{
  "destination": "balearics",
  "name": "Balearic Islands",
  "question": "Do I need a fishing licence on a yacht charter in the Balearic Islands?",
  "answer": "Yes: fishing from a boat in the Balearics needs a boat fishing licence from the Balearic government (€47.21 for boats up to 6 m, €77.80 over 6 m, valid 3 years), and that licence covers the people aboard, so ask the charter company whether the yacht's licence is current. Each angler may keep up to 5 kg a day, up to 25 kg per boat plus one extra piece, and big-game fishing for tuna, albacore and marlin needs a separate state authorisation.",
  "canonical_url": "https://catamaranindex.com/fishing/balearics/",
  "markdown_url": "https://catamaranindex.com/fishing/balearics.md",
  "destination_url": "https://catamaranindex.com/balearics/",
  "best_time_url": "https://catamaranindex.com/best-time/balearics/",
  "api_url": "https://catamaranindex.com/api/fishing/balearics.json",
  "book_url": "https://catamaranindex.com/go/samboat?dest=balearics&pos=api",
  "checked": "2026-10-28",
  "licence": {
    "needed": "yes",
    "summary": "Yes, a boat licence covers the people aboard",
    "cost_summary": "€47.21 (boat up to 6 m) or €77.80 (over 6 m), 3 years",
    "issuer": "Dirección General de Pesca, Govern de les Illes Balears (CAIB)",
    "price": {
      "text": "Boat licence: €47.21 up to 6 m; €77.80 over 6 m. Individual (shore): €26.21. Spearfishing: €28.92. Online renewals €10 less (individual) or €15 less (boat).",
      "status": "official"
    },
    "validity": {
      "text": "Individual and boat licences: 3 years; spearfishing: 1 year",
      "status": "official"
    },
    "notes": [
      {
        "text": "Five licence types.",
        "status": "official"
      },
      {
        "text": "The boat licence covers boats on list 6ª/7ª or with an EU flag.",
        "status": "official"
      },
      {
        "text": "A 'Chárter' licence lets operators take people fishing commercially.",
        "status": "official"
      },
      {
        "text": "A first boat licence must be issued in person; only renewals can be done online (search summary).",
        "status": "unconfirmed"
      },
      {
        "text": "Big-game fishing (tunas, albacore, marlins etc.) needs a special state authorisation on board.",
        "status": "official"
      },
      {
        "text": "Source document: Cuaderno de Pesca Recreativa, Dec 2025 edition (filename '2026').",
        "status": "official"
      },
      {
        "text": "Catches are reported via Spain's national app (EU RecFishing framework).",
        "status": "official"
      }
    ],
    "source": {
      "id": "fish_balearics_2",
      "name": "Govern de les Illes Balears (CAIB)",
      "title": "CAIB trámite licencia",
      "url": "https://www.caib.es/seucaib/es/tramites/tramite/98088/",
      "checked": "2026-10-28",
      "note": "Official source.",
      "tier": "official"
    }
  },
  "catch_limits_summary": "5 kg per angler, 25 kg per boat, plus 1 piece",
  "limits": [
    {
      "text": "Boat: up to 5 kg per angler, max 25 kg per boat per day (5+ anglers), plus one extra piece",
      "status": "official"
    },
    {
      "text": "Shore: 5 kg plus one piece per licence per day",
      "status": "official"
    },
    {
      "text": "No taking coral, worms, limpets, bivalves or crustaceans (lobsters, crabs, etc.), even for bait",
      "status": "official"
    },
    {
      "text": "Recreational dolphinfish (llampuga) season 15 Aug–31 Dec (secondary source; not checked in the cuaderno)",
      "status": "secondary"
    },
    {
      "text": "Marine reserves: special minimum sizes and daily quotas (see the cuaderno tables, e.g. grouper 50 cm and sea bass 43 cm in reserves); spearfishing generally banned in reserves except Palma Bay and Migjorn (with authorisation)",
      "status": "official"
    }
  ],
  "spearfishing": [
    {
      "text": "Spearfishing: €28.92.",
      "status": "official"
    },
    {
      "text": "Spearfishing needs a federation licence or a medical certificate plus insurance; a speargun needs the federation licence.",
      "status": "official"
    },
    {
      "text": "Spearfishing in the Palma Bay and Migjorn reserves needs an annual permit.",
      "status": "official"
    },
    {
      "text": "Marine reserves: special minimum sizes and daily quotas (see the cuaderno tables, e.g. grouper 50 cm and sea bass 43 cm in reserves); spearfishing generally banned in reserves except Palma Bay and Migjorn (with authorisation)",
      "status": "official"
    }
  ],
  "protected_areas": [
    {
      "text": "Reserva Marina de la Bahía de Palma",
      "status": "official"
    },
    {
      "text": "Reserva Marina del Migjorn de Mallorca (Cabo Salinas)",
      "status": "official"
    },
    {
      "text": "Reserva Marina del Freu de sa Dragonera (Zona de Alta Protección dels Calafats)",
      "status": "official"
    },
    {
      "text": "Reserva Marina del Norte de Menorca",
      "status": "official"
    },
    {
      "text": "Reserva Marina de la Illa de l'Aire (Menorca)",
      "status": "official"
    },
    {
      "text": "Reserva Marina dels Freus d'Eivissa i Formentera",
      "status": "official"
    },
    {
      "text": "Reserva Marina de Llevant de Mallorca and others shown on the cuaderno map",
      "status": "official"
    },
    {
      "text": "Cabrera National Park (not detailed)",
      "status": "not_verified"
    }
  ],
  "species": [
    {
      "common_name": "Atlantic bluefin tuna",
      "scientific_name": "Thunnus thynnus",
      "method": "big game — state authorisation",
      "best_months": "Jun–Oct (peak Aug–Sep)",
      "best_months_status": "secondary",
      "best_months_source": {
        "id": "fish_balearics_5",
        "name": "Easyboat (boat rental)",
        "title": "Easyboat Ibiza fishing",
        "url": "https://easyboat.life/blog/fishing-ibiza-boat-charter/",
        "checked": "2026-10-28",
        "note": "Secondary source (not official).",
        "tier": "secondary"
      },
      "iucn_status": {
        "code": "LC",
        "category": "Least Concern",
        "assessed": "15 January 2021",
        "scope": "global, IUCN Red List 2025-2, as shown on FishBase"
      },
      "endemic": false,
      "local_rule": null,
      "source": {
        "id": "fishbase_thunnus_thynnus",
        "name": "FishBase",
        "title": "Thunnus thynnus species summary",
        "url": "https://www.fishbase.se/summary/Thunnus-thynnus.html",
        "checked": "2026-10-28",
        "note": "Reference database (FishBase species summary; IUCN status as FishBase shows it, Red List 2025-2 global).",
        "tier": "reference"
      }
    },
    {
      "common_name": "Albacore",
      "scientific_name": "Thunnus alalunga",
      "method": "trolling — authorisation",
      "best_months": "May–Aug (S of Mallorca)",
      "best_months_status": "secondary",
      "best_months_source": {
        "id": "fish_balearics_5",
        "name": "Easyboat (boat rental)",
        "title": "Easyboat Ibiza fishing",
        "url": "https://easyboat.life/blog/fishing-ibiza-boat-charter/",
        "checked": "2026-10-28",
        "note": "Secondary source (not official).",
        "tier": "secondary"
      },
      "iucn_status": {
        "code": "LC",
        "category": "Least Concern",
        "assessed": "15 January 2021",
        "scope": "global, IUCN Red List 2025-2, as shown on FishBase"
      },
      "endemic": false,
      "local_rule": null,
      "source": {
        "id": "fishbase_thunnus_alalunga",
        "name": "FishBase",
        "title": "Thunnus alalunga species summary",
        "url": "https://www.fishbase.se/summary/Thunnus-alalunga.html",
        "checked": "2026-10-28",
        "note": "Reference database (FishBase species summary; IUCN status as FishBase shows it, Red List 2025-2 global).",
        "tier": "reference"
      }
    },
    {
      "common_name": "Dolphinfish (llampuga)",
      "scientific_name": "Coryphaena hippurus",
      "method": "trolling",
      "best_months": "Jul–Sep peak",
      "best_months_status": "secondary",
      "best_months_source": {
        "id": "fish_balearics_5",
        "name": "Easyboat (boat rental)",
        "title": "Easyboat Ibiza fishing",
        "url": "https://easyboat.life/blog/fishing-ibiza-boat-charter/",
        "checked": "2026-10-28",
        "note": "Secondary source (not official).",
        "tier": "secondary"
      },
      "iucn_status": {
        "code": "LC",
        "category": "Least Concern",
        "assessed": "17 September 2010",
        "scope": "global, IUCN Red List 2025-2, as shown on FishBase"
      },
      "endemic": false,
      "local_rule": null,
      "source": {
        "id": "fishbase_coryphaena_hippurus",
        "name": "FishBase",
        "title": "Coryphaena hippurus species summary",
        "url": "https://www.fishbase.se/summary/Coryphaena-hippurus.html",
        "checked": "2026-10-28",
        "note": "Reference database (FishBase species summary; IUCN status as FishBase shows it, Red List 2025-2 global).",
        "tier": "reference"
      }
    },
    {
      "common_name": "Greater amberjack (círvia)",
      "scientific_name": "Seriola dumerili",
      "method": "jigging, live bait",
      "best_months": "Apr–Jun, Sep–Nov",
      "best_months_status": "secondary",
      "best_months_source": {
        "id": "fish_balearics_10",
        "name": "Mallorca Guide",
        "title": "Page cited for best months by species",
        "url": "https://mallorcaguide.com/en/mallorca-guides/fishing-mallorca-top-spots-when-to-go/",
        "checked": "2026-10-28",
        "note": "Secondary source (not official).",
        "tier": "secondary"
      },
      "iucn_status": {
        "code": "LC",
        "category": "Least Concern",
        "assessed": "07 November 2013",
        "scope": "global, IUCN Red List 2025-2, as shown on FishBase"
      },
      "endemic": false,
      "local_rule": null,
      "source": {
        "id": "fishbase_seriola_dumerili",
        "name": "FishBase",
        "title": "Seriola dumerili species summary",
        "url": "https://www.fishbase.se/summary/Seriola-dumerili.html",
        "checked": "2026-10-28",
        "note": "Reference database (FishBase species summary; IUCN status as FishBase shows it, Red List 2025-2 global).",
        "tier": "reference"
      }
    },
    {
      "common_name": "Common dentex (déntol)",
      "scientific_name": "Dentex dentex",
      "method": "live bait, jigging",
      "best_months": "Oct–Apr",
      "best_months_status": "secondary",
      "best_months_source": {
        "id": "fish_balearics_5",
        "name": "Easyboat (boat rental)",
        "title": "Easyboat Ibiza fishing",
        "url": "https://easyboat.life/blog/fishing-ibiza-boat-charter/",
        "checked": "2026-10-28",
        "note": "Secondary source (not official).",
        "tier": "secondary"
      },
      "iucn_status": {
        "code": "VU",
        "category": "Vulnerable",
        "assessed": "17 August 2009",
        "scope": "global, IUCN Red List 2025-2, as shown on FishBase"
      },
      "endemic": false,
      "local_rule": null,
      "source": {
        "id": "fishbase_dentex_dentex",
        "name": "FishBase",
        "title": "Dentex dentex species summary",
        "url": "https://www.fishbase.se/summary/Dentex-dentex.html",
        "checked": "2026-10-28",
        "note": "Reference database (FishBase species summary; IUCN status as FishBase shows it, Red List 2025-2 global).",
        "tier": "reference"
      }
    },
    {
      "common_name": "Pearly razorfish (raor)",
      "scientific_name": "Xyrichtys novacula",
      "method": "light bottom fishing",
      "best_months": null,
      "best_months_status": "not_verified",
      "best_months_source": null,
      "iucn_status": {
        "code": "LC",
        "category": "Least Concern",
        "assessed": "12 April 2008",
        "scope": "global, IUCN Red List 2025-2, as shown on FishBase"
      },
      "endemic": false,
      "local_rule": "Closed season in Balearics not verified",
      "source": {
        "id": "fishbase_xyrichtys_novacula",
        "name": "FishBase",
        "title": "Xyrichtys novacula species summary",
        "url": "https://www.fishbase.se/summary/Xyrichtys-novacula.html",
        "checked": "2026-10-28",
        "note": "Reference database (FishBase species summary; IUCN status as FishBase shows it, Red List 2025-2 global).",
        "tier": "reference"
      }
    },
    {
      "common_name": "Dusky grouper (anfós)",
      "scientific_name": "Epinephelus marginatus",
      "method": "bottom/spear (restricted)",
      "best_months": null,
      "best_months_status": "not_verified",
      "best_months_source": null,
      "iucn_status": null,
      "endemic": false,
      "local_rule": null,
      "source": {
        "id": "fishbase_epinephelus_marginatus",
        "name": "FishBase",
        "title": "Epinephelus marginatus species summary",
        "url": "https://www.fishbase.se/summary/Epinephelus-marginatus.html",
        "checked": "2026-10-28",
        "note": "Reference database (FishBase species summary; IUCN status as FishBase shows it, Red List 2025-2 global).",
        "tier": "reference"
      }
    }
  ],
  "spots": [
    {
      "name": "South of Mallorca / Cabrera channel",
      "why": "albacore and tuna in summer",
      "source": "secondary: easyboat.life",
      "status": "secondary"
    },
    {
      "name": "Freus of Ibiza and Formentera (outside reserve zones)",
      "why": "pelagics",
      "source": "secondary",
      "status": "secondary"
    },
    {
      "name": "North Menorca (outside reserve)",
      "why": "albacore late Jul–Aug",
      "source": "secondary",
      "status": "secondary"
    }
  ],
  "charter_guest_rules": "The boat needs a boat licence (list 6ª/7ª or EU flag), which covers the people aboard within the per-boat limits. Ask the charter company whether the yacht's licence is current. Big-game fishing needs the state authorisation.",
  "not_verified": [
    "Cabrera National Park (not detailed)",
    "Best months for Pearly razorfish (raor), Dusky grouper (anfós)"
  ],
  "status_legend": {
    "official": "Read in an official source (government, statutory body or the legal text).",
    "secondary": "From a non-government source (guide, club, operator or news); not official.",
    "unconfirmed": "An official rule we could only read in a search summary, because we could not open the official text.",
    "not_verified": "We could not confirm it.",
    "note": "status is our reading of the dataset's own wording: \"secondary\" = non-government source; \"unconfirmed\" = official rule read only in a search summary; \"not_verified\" = a gap."
  },
  "caveat": "Rules change. Check with the authority or the charter company before fishing. Our summaries (answer, summary, cost_summary, catch_limits_summary) are written from the labelled facts.",
  "sources": [
    {
      "id": "fish_balearics_1",
      "name": "Govern de les Illes Balears (CAIB)",
      "title": "CAIB Cuaderno de Pesca Recreativa (Dec 2025)",
      "url": "https://www.caib.es/webgoib/documents/81190/1416499/Cuaderno_Pesca+recreativa_2026_es.pdf/f43b0f82-e0b4-54dc-ee5f-4f633807fa88?t=1767968957779",
      "checked": "2026-10-28",
      "note": "Official source.",
      "tier": "official"
    },
    {
      "id": "fish_balearics_2",
      "name": "Govern de les Illes Balears (CAIB)",
      "title": "CAIB trámite licencia",
      "url": "https://www.caib.es/seucaib/es/tramites/tramite/98088/",
      "checked": "2026-10-28",
      "note": "Official source.",
      "tier": "official"
    },
    {
      "id": "fish_balearics_3",
      "name": "Govern de les Illes Balears (CAIB)",
      "title": "CAIB trámite (licencia embarcación)",
      "url": "https://www.caib.es/seucaib/es/200/persones/tramites/tramite/4209946/",
      "checked": "2026-10-28",
      "note": "Official source.",
      "tier": "official"
    },
    {
      "id": "fish_balearics_4",
      "name": "Spanish Government (administracion.gob.es)",
      "title": "administracion.gob.es – big-game authorisation",
      "url": "https://administracion.gob.es/pagFront/buscadortramites/detalleTramite.htm?idT=12746",
      "checked": "2026-10-28",
      "note": "Official source.",
      "tier": "official"
    },
    {
      "id": "fish_balearics_5",
      "name": "Easyboat (boat rental)",
      "title": "Easyboat Ibiza fishing",
      "url": "https://easyboat.life/blog/fishing-ibiza-boat-charter/",
      "checked": "2026-10-28",
      "note": "Secondary source (not official).",
      "tier": "secondary"
    },
    {
      "id": "fishbase_thunnus_thynnus",
      "name": "FishBase",
      "title": "Thunnus thynnus species summary",
      "url": "https://www.fishbase.se/summary/Thunnus-thynnus.html",
      "checked": "2026-10-28",
      "note": "Reference database (FishBase species summary; IUCN status as FishBase shows it, Red List 2025-2 global).",
      "tier": "reference"
    },
    {
      "id": "fishbase_thunnus_alalunga",
      "name": "FishBase",
      "title": "Thunnus alalunga species summary",
      "url": "https://www.fishbase.se/summary/Thunnus-alalunga.html",
      "checked": "2026-10-28",
      "note": "Reference database (FishBase species summary; IUCN status as FishBase shows it, Red List 2025-2 global).",
      "tier": "reference"
    },
    {
      "id": "fishbase_coryphaena_hippurus",
      "name": "FishBase",
      "title": "Coryphaena hippurus species summary",
      "url": "https://www.fishbase.se/summary/Coryphaena-hippurus.html",
      "checked": "2026-10-28",
      "note": "Reference database (FishBase species summary; IUCN status as FishBase shows it, Red List 2025-2 global).",
      "tier": "reference"
    },
    {
      "id": "fishbase_seriola_dumerili",
      "name": "FishBase",
      "title": "Seriola dumerili species summary",
      "url": "https://www.fishbase.se/summary/Seriola-dumerili.html",
      "checked": "2026-10-28",
      "note": "Reference database (FishBase species summary; IUCN status as FishBase shows it, Red List 2025-2 global).",
      "tier": "reference"
    },
    {
      "id": "fish_balearics_10",
      "name": "Mallorca Guide",
      "title": "Page cited for best months by species",
      "url": "https://mallorcaguide.com/en/mallorca-guides/fishing-mallorca-top-spots-when-to-go/",
      "checked": "2026-10-28",
      "note": "Secondary source (not official).",
      "tier": "secondary"
    },
    {
      "id": "fishbase_dentex_dentex",
      "name": "FishBase",
      "title": "Dentex dentex species summary",
      "url": "https://www.fishbase.se/summary/Dentex-dentex.html",
      "checked": "2026-10-28",
      "note": "Reference database (FishBase species summary; IUCN status as FishBase shows it, Red List 2025-2 global).",
      "tier": "reference"
    },
    {
      "id": "fishbase_xyrichtys_novacula",
      "name": "FishBase",
      "title": "Xyrichtys novacula species summary",
      "url": "https://www.fishbase.se/summary/Xyrichtys-novacula.html",
      "checked": "2026-10-28",
      "note": "Reference database (FishBase species summary; IUCN status as FishBase shows it, Red List 2025-2 global).",
      "tier": "reference"
    },
    {
      "id": "fishbase_epinephelus_marginatus",
      "name": "FishBase",
      "title": "Epinephelus marginatus species summary",
      "url": "https://www.fishbase.se/summary/Epinephelus-marginatus.html",
      "checked": "2026-10-28",
      "note": "Reference database (FishBase species summary; IUCN status as FishBase shows it, Red List 2025-2 global).",
      "tier": "reference"
    }
  ],
  "attribution": "Cite \"Catamaran Index\" with a link to the canonical_url of the page the figure comes from, and name the original source listed with it.",
  "affiliate_note": "book_url links go through /go/samboat, an affiliate link: Catamaran Index may earn a commission on bookings, at no extra cost to the traveller. It never changes the data."
}