Fishing

Lleida offers a wide range of rivers and reservoirs in which it is possible to fish. By decree of the Departament de Medi Ambient of the Generalitat de Catalunya (Spain), it is possible to fish in all waters in Catalonia in which there is no explicit prohibition. Fishing is therefore prohibited in Catalonia's National Parks, Nature Reserves, Protected Natural Spaces, and Unspoilt Natural Reserves also in other protected spaces including the Inland Fish Sanctuaries. In the biological sanctuaries, fishing is strictly restricted and/or prohibited in order to protect and promote the ichthyological fauna. In these areas, it is not permitted to fish or restock any of the species and it is also prohibited to collect the natural bait which is allowed for trout fishing.

To enjoy a little recreational fishing in Catalonia it is necessary to have a recreational fishing licence which authorises the holder to fish in inland and maritime waters. To fish in areas of restricted fishing, it is also necessary to have a personal and non-transferrable licence, which in the case of fishing for members of the salmon family will be a one day permit.

Fishing licenses can be obtained from local offices and from the territorial services of the Department of Agriculture, Food and Fisheries and the Department for the Natural Environment and Housing and the Catalan Federation of Sports Fishing and Casting, via Servicaixa terminals of La Caixa and via the Administració Oberta de Catalunya web site (http://www.cat365.net/), from the section relating to environmental services.

Recreational fishing licenses are free for people who can show that they are pensioners, severely disabled, or under fourteen years old.

- Request your Fishing Licence via Internet - Generalitat de Catalunya

Territorial services for agriculture, food and rural action in Lleida
Camp del Camp de Mart, 35
25004 LLEIDA
Tel: 973 24 66 50 - Fax: 973 24 89 29; 973 23 90 64
E-mail: jgodia@gencat.net

Territorial services for the natural enviroment in Lleida
Ronda Sant Martí, 2-6 
25006 LLEIDA (Segrià) 
Tel: 973 28 39 30 - Fax: 973 28 20 39 
E-mail: stlleida.dmah@gencat.net

Catalan federation of sport fishing and casting
Carrer Béjar, 59 baixos
08014 BARCELONA
Tel: 93 289 33 00 / Fax 93 289 05 52
Web: www.fcpeic.cat / E-mail: fedecatpesca@fcpeic.cat

Lleida fishing federation
Avda. Pau Claris, 1, 2n 
25700 la Seu d'Urgell
Tel: 973 35 37 62 - Fax: 973 35 37 62

These are inland waters on which those in possession of a non-professional fishing licence can fish. They are not within areas of controlled fishing, do not form part of fish sanctuaries, and do not lie within the Aigüestortes i Estany de Sant Maurici National Park. Similarly, they do not form part of any Fauna Reserve , are not located within protected natural spaces within which fishing is explicitly prohibited, and do not form part of Unspoilt Natural Reserves.

The free areas for catch-and-return fishing, are those in which, on account of their particular characteristics, the regulations applied are those established for the controlled catch-and-return fishing of salmonids. In such areas it is possible to fish without possessing a fishing permit.

All of the free areas included in the genetic reserves for trout and the other areas listed below are considered free areas for catch and release fishing:

Noguera Pallaresa River Basin

• River Noguera de Lladorre. Borito bridge – Tavascan reservoir.
• River Flamisell. Old bridge of La Plana de Mont-ros – Molinos power station.
• River Flamisell. Iron bridge of La Pobla de Segur – Bridge over the Erinyà gorge.
• River Noguera de Cardós. Conference with the River Graus – Confluence with the River Boldís.
• River Noguera Pallaresa. Aidí road bridge – Confluence with the River Baiasca.
• River Noguera Pallaresa-Unarre. Confluence of the River Noguera Pallaresa – Village of Cerbi.
• River Baiasca. Confluence with the River Noguera Pallaresa – Arestui bridge.
• Noguera Pallaresa. Puente de Escaló - 50 metros abajo Presa de la Torrassa.
• Noguera de Cardós. Confluencia río Vallfarrera - Borda de Bram.
• River Escrita. Confluence with the River Noguera Pallaresa – Espot bridge.

Noguera Ribagorçana River Basin

• River Noguera Ribagorçana. Bridge on the Montanuy to Vilaller road – El Salto gully.
• Malpàs gully. Confluence with the El Convent stream – Headwaters.
• River Sant Martí. Confluence with the River Noguera de Tor – Confluence with the Taüll gully.

Segre River Basin

• La Bavosa or Pedra torrent. Confluence with the River Segre – Border with the Cadí-Moixeró Natural Park.
• River El Molí or Arànser. Devil’s bridge – La Mussa bridge.
• River Segre. Adrall bridge – Arfa bridge.
• River Segre. Arsègue bridge – La Quera.
• River Segre. Confluence with the River Guàrdia – Confluence with the Gullinoves gully

The areas of controlled fishing in inland waters are those which are subject to special regulations on account of their particular biological or piscicultural conditions. The final 50 metres of the tributaries that flow into them are also considered areas of controlled fishing.
To fish in these areas it is necessary to possess both an official non-professional fishing licence and a special personalised and non-transferable one-day fishing permit. The latter can be obtained through the fishing club responsible for the management of the waters in question.
Generally speaking, areas of controlled fishing are managed by specific fishing clubs, which in turn are normally members of the Catalan Federation of Sports Fishing and Casting.

Water bodies with special status: these are areas where trout fishing using fishing rods is authorised all year round, with the exception of water bodies designated as special trout areas, where the fishing season corresponds to that generally authorised for trout. This exception does not apply to the Sant Ponç, Oliana, Sant Antoni, Santa Anna and Canelles reservoirs, where the fishing of members of the carp family is permitted throughout the year, as is that of other fish species that can be used for different fish-related purposes and which are not members of the salmon family.

Genetic reserve areas for trout are closed river basins in which the trout populations are autochthonous and all present a common series of genetic characteristics. A series of integrated measures have been taken to conserve these populations which include the prohibition of restocking fish populations.

These genetic reserve areas can be found within fishing reserves and areas of controlled fishing, where fish catches are limited per fisherman and per day, as established by the PTGP norms for controlled fishing. All of the free fishing areas included in these areas are for catch and release fishing and it is prohibited to use natural bait.

• Conangles Gully. Confluence with the River Noguera Ribagorçana.
• River Noguera de Tort (Noguera Ribagorçana River Basin). Upstream of the confluence with the River Sant Nicolau (included).
• River Erta. The whole river basin.
• River Noguera Pallaresa. Upstream of the Borda del Pubill.
• River Noguera de Vallferrera. Upstream of the built up area of Alins.
• River Baiasca. Upstream of the El Cargol tunnel.
• River Noguera de Cardós. Upstream of the confluence with the River Estaon or Peracalç (including the River Estaon).
• River Escrita. Upstream of the town of Espot (including the River Peguera).
• River Flamisell. Upstream of the Molinos power station.
• River Manyanet. Upstream of the confluence with the River Valiri (including the River Valiri).
• River Segre. Upstream of the confluence of the River Alp.
• River Aigua d’Ora. Upstream of the road to Sant Llorenç de Morunys.

Information provided by :

The Departament de Medi Ambient i Habitatge of the Generalitat de Catalunya