Here is something most people do not realise about La Palma: some of the best big-game fishing in the Atlantic is happening just a few hundred metres off our harbour. I live in Tazacorte, right by the port, and I have watched boats come back with fish almost as long as the people who caught them. The reason is simple, and it is the whole story of fishing here.

Why the fishing here is so good

The seabed off the west coast drops away fast. Within minutes of leaving Tazacorte harbour you are over water a kilometre deep. On most islands you have to steam for an hour to reach blue water. Here it is right on the doorstep, which means the big pelagic fish are too. That is what makes La Palma a genuine big-game destination, not a fishing village with a couple of rowing boats.

What you can actually catch

Out in the deep, on a charter, the headline fish are the ones that get anglers out of bed:

• Blue and white marlin, the dream catch, with blue marlin season roughly June to October
• Bluefin and bigeye tuna, which can be enormous
• Wahoo, known here locally as peto, fast and delicious
• Mahi-mahi (dorado) and the occasional swordfish

Closer in, with light trolling, jigging or bottom fishing, you are after amberjack (the local medregal), barracuda, bonito, snapper, grouper and more, depending on the time of year. Different seasons bring different fish, so it is always worth asking the skipper what is running when you come.

Going out on a charter

For most visitors this is the way to do it, and honestly the way to actually catch something. The charters run out of Tazacorte, you are in deep water in no time, and the crew handle everything: the boat, the gear, the bait, finding the fish. You just hold the rod and try not to let go when something hits. Half-day and full-day trips are both common, and you do not need any experience.

Boats book up fast in the marlin months, so if you have your heart set on it, sort it early. You can book a fishing trip online before you arrive.

And if you cannot find a trip that suits you, just get in touch. I live here, I know the skippers, and I can often help point you towards the right licensed boat or arrange something through my local network. No promises on the marlin, but I will do my best to get you out on the water with people I trust.

A word on shore fishing

Let me be honest, because nobody else will. You can fish from the rocks here, and people do, mostly around Tazacorte where the sea access is best. But shore fishing on La Palma can be slow, sometimes properly slow, and plenty of visitors have spent a long evening on the rocks with nothing to show for it. Now and then someone lands a peto from the shore just north of town, which keeps everyone hopeful, but if you came to catch something, the real action is offshore. Treat shore fishing as a peaceful way to watch the sun go down, with a fish as a bonus, not a plan.

Do you need a fishing licence?

This is the bit people forget, so listen up. On a charter, you are fine: the boat runs under its own licence and you just turn up and fish. No paperwork.

For shore fishing, though, you do need a recreational fishing licence, and the Canaries take it seriously. The Guardia Civil’s environmental unit (SEPRONA) genuinely checks anglers on the rocks, so it is not worth the risk of a fine. The good news is that it is cheap and easy. The recreational licence costs only around 15 euros when you apply in person through the official Canary Islands government channels, it lasts three years, and it covers every island, not just La Palma. You can apply in person at the island’s fisheries office with your passport or NIE, or online. One heads-up: there are third-party websites charging 50 to 60 euros for exactly the same licence, so go through the official route if you can. Rules do change, so check the current requirements before you cast.

Practical tips

• Book charters ahead in summer, especially for marlin (June to October).
• The Atlantic out there can get bouncy. If you are prone to seasickness, take something before you sail, not after.
• Bring sun protection, water and a hat. There is no shade on a boat.
• Ask whether it is catch-and-release or catch-and-keep, and whether you can take fish home. Many crews will fillet your catch for you.

After the fishing

The best part of a day on the water is coming back into Tazacorte at golden hour, legs still adjusting to dry land, and walking straight to a table by the harbour for fresh fish and a cold drink. That, to me, is the whole point. If you want to base yourself right by the port where the boats go out, that is exactly where our own places are, and you can read more about things to do on the island in our full guide.