Catfish fishing on the river Ebro
Fishing in Mequinenza | We offer fishing holidays trips to the region of Mequinenza (River Ebro), Majorca and the Columbretes Islands. These places are real paradises for lovers of fishing. Their waters hold such species as black bass, catfish, pike, zander (walleye family), and carp.
> CATFISHING ON THE RIVER EBRO
> DEEP SEA FISHING & DIVING
> COLUMBRETES ISLANDS
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CATFISHING ON THE RIVER EBRO
We have enormous catfish in Spain. In fact, they are some of the largest catfish you can find in any professional or extreme destination. Fishing is done from the boat or shore, using either with fly rods or spinning reels.
We can guarantee fifteen bites per day of some twenty-kilogram (44 pounds) catfish, and in other places, three bites per day of a catfish that can weigh more than 80 kilograms (176 pounds) and measure about two meters.
Fishing for catfish can be combined with pursuing other species such as black bass, pike, giant carp, or zander (walleye family).
The Ebro River, and its Ribarroja and Mequinenza reservoirs, are known worldwide, thanks to the giant catfish Silurus Glanis, also called ‘wels catfish’ or ‘sheatfish’. These locations are undoubtedly the top destinations for passionate fishermen of the species, and it is all due to the quality, quantity, size, and weight ratio of the giant catfish found there.
After the beluga sturgeon, sporting a possible length up to 3 meters (9.8 ft.) and a maximum weight of over 150 kilograms (330 lbs.), the giant catfish is the second largest freshwater fish in Europe.
However, most giant catfish only grow to about 1.3 – 1.6 meters (4 ft. 3 in. – 5 ft. 3 in.); fish longer than 2 meters (6 ft. 7 in.) can be extremely hard to find.
A giant catfish, at 1.5 meters (4 ft. 11 in.), can weigh between 15 – 20 kilograms (33 – 44 pounds). And, at 2.2 m (7 ft., 3 in.), they can weigh as much as 65 kilograms (140 lbs.).
Thirty years after its introduction, the giant catfish has finally been recognized as a game species, complete with regulations detailing quotas, fishing hours, etc. This legal protection is important to the fisherman who loves the excitement of extreme fishing, and who wants to conserve the species for future generations to enjoy.
The Ebro River generates life everywhere. Its abundant food chain nourishes the early stages of giant catfish growth. From the riverbank, one can observe the wide number of invertebrates that inhabit these waters, sustaining the carp, zander (walleye family) and giant catfish. The giant catfish enjoy a varied food supply in these abundant waters, which have dramatically increased their population in a relatively short amount of time.
The giant catfish has been present for many years in European rivers such as the Po River in Italy and the Seine and Rhone Rivers in France. Yet, these rivers cannot match the number and size of the catfish found in the Ebro River of Spain. The biggest fish is not necessarily the oldest; it is the one that most easily finds food and eats many times a day. All this happens in the Ebro River ecosystem.
The abundance, and the variety of vegetation on the banks, as well as the bottom of the river, guarantees a wide range of species will reach a significant size in the Mequinenza and Ribarroja Reservoirs. In these circumstances, the size of the giant catfish, zander (walleye family), carp, and bass found in the murky waters of these two reservoirs surprises no one.
However, most giant catfish only grow to about 1.3 – 1.6 meters (4 ft. 3 in. – 5 ft. 3 in.); fish longer than 2 meters (6 ft. 7 in.) can be extremely hard to find.
There are a wide variety of conditions found in these reservoirs, including different colours of water, various types of bottoms, different bank widths, and even different vegetation. All these variations are found within the same ecosystem, thereby ensuring that a wide range of species call it home.
It is a fact that the Mequinenza and Ribarroja Reservoirs contain the largest catfish in Spain; especially the backwaters of the Cinca-Segre River. This is an excellent place for anyone who wants to attempt to catch one of these giants and break the 2.3-meter world record.
After the beluga sturgeon, sporting a possible length up to 3 meters (9.8 ft.) and a maximum weight of over 150 kilograms (330 lbs.), the giant catfish is the second largest freshwater fish in Europe.
The area between Chiprana and Escatrón in the Mequinenza Reservoir is also worth mentioning. Here, about 20 kilometers of river and reservoir is surrounded by dense vegetation, murky water, and muddy bottoms. These conditions, as well as abundant food sources such as bleak, carp, pike, etc., make it ideal for the giant catfish. Due to the difficult access there is hardly any fishing pressure.
This area is a real paradise for the fisherman who practices catch-and-release. During some seasons of the year, it is not unusual to have 10 or more bites per day, as well as seeing the giant catfish lying in wait for carp on the water surface, or even attacking the carp during daylight.
Upstream on the Ebro River, it is worth mentioning the area from Azud-Escatron to Sástago. There are several beautiful waterfalls along that 10-kilometer section of the river. Although bait fishing is not allowed, for the catch-and-release enthusiast using artificial lures, it is a nice place to launch a small boat. With a shoreline full of wild vegetation, the average weight of the giant catfish there is around 20-kilograms. This area is full of really big fish and they are known to bite hard and often.
DEEP-SEA FISHING AND DRIVING
Fishing in the sea is done from the boat. It is also possible to alternate this with some days of diving.
The favourite fishing method is trolling, or “curricán”, in the different fishing grounds along our coastline.
For more information visite our website: www.catfishingspain.com
COLUMBRETES ISLANDS
We offer you a chance to visit one of the most heavenly beautiful and pristine enclaves still possible to find in Spain: the Natural Park of the Columbretes Islands.
It is a unique island area on the East coast of Spain, a small archipelago in the Mediterranean Sea of intense ecological interest. It is formed by a series of islands located 30 miles away from the coasts of the province of Castellón.
CATFISHING PICTURES
CARP FISHING PICTURES
ZANDER FISHING PICTURES
SEA FISHING PICTURES
