{"id":1111,"date":"2026-10-18T02:39:32","date_gmt":"2026-10-18T02:39:32","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/reelzy.co\/blog\/malta-fishing-trip-winter-december-january\/"},"modified":"2026-10-18T02:40:28","modified_gmt":"2026-10-18T02:40:28","slug":"malta-fishing-trip-winter-december-january","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/reelzy.co\/blog\/malta-fishing-trip-winter-december-january\/","title":{"rendered":"Fishing in Malta in Winter: December to February Guide"},"content":{"rendered":"

Yes, a fishing trip in Malta works in winter.<\/strong> From December to February the big offshore fish have mostly gone, but the reefs are at their best: dentex and amberjack over deep rocky ground, squid and cuttlefish on night trips, grouper all year, and in December the last of the lampuki. The catch is the weather. Winter is the season of the gregale, so book a boat that fishes all year, keep a spare day, and expect the skipper to make the call on the morning.<\/p>\n

The short answer<\/h2>\n

If you are in Malta for a winter break, Christmas with family or a January escape from the cold up north, a reef or jigging trip is the one to book. Big game tuna fishing is a late spring and summer thing, and swordfish are closed from 1 January to 31 March. What winter does well is bottom fishing and jigging for the reef predators, plus relaxed squid fishing after dark.<\/p>\n

You need no personal fishing licence on a charter in Malta. The boat holds the permits it needs, as our Malta fishing seasons guide<\/a> explains in detail.<\/p>\n

What you can catch in Malta from December to February<\/h2>\n

Here is what is realistic for a visiting angler in the winter months, based on the season data in our seasons guide and on what the skippers themselves say on their listings.<\/p>\n

Dentex (denti\u010bi).<\/strong> The winter fish. Dentex hold over rocky ground, drop offs and wrecks, and local angling sources rate them as often at their best in winter. They are strong, good to eat, and usually taken jigging or with live bait.<\/p>\n

Amberjack (a\u010b\u010bjola).<\/strong> Amberjack are at their peak in the summer heat, but they stay on the deep reefs well into winter, roughly until February. A winter amberjack is still a hard fight. Our page on amberjack fishing in Malta<\/a> covers how the boats fish for them.<\/p>\n

Squid and cuttlefish.<\/strong> Squid fishing in Malta is a night job from about October to March, with small jigs under lights. It is light tackle, relaxed and a good choice for families and first timers. Malta sets minimum sizes of 100 mm for squid and 75 mm for cuttlefish, and the skipper will measure.<\/p>\n

Grouper.<\/strong> Grouper live on the reefs all year. The minimum size is 45 cm, so many go back.<\/p>\n

Lampuki, in December only.<\/strong> Lampuki (mahi mahi) open on 15 August and the season runs to 31 December. The best of it is late August to November, so a December trip catches the tail end at most. Do not plan a January holiday around them.<\/p>\n

Bonito, from February.<\/strong> Bonito start to show from about February, so late winter can add them to a mixed day.<\/p>\n

What is out of season.<\/strong> Bluefin tuna pass the islands from late spring into July, and albacore from mid May to mid July. Swordfish are closed from 1 January to 31 March under EU rules, so a swordfish trip advertised for February is not a swordfish trip.<\/p>\n

The weather: why winter needs a spare day<\/h2>\n

Malta’s winter is mild on land, but the sea is a different story. The wind that matters most is the gregale<\/strong>, the strong north-east wind Maltese fishermen respect above all others. It blows mainly from autumn to early spring and sends a heavy swell into the north-east facing bays and harbours: St Paul’s Bay, Marsamxett and the Grand Harbour. A strong gregale day is the classic cancellation, and the swell can stay up for a day after the wind drops.<\/p>\n

The majjistral<\/strong>, from the north-west, blows all year. A moderate one is a normal fishing day, and when it blows hard the south-east coast around Marsascala usually sits in its lee.<\/p>\n

Three practical rules follow:<\/p>\n

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  1. Book early in your stay.<\/strong> If the first date is blown out, you still have days to move it.<\/li>\n
  2. Keep a spare morning.<\/strong> From October to March the gregale gives the most weather days of the year.<\/li>\n
  3. Ask where the boat launches.<\/strong> On a windy week, a boat on the sheltered side of the island, or one that can run around to it, is the one that goes out.<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n

    If the skipper cancels for weather, you are not out of pocket. On Reelzy you get a full refund of what you paid online or a new date at no extra cost, as our guide to a fishing trip cancelled for bad weather in Malta<\/a> explains. Do not press cancel yourself if the skipper suggests it: write to support first.<\/p>\n

    Which boats fish in winter<\/h2>\n

    Not every boat runs all year, so check before you plan. These Malta boats on Reelzy say things on their own pages that matter in winter:<\/p>\n