Cyprus-Forum.com

[pedro the fisherman]

Greetings.
I am going to Paphos on 25th April for two weeks with my wife to celebrate 40th anniversary!!! Its our 1st visit. We are keen beach sea anglers and boat fishermen. I am an experienced and RYA qualified boat owner.
We would welcome any information on fishing ( techniques, equipment, bait, where to go, tackle shops)

We would like to borrow or hire a small boat or inflatable 3-6mtr.

Would enjoy joining residents on boating or fishing trips. We live on the edge of London and could return hospitality and sea fishing help here.

Hope you can help!

[raymanuva]

TUNA finishing is quite popular, i am not sure you will find a boat to rent all by yourself but could book private TUNA fishing from PAPHOS HARBOUR with a captain. If you will be able to rent a "self drive" boat it would be only enough for Octopus fishing but again you need someone to show you places etc... beach fishing, well... i been fishing for a whole summer and never caught a fish bigger than a palm of my hand. There is just no fish lately...

[pedro the fisherman]

Sounds like I have wasted my time preparing loads of float, ledger and spinning tackle.

[surfer]

Tuna fishing season starts early june and finishes in August...You will not find any tuna in the waters this time of the year. Your best bet would be octopus....

[pedro the fisherman]

What about gilthead bream, dorado, leerfish, barracuda, bluefish, amberjack, bass, mullet? When are they in season. When do the garfish start - they are fantastic live bait!

[nhowarth]

Hi Pedro,

There's a website at: http://agrino.org/fishing/htmldocs/sltwtrfish.html that lists the various fish to be found in the waters around Cyprus, plus informatioon on where to find them, bait to use, etc.

[pedro the fisherman]

Great site and very helpful. Many thanks.

[pedro the fisherman]

Holiday over now. Great place wonderful people - never been anywhere where the locals were so friendly and helpful. Will put reports on the eating website for others and a fishing report on www.worldseafishing.com on their international forum.

[pedro the fisherman]

I have had many posts giving me advice so I feel obliged to provide information after my Cyprus visit. I spoke to tackle dealers, locals and divers to obtain any helpful advice.

Don’t give fishing a high priority if you visit Cyprus. There are few fish. The water is glass clear and there is little sea life inshore. Even seaweed is limited, no prawns, very few little fish and little to see if you snorkel except a masons yard of strange shaped rocks, passage ways and caves. The limestone and sandstone erode into a maze of alien shapes. The rocky coastline can be quite dangerous for children and those who are not sure footed!

It is said that the best fishing is from the rocks, not beaches, northwards from the Tombs of the Kings. St. Georgios Island area and Sea Caves is recommended.

If the water is cloudy and the sea rough ledger with very small weight and .5 metre fluorocarbon trace with 1 hook. No.6 is the largest used, No.8 most popular. Line thickness maximum .30 or .35, .25 preferred for bream. Various bream are the main target for the table and wrasse for fun, grouper and Moray eel can be caught also small barracuda! When the water is clear only float fish for mullet other fish will be out at sea! The same fish are here all year - there is no best season. However, I was told by one dealer that after the summer, early Autumn was best.

Good size mullet can be found in the harbours. Locals use a string of small hooks wrapped around and pushed into a ball of bread paste. Wire cages or feeders stuffed with bread paste with short baited snoods is also a technique! Cheese and boiled egg can be used for mullet.

Small rag worm is used and can be bought from tackle dealers. Live shrimp is recommended and small fish live baited under a large float. Squid also is used. Winkles and a few limpets can be found in pools or close to the waterline. Most fishermen appear to use bread flake or paste and many use a flour and water thick glue mixed with fish oil or mashed sardine. Ground bait with bread paste or flour and water. Rice can be used and toast works well with bream. Small sardines and other small fish buried in cooking salt will harden up and stay fresh. The larger local supermarkets have fish counters with squid, mackerel, cuttlefish, sardines and prawns.

Fly fishing from the shore met with disbelief - just not done here!

Most serious fishing is from boats using nets or long lines. The many inshore reefs are popular. Trolling or down rigging for snapper, bonito and Dora do is the main boat angling. Tuna can be found 5 to 20 miles offshore May to July. Boat fishing trips can be booked at the harbour or through the many travel/tourist offices. Many “fishing” trips are only a couple of hour and compare with Cornish mackerel fishing trips - a good way of entertaining tourists and getting their cash!!!!

Local boat hire was limited to speed boats charged by the half hour!

East of the harbour on the seafront there is a dive shop advertising bait and tackle.

Eraclouse & Pidias, Fishing Tackle & Scuba Diving Shop, 2, Karnavalou str. (junction with Makarios Ave)
Tel 26 932 363 ( email [email protected] ) has rag worm & maggots. They can provide advise and have an excellent range of rods, reels, lures and terminal tackle. Lures are cheaper than U.K! They are in Old (Upper) Paphos close to the market, beside the bus stop and close to the municipal car park.

Opposite is another sports shop with a smaller fishing section N. Taliotis Shop, 5C, Karnavalou str.
Tel 06-234116

Fishing Boat Trips “The Angler” (boat) www.theangler-paphos.com email [email protected]
Tel Elias +357 9942 1044 or Claire +357 99187044 for deep sea all year, barracuda/Dora do/bonito August - December, Tuna May-August, Shark all year.