Shore fishing in Spain with your kids sometimes requires additional licences for them. This depends on how old they are. Each region has its fishing laws. Some are stricter and require additional licences for each kid. Other regions are more lenient and allow the child to share a fishing rod with his or her parent. Here is the list of areas:
Areas of Spain That Allow Kids to Fish Without a Licence
Balearic Islands (under 14-year-olds)
If you’re fishing in the Balearic Islands, your kids don’t need a licence. They’re allowed to fish from the shore and from kayaks, pedal boats, inflatable rafts, and other similar floating objects. If they’re over 14 years old, they will need a licence.
Regions that Allow Parents to Share their Licence for Shore Fishing in Spain
Here is a list of Spanish regions that don’t require a licence for children. Since you’re allowed 2 rods with 3 hooks per licence holder, the child can fish with one of them. If you have two kids, the parent and kids must share 2 rods.
- Valencia (under 18-year-olds)
- Murcia (under 14-year-olds)
- Euskadi (Basque Country) (under 16-year-olds)
- Andalucía (under 14-year olds)
Regions That Require Kids to Have Their Own Licences
- Canary Islands – Difficult to get even if you go in person. A translated birth certificate (by a certified translator) is needed, which usually costs 30 euros or more and sometimes takes almost a week to get. If you’re a Spanish citizen, it’s easy because Spaniards have a document known as “Libro de Familia” with the names of the family’s children.
- Galicia
- Catalonia (under 14-year olds)
Document That Your Child Must Carry
In some parts of the country, where your child isn’t required to have a fishing licence, he/she must carry a parent authorization in Spanish. This is especially enforced if the parent isn’t near the child. You will also need this authorization when you apply for the licences, where required. Please copy the text below on paper and you’re ready to go.
Autorización Paterna para la Pesca Recreativa Desde Orilla (Parent authorization for fishing from the shore)
Yo (your name here), con pasaporte número (your passport number here),
Autorizo a mi hijo (your son’s name here) /hija (your daughter’s name here) con pasaporte número (child’s passport number here)
a practicar la pesca recreativa desde tierra.
(Your signature here)
Fishing with Your Kids: What Licence to Choose
If your child wants to fish in the areas that require a licence, such as the Canary Islands, then you can choose between the following:
The Child Fishing Licence issued by the Government of Catalonia allows kids under 14 to fish all over Spain. If your child is over 14 but under 18, please choose our teenager fishing licence.
