Fishing in Cyprus: Freshwater and Sea Angling

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Fishing in Cyprus: Freshwater and Sea Angling

Fishing is a very popular leisure activity in Cyprus as the country has numerous stocked reservoirs as well as exotic species in the sea around Cyprus.

Freshwater Fishing

Cyprus has over 20 reservoirs open to anglers and most are stocked. These stocked reservoirs contain more than 15 species of freshwater fish, including trout, largemouth bass, carp, pikeperch, and roach.

Yermasogeia Reservoir is located approximately 10 minutes from Limassol and offers silver bream, carp, grey mullet and other species.

Dhypotamos Reservoir is located between Limassol and Larnaka and holds catfish, silver bream, bass and zander as well as other species.

Asprogremmos Reservoir holds bass, catfish and trout among others. It is the closest reservoir to Paphos International Airport and is one of the largest dams in Cyprus.

Freshwater fishing licences

Sport fishing in Cyprus reservoirs and dams is regulated by the government. It is necessary to have a licence to fish.

Licences are obtained at the fisheries department offices of the Department of Fisheries and Marine Research (DFMR). Licences are personal - they are non-transferable - and are only issued to people over 12 years of age. A fee can either be paid to fish in a single reservoir, or a higher rate can be paid to access all reservoirs. All licences expire on the 31 December of the year in which they are issued. Short-term group licences are available.

• Head Office of Department of Fisheries and Marine Research
  At: Eolou 13, CY 1416 Nicosia
  Tel: 22 807 868 / 22 783 032
  Fax: 22 775 955
  Website
  e-mail

Freshwater fishing regulations

Anyone fishing in Cyprus must adhere to fishing regulations which apply to the following:

• Fishing hours: daylight only, including an hour before sunrise and the hour after sunset
• Fishing methods: single rod, line and hook per licence holder; no fishing aids or chemicals
• Fishing location: from dam banks only
• Catch limit: there is a catch limit per species
• Size limit: there is a size limit per species
• Bank protection: bank-side soil and plants are protected and includes a limit on the use of vehicles

Note: fishing regulations often change depending on environmental factors. The rules above are only an overview. Please request more detailed information regarding all restrictions and regulations from the Department of Fisheries and Marine Research.

Fishing is forbidden in a reservoir, even to holders of valid licences, until it has been declared open by the Director of the Department of Fisheries and Marine Research. 

Information on reservoirs, their locations, opening dates and times, restrictions and other useful information is provided by the Department of Fisheries and Marine Research.

• Head Office of Department of Fisheries and Marine Research
  At: Eolou 13, CY 1416 Nicosia
  Tel: 22 807 868 / 22 783 032
  Fax: 22 775 955
  Website
  e-mail

For further information, contact the following District Offices of the Department of Fisheries:

• Limassol
  Tel: 25 305 470
  Fax: 25 305 543
• Larnaca
  Tel: 24 304 294 / 24 823 407/8
  Fax: 24 304 575
• Paphos
  Tel: 26 306 268 / 26 815 849/50
  Fax: 26 306 361
• Paralimni 
  Tel: 23 834 170
  Fax: 23 834 171

Fishing in Cyprus offers news about fishing as well as information about reservoirs and illustrations of freshwater fish in Cyprus including suggested hook and line sizes.

• For the Fishing in Cyprus website: Click here

Saltwater/Sea Fishing

The sea around Cyprus is home to more than 250 species of fish, including snapper, amberjack and tuna. Boats can be rented at fishing shelters and stations.

Sea fishing licences

No licence is needed for:

• sea angling
• fishing with vertical lines
• trolling 
• spear fishing without diving equipment

However, a licence is required for:

• spear fishing with aqualungs
• fishing with nets, long-lines and traps
• fishing at night with spear guns
• any kind of commercial fishing

Licence holders must adhere to the restrictions, which regulate the equipment that may be used and the allowed days to fish and, in certain cases, the allowable catches for each fishing outing. 

Licences are available from the Department of Fisheries and Marine Research (DFMR):

• Head Office of Department of Fisheries and Marine Research
  At: Eolou 13, CY 1416 Nicosia
  Tel: 22 807 868 / 22 783 032
  Fax: 22 775 955
  Website
  e-mail

Fishing in Cyprus offers news about fishing, illustrations of saltwater fish in Cyprus as well as suggested hook and line sizes.

• For the Fishing in Cyprus website: Click here

Free spearfishing

For information on free spearfishing in Cyprus, contact The Cyprus Association of Free Spearfishing.

• The Cyprus Association of Free Spearfishing
  Tel: 22 591 202
  Fax: 22 591 203

Related Information

• Cyprus Freshwater Angling Association