Fishing in Greece

Go to a restaurant, and the fish will figure on the most respectable places in the menu. Walk by a port at dawn, and you’ll see fishing boats coming home with the morning’s catch. Admire ancient art in a museum, and you’ll face amazingly detailed denizens of the sea on a 4,000 year old mosaic. Whichever way you look at it, fish and fishing in Greece is an inalienable part of life. Unfortunately, the seas around Greece are suffering from overfishing. It would be an overestimation to say that Greece is a famous fishing destination, where hundreds of anglers come specifically for an adventure with rod and reel. But whether you’re a tourist, an expat, or a Greek willing to rediscover the ancient routes, you will find ample opportunities to take part in this activity, which is much more than a sport there. You don’t even need a fishing license for recreational angling, be it from the shore, from a boat, or inland; only captains of commercial krafts need to be licensed. With few inland rivers and lakes, which however do provide certain options for trout anglers, most fishing opportunities in Greece are found on its extensive coastline and thousands of islands. The crystal-clear waters of the Aegean and Ionian Seas, combined with Greece’s warm climate, make it an ideal destination for fishermen year-round. Whether fishing from the shore or a hired charter boat, from the tranquil waters of secluded coves to the deep blue of the open sea, Greece provides a picturesque setting for both novice and expert anglers alike.

It is sort of a custom in Greece that recreational fishing takes place from the shore, while fishing from boats is mostly commercial, although things are beginning to change. Changing their focus from fishing for markets and restaurants to taking recreational anglers out could be a great opportunity for local fishermen to preserve their traditional skills and crafts, but this process is developing slowly. However, in most tourist ports you can find fishing charters who can take you out for a relaxed nearshore trip, or offshore into the deep sea where anglers can pursue large pelagic species. Most rivers in Greece are little more than mountain stream, but determined fly fishers can find a few opportunities to pursue trout.

The Greek seas are home to all the typical Mediterranean species up to swordfish, spearfish, and bluefin tuna. Several sharks, dolphinfish (mahi-mahi), yellowfin tuna, grouper, amberjack, snapper, wahoo, barracuda and mackerel are also there. The European seabass, several species of sea bream, wrasse, dentex and Mediterranean parrotfish are among the favorites with local fishermen and especially prized for their culinary qualities. One of the most welcome catches for the Greeks is the scorpina, or the scorpion fish, a strange, ugly-to-the-point-of-being-beautiful fish with poisonous rays in its fins. In the rivers and streams, especially in the mainland, you can find brown trout.

Baitcasting is the preferred method for fishing from the shore, with jigging also effective and gaining popularity, while fishing charter captains in Greece, as anywhere else, may employ a variety of techniques depending on location, quarry, and ultimate purpose of the clients. Trolling with heavy tackle is the way to go after larger fish such as tuna and swordfish, while with light tackle it can also be suitable for various smaller species found nearshore. Bottom fishing, with either jigs, or as often as not simple hand lines, hooks baited with stripes of squid or something similar, is often practiced during relaxed nearshore outings, especially around rocky structures and reefs, although spinning is also on the table. Fly fishing is popular inland, and is slowly gaining traction inshore, particularly for chasing smaller, agile fish in shallow bays and inlets. Spearfishing is growing in popularity due to the clear waters and abundant reef life, spearfishing is a thrilling way to engage directly with the underwater world.