by kieran » Fri Jul 06, 2018 3:11 pm
Ok
National Park but NOT Marine Reserve has been extended but this does not preclude fishing. From Harbour to mouth of the Ter is off limits only. Sa Riera and Tuna is ok.
Never got to fish, long sad story, wont bore you with it, back with tons of brownie points so we'll resolve the lack of fishing shortly...
Chatted to a few locals fishing the external wall at Estartit and the mouth of the harbour, mostly at night with bits of prawn on small snelled mustad hooks (about size 2).
Sargos are the main species, small mouth. Get occasional gilt heads and sea bass, to no great size but... two others complained of having been broken off (light lines) by cudas and bonitos. Octopus stealing bait was the other song. When they are in, they target them with surface poppers and pick up the occasional leerfish as well.
All at dusk and into darkness. Harbour lights seem to extend this.
on the last night met two old codgers humping heavy gear and big rods down to the rocks (not concrete side) of the harbour mouth. Got chatting eventually, once I explained I was a tourist. Apparently some of the local non-native anglers have "stolen" key spots and made themselves unpopular. Turns out the boys were putting our big old baits (heads) on the bottom in the harbour mouth on wire traces looking for large rays and other species (no idea what, reckon scavenging sharks like bull huss?)
Elsewhere drove down to Cadaques (stunning but a nose bleed of a road and the mfg cyclists need shooting) and got chatting to some of the local sailors (not the imported variety) hint turn right for the cheap side of town, left is the Michelin star restaurants and boutiques. This is Cap de Creus territory and they do go out about 1-5 klicks and live biat fish with whole bonitos! Seems a terrible waste... My Spanish missed the species but shark was in there. One of them pulled out some photos on his phone, and one was of what I can only describe as a monster Dentex. Stunning. Think another thing was a Cobia? Big big tuna in there as well, Yellow tailed? Serious fishing. It seems there are very distinct seasons and annual migrations that are key to this. Tuna seemed to be a summer thing. April was a key month as well. Hope this helps...
Hope this whets the appetite...