Other Species

Tench

Tench are quite widespread in all of Spain, however in Andalucia can be a bit of a hit and miss affair. While they invariably get caught by carp anglers, they can be targeted specifically using either float or ledgering techniques. Baits such a bread flake, bread paste and maggot will score. If your chosen water is weedy then use an old fashioned weed drag to clear a swim. Top the ‘new swim’ up with worm, corn or maggot and wait for the tench to arrive. You may not catch massive bags of fish, but the experience is very pleasurable. They can be caught up to 8 kg (17.63 lbs).

Roach & Rudd

These species can be found in Aragon and Catalonia. Large populations exist in the Rio Ebro and Rio Segre. Fish as you would elsewhere in northern Europe. Pole fishing tactics with large floats (to combat the current) is a really good method. Maggots, caster, hemp, tares, wheat and bread all score as baits. Rudd to 5lb have been recorded from Miravet on the Rio Ebro, with roach to 4lbs reported from the lower Ebro, south of Tortosa. The Ebro delta at Amposta has huge populations of both fish. Inevitably roach/rudd hybrids also abound.

Pumpkinseed

Known locally as ‘perca sol’, the population of these little fish has exploded in Spain. Although a lot of anglers do not like this new addition to the area, they do constitute a large proportion of the diet of predators such as black bass and pike. If fishing a water with pumpkinseed present, target them with light float tackle. A whip or light pole is ideal. Use a fine bristled float to 0.9 kilo (2lb) line. Hooks in the 16 to 22 region are about right. Fish maggot, pinkie or pieces of worm as bait. They respond well to loose fed chopped worm. Hugh numbers of fish can be caught in a session. They go to 400 grams (14 ounces).

Bagre (European Chub)

Present in numbers in Aragon, Catalonia, Navarra and easter La Rioja. Fis as you would in other countries. Spinning is very effective. They grow to 6 kgs (13.2 lbs).

Cacho (Iberian Chub)

These little fish are similar to European chub. They can be caught in the Rio Guadalquivir and Rio Guadalbullon in Andalucia. They are also present in Galicia, Catella Leon, Castella la Mancha and Extremedura. Normally targeted by match anglers, they can be caught on similar methods to those employed for European chub in northern countries. Trotted single maggot on flowing water is another worthwhile approach. Small indviduals make excellent pike baits! They go to 4 kgs (8.8 lbs)

Bleak

Huge shoals of this tiny but beautiful fish exist in the Rio Quadalquivir. They can prove to be quite a nuisance when fishing for larger species. These fish are primarily the target of match anglers, or pike and eel anglers looking for bait. Fish using tiny hooks (18 – 24) on very light float tackle for best results. They are present all over Spain, but are absent from Galicia and some ares of southern Andalucia. They go to 100 grams (3.52 ounces).

Allis Shad

These can be really good fun on light spinning gear, and when the fish are running can be caught in large numbers. A small mepps spinner is without doubt the best method. Look for disturbances on the surface to find the shoals. Fish can go up to 4 kilos (8.8lbs)! They are present in most of Andalucia, except Almeria and Jaen, all of Communidad Valenciana, Aragon, Catuluna, Extremedura, Navarra, Rioja, Pais Vasco, Cantabria, Asturias and Galicia.

Finally, other species you may encounter include

• Fartet (max size 20 grams/0.7 ounces) - mainly in Almeria and Huelva in Andalucia, and also Valencia in Communidad Velenciana.
• Gudgeon (max size 200 grams/7 ounces) – all over Spain, except Galicia and Catuluna.
• Black bullhead (Pez Gato) (max size 1.5 kilos/3.3lbs) – all over, members of the catfish family
• Saboga (Twaite Shad) (max size 2 kilos/4.4lbs) – Huelva in Andalucia, eastern Catuluna and western Galicia only
• Chanchito (max size 150 grams/5.3 ounces) – Huelva in Andalucia, and Extremedura
• Colmilleja (max size 50 grams/1.75 ounces) – All over Spain, but only Cordoba and Seville in Andalucia
• Fundulo (max size 30 grams/1 ounce)– Malaga, Almeria and Cadiz in Andalucia only
• Perch (max size 5 kg/11 lbs) - primarily in Aragon and northern Catalonia, but some can also be found in the Rio Guadalquivir in Cordoba, Andalucia.
• Pardilla (max size 50 grams/1.75 ounces) – Huelva, Seville and Cordoba in Andalucia, Extremedura, Castilla Leon, Castilla la Mancha
• Bogardilla (max size 300 grams/10.6 ounces) - Cordoba
• Goldfish (max size 3 kilos/6.6 lbs) - everywhere
• Stickleback (max size 15 grams/0.5 ounces) - western Huelva in Andalucia, southern Extremedura, souther Castilla la Mancha, Murcia, Communidad Valenciana, western Aragon, western and northern Catuluna, norther Galicia, Asturias, Cantrabia, Pais Vasco and Navarra.
• Sturgeon (max size 300 kilos/661 lbs) - very, very rare! Rio Guadalquivir only in Andalucia.
• Fraile (max size 30 grams/1.05 ounces) - all of Communidad Valenciana, western Castilla la Macha, La Rioja and western Aragon.
• Gambusia (max size 10 grams/.35 ounces)  - can be found throughout Spain except Galicia, Asturias, Cantabria, Pais Vasco and Navarra.
• Jarabugo (up to 10 cms/4 inches) – Only found in Huelva in Andalucia, and Extremedura.
• Loina (max size 400 grams/14 ounces) -  present in all of Communidad Valenciana and Castilla la Mancha.
• Madrija (max size 350 grams/12.3 ounces) - only in Valencia & Castellon in Communidad Valenciana.
• Pejerrey (max size 15 grams/.52 ounces) - found in southern Huelva, Cadiz, Malaga and Almeria in Andalucia, western Murcia, all of Communidad Valenciana, western Aragon, Catalonia and finally eastern and northern Galicia.
• Samaruc (max size 50 grams/1.76 ounces) - can only be found in eastern Communidad Valenciana and eastern Aragon