Fishing Charters in Gibraltar

Two trips, one skipper

Gibraltar's charter boats work from the Queensway area on the west side of the Rock, close to the town centre. Both trips listed here are run by Blue Horizon, and they fish for very different things, so choose by the month you are here.

• Blue Horizon Tuna Fishing is a dedicated bluefin trip. The skipper puts the prime season for giant bluefin at 16 June to 16 July, with smaller bluefin from 16 August to 16 October, when the fish come and go in bursts and the boat advises the best dates. Rods, reels and lures are supplied, with fuel, snacks, water and soft drinks on full days.
• Blue Horizon Small Game is the light tackle trip for the rest of the year: little tunny from late October to February, mackerel all year round, and harder targets such as red snapper, dentex, groupers and amberjack, plus octopus, squid and cuttlefish. All gear is provided, with fuel, snacks, water and soft drinks.

What you can catch, and when

The Strait is the only gateway between the Atlantic and the Mediterranean, so fish pass through on their own schedule. Bluefin tuna are the summer story, in two windows. Little tunny, fast schooling fish that fight far above their size on a spinning rod, take over from late October through the winter. Mackerel give steady action in any month, which makes the small game trip a good first outing for children or anyone new to sea fishing, while dentex, amberjack and squid are the trophies of a mixed day of trolling, spinning and jigging. The month by month calendar is in our Gibraltar boat fishing by season guide.

Before you book

• Bluefin is a managed fishery. In British Gibraltar Territorial Waters bluefin fishing needs a Class K licence, catches are reported and weighed at North Mole, and a total allowable catch applies, so the season can close early. Ask the skipper about this year's dates and what can be kept before you pay.
• Watch the wind. The Levanter from the east and the Poniente from the west decide most fishing days here. A strong Levanter raises a short, steep sea, and the skipper may move the trip to the sheltered side of the Rock or to another day, so keep a spare day if you can.
• Dolphins have right of way. The bay has resident dolphins and a Dolphin Protection Zone, where popping for tuna is not allowed, and boats slow down or move away when dolphins or whales are close.
• Staying on the Costa del Sol? Gibraltar is a day trip from Marbella and Málaga, with a border crossing on foot or by car. If you would rather fish from the Spanish side, see the fishing charters in Spain.