Ebro at Mequinenza

Aragón, Spain · Freshwater · Intermediate

The most famous wels catfish water in Europe, where the Ebro backs up behind the Mequinenza dam. Enormous catfish and hard-fighting carp draw anglers from across the continent.

Getting there & access

  • Fish from: land-based or boat

Fishing the Ebro at Mequinenza requires the Aragón regional licence, compulsory from age 14 and issued by the Instituto Aragonés de Gestión Ambiental (INAGA) online or in person. No separate coto permit applies to the Mequinenza reservoir — the regional licence alone is enough. Aragón republishes its Plan General de Pesca each year in the Boletín Oficial de Aragón, and that document, not the licence, defines which waters are open, the cotos, closed areas and catch-and-release stretches, so check the current edition before fishing.

Access information source

Species

  • wels catfish
  • common carp
  • zander

Best times to fish

  • Summer nights
  • Spring pre-spawn (Apr-Jun)
  • Autumn feeding

Recommended gear

Essential

  • Heavy catfish rod
  • Pellets, halibut baits and large softbaits
  • Braided line 100lb+
  • Unhooking mat

Optional

  • Guided boat session
  • Bite alarms
  • Sun protection and plenty of water

Regulations and requirements

  • An Aragón regional fishing licence is required; licences are issued per autonomous community
  • Most guides and lodges will arrange the licence for visiting anglers
  • Wels catfish is an introduced species with specific handling and release rules — check regional law

Rules change regularly — always confirm with the relevant fisheries authority before you fish.

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