Gilt-Head Seabream Fishing Charters

The gold bar between the eyes gives the fish its name. Gilt-head bream feed close to shore, in lagoons and harbour mouths as well as on deeper ground, using flat, molar-like teeth to crack mussels, crabs and clams. They mouth a bait before taking it, so the bite is often a few small knocks before the rod pulls down, and a good fish then runs hard for cover. Most start life as males and become females as they grow. Farmed dorada are on menus all round the Mediterranean, but a wild one from the boat is the fish locals prize.

On the Costa del Sol, Blue Tide Marbella Boat fishes from Marbella at 08:00 for 3 to 8 hours with up to 9 people, switching between trolling, fishing at anchor and bottom fishing with the season, with bait and tackle supplied. Baits on the bottom at anchor are the usual way to catch bream. La Starfisher works light tackle from 08:00 on trips of 3 to 9 hours for up to 8, with a captain who has more than 20 years at sea. In Cádiz, Pesca a fondo is a private four hour bottom fishing trip from 09:00 for up to 6, which its captain runs as a family day with lots of bites. The three Spanish boats are together on our gilt-head bream in Spain page.

In Malta, Fishingmalta sails from Ta' Xbiex all year on shared trips, five hours from 07:00 or four hours from 12:00, on a 33 foot Targa with a toilet, a fishfinder and an ice box for the catch. Skippers Chris and Daryl bottom fish the reefs and ledges for table fish and troll offshore for predators, with tackle, bait and drinks included. Bring non-slip shoes, a jacket, a hat and sunscreen.