Baits and techniques
Fishing in Mediterranean: baits, baitfish and techniques
Mediterranean fishing is mostly sea fishing: sea bream on fine natural baits from the shore, predators on lures at dawn and dusk.
Croatia, Italy, Spain, Greece, southern France
Guide sections: Learn to fish
LIVE BAITFISHCHECKED 2026-10-23
VARIES BY COUNTRY
France (freshwater): allowed, but not with species that have a minimum size, protected or non-native species, or eel. Spain: rules vary by region; Castilla-La Mancha bans fish, crayfish and molluscs as live bait. Croatia (freshwater): non-native and invasive species are banned as bait, live or dead; native species not confirmed. Italy and Greece: not confirmed. Sea angling in all five countries: not confirmed.
Source: Assemblée nationale, Question écrite n° 3847 mit Antwort des Ministeriums (Code de l'environnement R. 436-35) (Antwort im JO vom 01.04.2025) · Castilla-La Mancha: Orden de Vedas de Pesca 2026, Entwurf der Consejería de Desarrollo Sostenible (Entwurf Fassung 22.09.2025, gleichlautend in Orden 22/2025 (DOCM 19.02.2025)) · Zakon o slatkovodnom ribarstvu (Kroatien), Narodne novine 63/19, Art. 51 (NN 63/19)
Lures
- Sea bass: floating minnows, stickbaits and soft plastics at dawn and dusk, mainly in the cooler months.
- Bonito, leerfish and amberjack: metal jigs, poppers and stickbaits when predators are feeding.
- Dentex: jigs and soft baits from the boat over rocky ground.
- Small predators and horse mackerel: very light soft lures and micro jigs from harbour walls.
Natural baits
- Ragworm, Korean worm and other marine worms for gilthead and other bream
- Shrimp, mussel and crab for bream on the bottom
- Squid and sardine for bigger fish
- Bread and paste for mullet in harbours
Dead baitfish
Sardine, mackerel and squid are the usual dead baits at sea.
More rules
France: the prefect can ban certain fishing methods on specific stretches. A national ban on live bait was considered in 2016 and dropped.
Source: Assemblée nationale, Question écrite n° 3847 mit Antwort des Ministeriums (Code de l'environnement R. 436-35) (Antwort im JO vom 01.04.2025)
Spain, Castilla-La Mancha: groundbaiting before or during fishing is banned, except in non-trout reservoirs with plant-based feed and maggots.
Source: Castilla-La Mancha: Orden de Vedas de Pesca 2026, Entwurf der Consejería de Desarrollo Sostenible (Entwurf Fassung 22.09.2025, gleichlautend in Orden 22/2025 (DOCM 19.02.2025)) · Castilla-La Mancha: Orden 22/2025 de Vedas de Pesca de 2025 (DOCM) (DOCM Nr. 34 vom 19.02.2025)
Croatia (freshwater): foul-hooking fish on the outside of the body is banned.
Source: Zakon o slatkovodnom ribarstvu (Kroatien), Narodne novine 63/19, Art. 51 (NN 63/19)
Techniques
Target species
Quick answers
What baits work best from the shore in the Mediterranean?
Marine worms, shrimp and mussel on the bottom catch bream almost everywhere. At dawn and dusk, minnow lures for sea bass are worth a try.
Can I use live bait in the Mediterranean?
It varies by country and inland often by region. We found no confirmed rule for the sea, so check with the local fisheries office or your charter.
Why do I catch so little during the day in the Mediterranean?
Clear water and busy beaches make fish wary. Bream and sea bass bite much better early in the morning, in the evening and at night.
Other regions
Rules change and often apply to one country, state or water only. Check the permit for your water before you fish. No guarantee, every rule with its source.