Five Winter Euro Big-Game Fishing Itineraries That'll Keep Your Summer Alive

Looking for the best winter fishing in Europe? Sure, peak season may be coming to a close, but there’s no need for the off-season to slow down your angling. Just as long as you know where to look. From the Canary Islands to the Azores, Madeira, and Spain's Ebro Delta, Europe’s warmer waters keep big-game fishing alive all winter, with bottom fishing, jigging, topwater, and the odd bit of trolling to enjoy.

In this guide to our bucket-list winter fishing destinations in Europe, we cover where to go, which species to target - from greater amberjack and wahoo to tuna and leerfish - the fishing charters and skippers, what weather to expect, and which Strike shoe to pack for every trip.

Don't put those passports away just yet.

Madeira, Portugal

Welcome to blue marlin heaven. What this tiny 35-mile-long Portuguese island lacks in size it more than makes up for in billfish. So much so that Tommy Gifford Award-winning captain Peter Bristow made it his home and has since (arguably) caught more marlin over 1,000 pounds than any other captain in the world. In the winter? With some trolling still up for grabs, the island’s steep drop-offs - 9000ft just 3 miles from shore - offer big and consistent bottom-fishing action against a verdant, craggy, and dramatic volcanic backdrop.

Winter species: Greater amberjack, red snapper, skipjack, barracuda, wahoo

Weather: Mild, but changeable. November averages are between 18-22°C, but rain falls more often here than in the Canaries.

Charter of choice: Sea Spirit, a Cabo 35 skippered by John Traynor out of Calheta.

Don’t forget: Madeira’s weather turns quickly, but the island’s best winter fishing being just a few miles from shore means you can easily retreat to port should it get too hairy out there.

Shoe to choose: The Silvertip Drift Boat Shoe.

Onshore activity: Fishing rained off? Head for the ancient laurel forest for a wet walk. The waterfalls are at their best after a downpour.

Catalonia, Spain

A couple of hours south of Barcelona, the Ebro River spills into the Mediterranean through a maze of river mouths, sandbanks, and lagoons. This is the Ebro Delta, the benchmark Mediterranean fishery for aggressive, stubborn, and wily leerfish. Local guides put the leerfish peak in November, with fish averaging around 35lb and topping 60lb. This isn’t the time for big gear and long runs offshore, though: winter here means light spinning rods and explosive surface takes in shallow water, with bluefish and big sea bass filling the gaps between scraps with your powerful target species. This is all-out fun.

Winter species: Leerfish, bluefish, European sea bass, gilthead bream

Weather: Highs hit around 18°C, but nights drop significantly, so pack layers if you’re on a full-day trip.

Charter of choice: Local Dutch hero Captain Ron Nieuweboer has more than 25 years’ experience on the water, and the two boats that make up his outfit, Sport Fishing Spain, are top shouts.

Don’t forget: Slow retrieve with erratic pauses is the name of the game at this time of year, what with the leerfish’s metabolism slowing down in the cooler waters.

Shoe to choose: The Bigeye Boot.

Onshore activity: Head for the famous wetlands by bike to spot the iconic flamingos.

Tenerife, Canary Islands

The Canaries have long been the go-to for Europe’s big-game anglers looking to scratch the itch when winter hits. And many head for Tenerife, where the species count remains rich as things cool down. The island sits in deep Atlantic water in the shadow of Mount Teide, Spain's highest peak, and its pelagic season runs longer than most. Its renowned reefs hold greater amberjack big enough to test anyone's drag – one recent charter guest boated a 64kg fish.

Winter species: Wahoo, bigeye tuna, yellowfin tuna, greater amberjack

Weather: Warm and mostly bright. Expect around six hours of sunshine a day with peak temperatures of 21°C, and the risk of the odd showery spell.

Charter of choice: The Rodfather II, a Luhrs 40 restored in 2024 and skippered by owner Captain Adrian Arcay (22 years' experience) out of Puerto Colón. Full private days run around €1,400 for up to six.

Don’t forget: Ask your skipper how they feel about switching to topwater at some point through the day.

Shoe to choose: The Silvertip Strap Sneaker.

Onshore activity: Ride up the cable car to the top of Mount Teide for jaw-flooring views.

Azores, Portugal

Nine volcanic islands, sitting where the Gulf Stream collides with the Azores Current, in some of the richest blue water in the North Atlantic? No wonder Marlin magazine named the Azores its Editor's Choice for North Atlantic big game, thanks in part to the six IGFA blue marlin line-class world records it boasts. Come winter, the marlin charters are in maintenance mode, the islands change character, and flights to the archipelago thin out. Those who make it over there are rewarded with fewer boats, bigger skies, and serious fishing.

Winter species: Greater amberjack, grouper, trevally, barracuda

Weather: Mild but damp. Expect around 18°C, a 19°C sea, and the chance of rain on roughly two days in three in November.

Charter of choice: Captain Pedro Januário's not only a top skipper, but he's a master lure maker too, supplying pro anglers and national teams with the tools they need to get into the marlin. Find his charter at DBM Azores.

Don’t forget: Stay close to the marina. You’ll be wanting to grab your gear and get out there fast when the weather window opens.

Shoe to choose: The Bluefin Lace Sneaker.

Onshore activity: Soak in the steaming thermal pools at Furnas on São Miguel, then refuel with a bowl of cozido das Furnas, a stew slow-cooked underground in the volcanic heat.

Gran Canaria, Canary Islands

Winter in the Canaries means swell season, as North Atlantic storms send big rollers south and the trade winds whip up the sea surface. It’s reason enough to set your cool-weather crosshairs on the third-largest island in the archipelago, Gran Canaria, where high mountains block the north-easterlies and shelter its southern side. This end of the island is where you’ll find Pasito Blanco - host of one of Europe's longest-running big-game tournaments. So if you're happy to swap marlin trolling for jigging the reefs, you'll be rewarded with calmer water and heavyweight action over some famously fruitful volcanic topography.

Winter species: Pink dentex, greater amberjack, wahoo, skipjack tuna

Weather: Warm, dry, and bright. Expect around 23°C, a 22°C sea, roughly seven hours of sunshine a day, and rain on just three days a month.

Charter of choice: Fish On!, skippered by Captain Pedro Betancor (25+ years on these waters) out of Pasito Blanco. Private 9-hour days run around €1,200 for up to ten guests.

Don’t forget: Steer clear of the island's south-east corner if you want to fish. It’s so reliably blown out that the Windsurf World Cup takes place there.

Shoe to choose: The Dogtooth Clog.

Onshore activity: Walk the Maspalomas Dunes, a protected nature reserve of rolling sand right on the south coast, near Pasito Blanco.