Fishing

Bay of Palma (Badia de Palma) Marine Reserve

Fishing is allowed Tuesdays, Fridays, Saturdays, Sundays and any Spanish bank holidays, except on the protected area of Cape Enderrocat (the very light blue area of the map).

Jellyfish Precautions and Remedies

The typical jellyfish found in Majorca are not really good swimmers and they usually arrive to the beach by the sea currents. They feed from small fish after injecting them with paralysing poison. For people, the sting of one of these jellyfish is just painful.

In the Mediterranean Jellyfish do not attack, but if you touch their tentacles, they will sting as a defence mechanism. Usually jellyfish stings in Majorca are not critical, unless the person is allergic to the poison or has some specific disease. Even when they are not critical, they can be really painful and sore.

The typical symptoms are pain, burning and itching sensation, swelling and redness of the area and even bleeding.

Types of Jellyfish Around Majorca

Jellyfish are invertebrates which present special cells used to capture prey and to defend themselves. These cells have a poisonous capsule inside. When a prey or predator contacts with the jellyfish, the capsule opens and the cells stick to the prey injecting the poison. Jellyfish are usually transparent as they are 95% water, allowing them to camouflage easily.

Poisonous Fish of Majorca

Weever fish (Araña)

Live in sandy beds beneath the surface, they are easily captured, but be very careful when handling. The thorns on the first dorsal and areas around the gills are poisonous! They can cause severe prolonged pain, fever, vomiting, slowing of heart rate, difficulty breathing and in some rare cases even death. Return to the sea without touching it.

Do I Need a Fishing License in Majorca?

The short answer is, yes. A fishing license is required in Majorca for anyone of 14 years or over. However, any chartered fishing trips will be covered by a 'collective' or 'boat' license (see below), thus you will not need to purchase a license yourself.

There are 5 types of recreative fishing license available in Majorca:

• Individual - any individual aged 14 years or over
• Collective - up to 12 people
• Submarine - scuba or snorkling, usually with a spear gun
• Sport - for competition and tournaments, this license is free
• Boat - maximum of 5 people

The most popular is the 'Individual' license which allows you to sea fish from the shore, so that will be the main focus here.