Italy is famous for its world-class cuisine that often includes freshly caught seafood, particularly in the warm, Southern provinces of the country. Therefore, it shouldn’t come as any surprise that Italy has some fantastic saltwater fishing destinations where you can catch all your favorite seafood, right from the ocean!
FAQ About Saltwater Fishing In Italy.
The following are some of the frequently asked questions about saltwater fishing in Italy:
What Is Saltwater Fishing?
Saltwater fishing is any type of fishing that takes place in salty ocean waters. This usually refers to fishing that happens in a boat, kayak or by casting a line from a pier or fly fishing directly from the coastline. Saltwater fishing can also, sometimes, refer to trolling a line behind you as you move through the water in a boat.
Is There Good Saltwater Fishing In Italy?
There is fantastic saltwater fishing along most of Italy’s coastline but the warmer, Mediterranean waters have some of the best opportunities in the country. Along the Mediterranean coast, you can catch Bluefin Tuna, Porgy, Grouper, Amberjack, Swordfish, Barracuda, Sea Bass, Bluefish, Dentex and Albacore, among others!
What Is The Most Common Saltwater Fish In Italy?
The most common types of saltwater fish in Italy are the Barracuda, Bluefish and Amberjack. Other common fish that thrive in specific locations on the Southern coast include the Sea Bass, Porgy, Dentex, Saddled Sea Bream and Grouper.
Where Is The Best Trout Fishing In Italy?
Trout are a species of freshwater fish. They are closely related to Salmon. There are some forms of trout like the Rainbow trout that will spend a few years in the ocean and return to freshwater to spawn.
Which area is best for trout fishing? It’s a controversial topic among Italian anglers with everyone being fiercely loyal to their own regions! However, some of the best Trout fishing in Italy is undoubtedly in the freshwater of the Avisio river in the Val di Fiemme, in Trentino. This is partly because in the Avisio river you can catch the rare Marble Trout.
Do You Need A License To Saltwater Fish In Italy?
No, unlike freshwater, inland fishing, there is no need for you to get a license in order to fish in the oceans around Italy. In fact, ocean fishing is free throughout the whole of the EU and no license is required.
The Best Saltwater Fishing Destinations In Italy.
The following are some of the best saltwater fishing destinations in Italy:
The Adriatic Sea.
The Adriatic coastline spans more than 1,200 km, from Trieste to Lecce, and is home to beautiful fishing villages, huge commercial ports and luxury holiday resorts. The whole coastline is teeming with fish although different locations have their own unique characteristics.
The most common fish that you’ll find in the Adriatic Sea include Sea Bream, Dentex, Sea Bass and Pandora. At certain times of the year in the deeper waters, you can also catch huge Bluefin Tuna, Albacore and Mahi Mahi.
Some of the best places to base yourself for a Northern Adriatic fishing adventure include Venice itself, Rimini and Pescara. Further South of Pescara, right down to the Gargano National Park, is also one of the top coastal regions for saltwater fishing in Italy. Puglia is another great place for saltwater fishing in the Adriatic Sea.
Venice.
Although Venice is better known for its incredible cultural heritage and multitude of popular tourist attractions, it’s also home to a unique cuisine that relies heavily on freshly caught seafood. A great deal of this seafood, both traditionally and in the modern day, is caught just off the coast of the Floating City.
While it’s not possible, or advisable, to try fishing in the city’s numerous canals you can take boat trips out beyond the harbor into the Lagoon to catch your own fresh seafood. In Venice’s inner Lagoon you can catch Whitebait, Crabs, Mussels and Clams whereas if you travel further out into the Adriatic Sea you can catch Sea Bream, Dentex and even Tuna during certain times of the year.
The easiest way to go saltwater fishing from Venice is to charter a boat with an experienced captain or join a group fishing tour of the Lagoon.
Sicily And The Ionian Sea.
Sicily, off the Southern coast of Italy, is a Mediterranean paradise that boasts some of the best ocean fishing in Europe. One of the factors that make Sicily such a great spot for ocean fishing is the topography of the ocean floor. The ocean floor sinks to great depths very fast once you start to move away from the shoreline. This means you can catch some serious game fish after only a short trip from the island.
Some of the top ocean fish you can catch in the Ionian Sea include the monstrous Bluefish Tuna, Mahi Mahi, and Swordfish. You can also fish for Albacore and Mackerel as well as Sea Bass, Sea Bream, Grouper and Dentex.
Fishing is hugely popular in Sicily so it’s easy to find a captain who will take you out to some of the best spots in the Ionian Sea. However, you can also set off from the South Western coast of Italy, with Reggio Calabria being one of the region’s main sport fishing hubs.
The Tyrrhenian And Ligurian Seas.
Italy’s Western coast is home to two major seas, the Tyrrhenian and the Ligurian seas. The oceans have very deep waters and a rocky ocean floor; two characteristics that make them the ideal hunting and breeding ground for saltwater fish. Along the coastline, you can hunt for shellfish and clams; however, if you want to catch some bigger game fish you’ll need to head out into the ocean in a boat.
The most common types of ocean fish in the area include Swordfish, Spearfish, Barracuda and Mahi Mahi in the deeper waters. You can also catch Bluefin Tuna in these waters but they do tend to be smaller than those that live in the Adriatic Sea. Even so, you can get some pretty sizable catches in the Tyrrhenian and Ligurian Seas. If you’re fishing closer to the shoreline you’ll find a different range of species, such as Sea Bass, Dentex, Groupers and Sea Bream.
One of the most beautiful places to base yourself for a fishing trip in the Ligurian Sea is Cinque Terre, a collection of 5 stunning fishing villages. Alternatively, you can travel further South to the Amalfi Coast which is another top quality fishing hub.
Sardinia.
Sardines are named after the island of Sardinia. This ruggedly beautiful island is situated amongst the turquoise waters of the warm Mediterranean Sea. Sardinia is the second largest island in Italy and has an astounding 2000 km of coastline which is bursting with lovely beaches and rocky coastal features. The surrounding ocean provides the ideal conditions for saltwater fish and consequently, the fishing opportunities are fantastic.
There are several main ways that you can fish on the island of Sardinia. Firstly, you can live bait troll directly off the coast or from the back of a boat. Live bait trolling will yield great results, particularly in the deeper waters where you can catch Bluefin Tuna, Amberjacks and Dentex.
The best locations for light bottom fishing in shallow waters are near the smaller island of La Maddalena and Costa Smeralda. This technique is ideal for catching Sea Bream, Sargo, Gilt-head Bream and Parado. Deep sea fishing, also known as deep bottom fishing, usually takes place closer to Sardinia and yields catches of John Dory, Sea Bream, Curlews and Groupers.
Lastly, big game fishing is the most exciting type of ocean fishing and is a lot more challenging than the other techniques. Big game fishing primarily takes place between the Straits of Bonifacio and Northern Sardinia, with the main target species being Giant Tuna, Swordfish, Kingfish, Albacore, Dorado and Dolphin Fish.
Experience The Magic Of Ocean Fishing.
There’s nothing quite like getting out onto the ocean in a boat and challenging yourself to catch saltwater fish in their natural habitat. From deep sea game fishing to shallow water trolling, it’s always exciting when you feel your line tugging with a bite.
Saltwater fishing is sometimes considered to be more difficult than freshwater fishing but the results are always worth it! Not only can you return home with some fresh fish for dinner but you can also enjoy the spectacular ocean scenery around the stunning coastlines of Italy.
