Best Times & Seasons to Fish in the Canary Islands (A Guide)
The Canary Island is one of the true fishing paradises on earth and there are certain times of the year when fishing really peaks. Understanding the best time and seasons to go fishing in the Canary Islands will make a huge difference in your success rate.
The best time to fish the Azores is between the months of May and October when the waters are calm and full of fish. Though the waters around the Azores are at the apex of the Gulf Stream, where the Gulf Stream meets the North Atlantic Drift, winter brings in cool water reducing the quality of fishing.
| Fish Species | Best Season for Fishing the Canary Islands (Peak Months) |
| Albacore | February to May is the best time to fish for albacore. |
| Amberjack | October-January is the best season for amberjack. |
| Barracuda | 2 seasons: January-April & November-December. |
| Dentex | Spring & Fall are equally good for local common dentex fishing. |
| Bluefin Tuna | May to September is best for schooling bluefin tuna. |
| Mahi Mahi (Dolphin) | October to March; summer is normally slower |
| Triggerfish | Year-round fishing availability; May is the best month. |
| Wahoo | Year-round fishing availability. |
| Yellowfin Tuna | February to August is best for schooling yellowfin tuna. |
The Canary Islands are a group of islands which are located near the African mainland. The group consists of 7 large islands and several small islands. The islands attract a lot of tourists annually. It’s also important to note that the Canary Islands have gained huge popularity among anglers.
Best Time to Fish the Canary Islands
Anglers need to know that it’s possible to fish around the islands in the Canaries all year-round. However, you’ll get the best results if you visit the region when the vast majority of fish species are active.
Of course, it would be better to fish the Canary Islands when fishing in the local waters is the most productive.
Initially, you need to decide what species of fish you are going to target during your fishing trip. After that, you have to study the bite times of your target fish species.
The best time to fish in the Canary Islands depends a lot on your favorite fish species. Fishermen choose to target two main species of fish in the waters of the Canary Islands. Anglers prefer to fish for either the blue marlin or the giant bluefin tuna.
Let’s say that you are interested in targeting the giant bluefin tuna near the islands. Keep in mind that the season to catch the giant bluefin tuna begins in February and ends in May.
Or, maybe, you would like to target the blue marlin during your fishing trip? In this case, you should go fishing between May and September.
Recommended Fishing Charters in the Canary Islands
These Canary Island-based charters have earned great reviews from anglers and will offer you a tremendous service. The captains are knowledgeable, friendly, and are sure to put you on fish. By clicking the links below, you will be taken to the charter’s respective profile on Fishing Booker where you can read reviews, learn more about the charter, view photos, and book online at the best rate.
| Recommended Fishing Charters | Type of Fishing Offered |
| Noah Fishing Charters | Inshore, Nearshore, Offshore, Wreck & Reef |
| The Rodfather Tenerife Fishing | Nearshore, Offshore, Wreck & Reef |
| Fish On – 35′ Cata Sportfisher | Nearshore, Offshore, Wreck & Reef |
| Happy Hooker III Fishing Charters | Inshore, Nearshore, Wreck & Reef |
| No Limits Tenerife Fishing | Inshore, Nearshore, Offshore, Wreck & Reef |
| No Limits Two Tenerife Fishing | Nearshore & Offshore |
| Yellowfin Primero | Inshore, Nearshore & Offshore |
Canary Islands Species Breakdown: Best Times
The Canary Islands are a unique fishing destination with interesting marine life. It’s the place where anglers can experience great moments and target many different species of fish. Now, we’ll provide you with detailed information on the most common fish species in the area.
Albacore
Oftentimes, anglers catch albacore during their fishing trips to the Canary Islands. Fuerteventura is an ideal fishing destination for anglers, who prefer to target albacore in the region.
It’s important to note that albacore is a migratory fish. So, you can catch it in the waters of the Canary Islands during certain times of the year. The season to fish for albacore begins in February and lasts until May.
Amberjack
Amberjack is a good fighter. That’s why amberjack fishing is always interesting, enjoyable, and exciting. Amberjack can be found near reefs or underwater structures.
Trolling is an effective way to catch amberjack in the waters of the Canary Islands. Lanzarote is the perfect place to target amberjack near the islands.
Amberjack can be caught all year round. However, fish is becoming more active during the colder months. When fishing for amberjack, anglers get the best results in the late fall and the early winter.
Barracuda
Barracuda is one of the top fish species that can be caught in the Canary Islands. Barracuda is often found in the waters near Corralejo. Barracuda becomes active during the cold months.
The season to fish for barracuda in the area is high between January and April and between November and December. Anglers, who target barracuda, get the best results during these months.
Dentex
Dentex is well-known for its teeth. It would be better to search for dentex in the inshore waters of the Canary Islands. It’s possible to fish for dentex all year round. However, anglers usually catch dentex successfully in the spring and in the fall.
Bluefin Tuna
Anglers have a chance to catch the massive Bluefin Tuna during their fishing trips to the Canary Islands. Costa Adeje is one of the top fishing destinations where you can target Giant Bluefin Tuna. The season to catch Giant Bluefin Tuna begins in February and finishes in May.
Blue Marlin
The Canary Islands are best known for the best blue marlin fishing. The blue marlin is a fish that so many anglers choose to catch in the region.
La Gomera is the ideal place to target blue marlin in the waters of the Canary Islands. Blue marlin fishing season starts in May and lasts until September.
Mahi-mahi
Mahi-mahi can be also found in the waters of the Canary Islands. Go to Las Galletas if you want to enjoy mahi-mahi fishing in the area. It’s possible to fish for mahi-mahi all year round. However, it would be better to target mahi-mahi during the summer months.
Triggerfish
Triggerfish is also one of the most common species in the Canary Islands. Triggerfish can be found near Tenerife. Anglers can catch triggerfish all year round. May is the perfect time to catch triggerfish.
Wahoo
Fishermen can target wahoo in the waters of the Canary Islands. The fish bites throughout the year. However, wahoo fishing is the most productive in the summer. There are many great wahoo fishing spots near La Gomera.
Yellowfin Tuna
Many anglers choose to target yellowfin tuna when fishing around the Canary Islands. Tazacorte is one of the best places to fish for yellowfin tuna near the islands.
Yellowfin tuna fishing season starts in February and lasts until August. Bear in mind that March – April is the perfect time of the year to fish for yellowfin tuna in the region.
I recommend this Penn Pursuit Spinning Rod & Reel combo (available on Amazon) for inshore and nearshore fishing. It can handle everything from redfish to snapper and king mackerel. The Penn Battalion Series Spinning Rod and the Penn Battle Spinning Reel are fantastic if you want to create your combo.
Best Time of Day to Fish the Canary Islands
Anglers prefer to go fishing in the waters of the Canary Islands either in the morning or in the afternoon. It’s up to anglers to decide when it’s best to go fishing. If you don’t like to wake up early in the morning, then you should go fishing in the afternoon.
However, afternoon fishing can be uncomfortable during hot summer months. But most importantly, anglers need to plan their fishing trips with their target fish species in mind. Go fishing when your target species are the most active.
Canary Islands Fishing & Tidal Impacts
When planning fishing adventures in the Canary Islands, anglers should always study tide times carefully. Fishermen should know when tides are high and when tides are low in the area. Fishing is the most productive during the rising tides. The ocean brings oxygen-rich waters to the area and this increases the activity of fish.
Storms & Canary Islands Fishing
It’s not recommended to fish the Canary Islands during the stormy weather. It goes without saying that storms and rainfalls pose the risk to fishermen. That’s the reason why fishing during storms should be avoided. It’s also important to note that fish is usually inactive during storms.
However, it makes a lot of sense to fish after storms. Fish usually feed actively after storms. So, anglers find it easy to catch fish.
Is Winter Fishing Bad or Good in the Canary Islands?
As we have already mentioned, fishing around the Canary Islands is productive all year round. That means that you can plan your fishing adventures for any time of the year.
It’s possible to target many different species of fish in the waters of the Canary Islands in the winter. Among the fish species that bite well during the winter months are amberjack, barracuda, dentex, mackerel, mahi-mahi, and others.
Night Fishing in the Canary Islands
Some angling enthusiasts prefer to fish in the Canary Islands at night. What is great about night fishing is that it allows anglers to avoid the heat of a summer day. That’s why some anglers find it comfortable to fish during the nighttime in the summer.
It’s also important to note that anglers have an opportunity to see the sunrise as well as the sunset during night fishing trips. Anglers can catch bass, catfish, carp, trout, and other species at night. On the other hand, night fishing can be hard for beginners.
Shore/Surf Fishing: Best Times & Seasons
Shore/surf fishing is known as a relaxing way to fish. It’s worth noting that a lot of anglers choose to surf fish in the Canary Islands. But most importantly, shore/surf fishing is very productive.
When fishing from shore, anglers can catch filefish, mackerel, mahi-mahi, rockfish, sea bream, and other species. There are many places where anglers can fish from shore. Anglers can find many shore fishing spots on beaches and harbors.
Another important thing that anglers need to be aware of is that anglers need a license for shore/surf fishing. Keep in mind that fishing without a license may result in fines. So, don’t forget to buy a license if you would like to fish from shore.
The Top 5 Fishing Spots in the Canary Islands
There are many spots around the Canary Islands where fishing is always good. So, you’ll find it easy to plan your fishing trip to the islands.
Now, we’ll describe some of the best fishing spots in the area. Also, we’ll explain when fishing is the most productive and what species anglers can target in these places.
San Sebastian, La Gomera
La Gomera is one of the Canary Islands. The island attracts so many anglers, who are interested in marlin fishing. The best time of the year to fish near the island is between May and September.
Fishing is the most productive during these months. Here, anglers can target such species of fish like blue marlin, big eye tuna, yellowfin tuna, and others.
Embalse de Chira, Gran Canaria
This fishing spot provides anglers with unforgettable Canary Islands fishing adventures. This reservoir lake attracts anglers, who are interested in carp fishing. Here, fishermen always have a chance to catch a big carp and get memories that last a lifetime.
In addition to carp, anglers can target bass and some other species of fish in the lake. Keep in mind that fishing in this place is the most productive during the summer months.
Corralejo, Fuerteventura
It’s another perfect spot for fishing. Here, anglers can fish and spend a good day with their families. Fuerteventura is a place where anglers can enjoy fishing and many other interesting water activities.
Here, anglers have a good chance to catch marlin. The best time of the year to fish in the place is between July and October.
Puerto del Carmen, Lanzarote
The island of Lanzarote provides anglers with fantastic tuna fishing opportunities. It’s one of the best places to go tuna fishing in the region.
According to the opinions of many anglers, fishing is better on the northern side of the island. Here, anglers often catch a big fish. It would be great to fish this spot during the summer and fall months.
Tenerife
Fishing in Tenerife is productive and provides anglers with a memorable experience. This spot offers great deep-sea opportunities to anglers of all experience levels.
It would be better to fish Tenerife between May and October. Here, anglers can enjoy fishing all year round and catch many different species such as barracuda, blue marlin, tuna, white marlin, wahoo, and many others.
Booking Charters in the Canary Islands (Best Times)
Booking a charter is a great way to explore the best fishing spots near the Canary Islands. Booking online makes the process of fishing trip preparation simple. However, an angler needs to decide what charter he/she has to book for fishing the islands ahead of time.
– Best season to go
There is no bad time to fish the Canary Islands. That means that anglers can go fishing at any time of the year. So, it would be better to plan a fishing trip when the main species of fish in the area get active.
On the other hand, anglers shouldn’t visit the Canary Islands during the peak travel seasons. Traditionally, the demand for fishing in the Canary Islands is high during the summer months.
So, you can go fishing in the late winter, the early spring, and the early fall. The prices for fishing charters are lower during this time of the year. However, the opportunities for anglers are still excellent.
– Morning vs. afternoon
Anglers can fish the waters of the Canary Islands either in the early morning or in the afternoon. It all depends on the time of the year when you visit the fishing destination.
The temperatures are the highest between June and September. So, it would be great for anglers to fish during the morning hours. Water cools down and fish begin to feed actively in the morning during these months.
Afternoon fishing is more productive during the cooler months of the year. The water heats up in the afternoon and the activity of fish increases in the afternoon.
– 1/2 day, full-day, multi-day charters
When booking fishing trips, anglers have several options. It’s possible to book 1/2 day trips, full-day trips as well as multi-day charters. Keep in mind that each option has its pros and cons.
A half-day trip is the cheapest option available for anglers. However, anglers’ time on fishing is limited. So, anglers find it difficult to catch a trophy fish during 1/2 day trips. Such fishing trips are more suitable for beginners.
Full-day fishing trips are more expensive than 1/2 day fishing trips. However, anglers can fish all day long and have a better chance to catch trophy fish. So, full-day fishing trips are a better option for experienced anglers.
Avid anglers can also consider booking multi-day charters. Such trips last several days and give anglers more fishing time. The charters provide anglers with meals and drinks during multi-day fishing trips. Anglers have a good chance to catch trophy fish during multi-day trips.
For a complete breakdown of the best times to fish the Azores, please check out this helpful guide. For a complete breakdown of the best times to fish in Barcelona, please check out this helpful guide. For a complete breakdown of the best times to fish in Cape Town, please check out this helpful guide. For a complete breakdown of the best times to fish in Mallorca, please check out this helpful guide. For a complete breakdown of the best times to fish in Italy, please check out this helpful guide.
