona glavnog grada je Honda Bay, gusti skup morskih rezervata zatvoren za lov.
- Taytay — Malampaya Sound i grebeni Isla Blance u sjevernom Palawanu.
- Linapacan — Otoci između El Nida i Corona, na glasu po najbistrijem moru u zemlji.
Zapadni Visayas
Western Visayas — Panay/Romblon reefs; the amihan is clearest, the habagat murks the west.
- Malay / Boracay (Aklan) — Boracay je pod otočnom ekološkom zaštitom — nema lova oko otoka.
- Culasi (Mararison) — Pješčani otok Mararison (Malalison) pred Antiqueom na Suluškom moru — rastuća scena ronjenja na dah.
- Guimaras (N. Valencia) — Zaklonjeni otok Guimaras u Panayskom zaljevu — otok Taklong je nacionalni park bez izlova.
- Concepcion (Islas de Gigantes) — Skupina otoka Gigantes na Visayanskom moru — grad je na kopnu, grebeni su u pučini.
- Romblon — Mramorni otok Romblon i susjedi Alad i Logbon — Blue Hole je lokalni klasik.
Cebu i Negros
Cebu & Negros — Moalboal/Dauin walls and the sheltered Tañon Strait; a dense sanctuary network.
- Moalboal (Cebu) — Panagsama i čuvena kugla srdela na tjesnacu Tañon, zaklonjeno od valova Boholskog mora.
- Daanbantayan (Malapascua) — Otok lisičjeg morskog psa na samom vrhu Cebua, na Visayanskom/Camoteskom moru.
- Oslob (Cebu) — Jugoistočni Cebu na Boholskom moru — poznat po turizmu s kitopsinama u Tan-awanu.
- Santander (Cebu) — Južni vrh Cebua na ušću tjesnaca Tañon, vrata prema Apo Islandu.
- Lapu-Lapu (Mactan) — Ronilačka baza metropolitanskog Cebua na otoku Mactan — Marigondon i Olango na Cebuanskom tjesnacu.
- Bantayan (Sta. Fe) — Otok Bantayan kod Sta. Fe na Visayanskom moru — plitko, pjeskovito, lako more. Obala okrenuta istoku/Pacifiku: hvata amihan (stu–tra) valove i SI pasat, a…
- Dauin / Dumaguete — Obala muck-ronjenja na ušću tjesnaca Tañon — Apo Island i gotovo neprekinuti pojas rezervata Dauina bez su izlova.
- Bais — Baiski zaljev i pješčani plićak Manjuyod na tjesnacu Tañon — zaklonjeno more s dupinima.
- Sipalay — Punta Ballo i zaljev Campomanes na Suluškoj obali zapadnog Negrosa.
- Siquijor (San Juan) — Mistični otok Siquijor na Boholskom moru.
Bohol i Leyte
Bohol & Leyte — Panglao/Balicasag and Southern Leyte pelagics; clear Bohol Sea, drop-offs on the slack.
- Panglao (Bohol) — Alona, srdelni zid Napalinga i Balicasag pred Boholom — ali Balicasag je rezervat bez izlova, a Napaling zid bez izlova s naplatom.
- Anda (Bohol) — Zidovi Quinalea u Andi na Boholskom/Mindanaoskom moru — podcijenjena obala za ronjenje na dah s okomitim strmcima.
- Padre Burgos (S. Leyte) — Zidovi Sogodskog zaljeva i Limasawe — zaklonjen, dubok zaljev s kitopsinama u Pintuyanu.
- Palompon (Kalanggaman) — Čuveni pješčani plićak Kalanggaman pred Palomponom na Camoteskom moru — grad je na kopnu, greben u pučini.
Mindanao
Mindanao — Siargao's Pacific groundswell and the sheltered Camiguin bays; near typhoon-free.
- General Luna (Siargao) — Surferski otok Siargao na otvorenom Pacifiku — Cloud 9, Guyam, Daku.
- Mambajao (Camiguin) — Vulkanski otok Camiguin na Boholskom/Mindanaoskom moru — pješčani plićak White Island i Potonulo groblje.
Česta pitanja
Rules current as of 2026 — breath-hold spearfishing is legal nationwide in the Philippines (RA 8550/10654), no licence for personal use, but municipal waters (0–15 km) are governed by the local LGU (may ban it, zone it or bar night hunting); any take inside an MPA/sanctuary is prohibited and compressor/scuba are barred by ordinance in many LGUs. Freedive only, with a float. Do not take mameng (Napoleon wrasse), whale shark, sharks/rays, manta, sawfish, turtle, dugong, giant clam or seahorse; release bumphead parrotfish and giant grouper. Confirm the local Municipal Fisheries Ordinance before you go.
Is spearfishing legal in the Philippines?
Yes — breath-hold (free-diving) spearfishing is legal nationwide for personal consumption under the Fisheries Code (RA 8550 as amended by RA 10654). But each municipality (LGU) governs its own 0–15 km waters and can ban or zone it, so always check the local Municipal Fisheries Ordinance and MPA boundaries first.
Do I need a licence?
No. There is no national licence for personal-consumption breath-hold spearfishing. You must not sell your catch — selling is a separate, regulated activity.
Is compressor or scuba spearfishing allowed?
Treat it as off-limits. No national law bans compressor/hookah or scuba spearfishing by name, but many LGUs ban compressor breathing by ordinance, and it becomes a national crime if it damages the reef (Sec 97) or is combined with poison (Sec 92). Breath-hold is the only method you can rely on being legal.
Which species are protected?
Never take: whale shark, all sharks and rays, manta/devil ray, sawfish, sea turtle, dugong, humphead (Napoleon) wrasse (mameng), giant clam (taklobo) and seahorse. Bumphead parrotfish and giant grouper are not nationally banned but are vulnerable and often locally protected — release them.
When is the best season?
It depends on which way the coast faces. West-facing coasts are clean and flat under the amihan (Nov–Apr) and blow out under the habagat (Jun–Oct); east/Pacific coasts are the reverse. July–November is typhoon season over the Visayas and Luzon — check PAGASA before you travel. The daily forecast on each city page turns all of this into a simple go / no-go.