The fishing season begins with expectations and the same quotas

This Sunday, March 19, the season for trout fishing and water activities other than salmon or captive fishing, which must wait until May 1, begins. The same applies to cyprinids and estuarine species. Trout can be fished until July, with somewhat extended deadlines in intensive fishing. With a few exceptions, Mondays will be working days, except for regional and national holidays, such as Thursdays, when only catch-and-take fishing will be allowed. The allowed time ranges from one hour before sunrise, set by Meteogalicia, to one hour after sunset. Crab, reñosa, bream, shad and eel will be prohibited in all water bodies.

The maximum number of trout that can be caught remains unchanged compared to last season. In areas with a minimum size of 19 centimeters, a catch of six specimens will be allowed. There will be four in those with a size greater than 21 and three if above 23 in reservoirs.

140 cans will be arranged

In total, in the province of A Coruña, there are 32 fishing reserves, among which Traba, on the river Sóñora, is ready for penal fishing, the largest with 12.6 kilometers enabled. A total of 42 water bodies are currently closed.

In the province of Lugo, the most fertile, up to 54 preserves are possible throughout the season. 13.8 kilometers of Friola, on the river Narla, dedicated to trout, represent the widest part. In the province of Lugo, 91 bodies of water will be closed during this season.

There are 17 nature reserves in Ourense. The one in Boborás, on the Viñao River, for trout fishing, is the largest with 10.5 usable kilometers. 63 water bodies are closed.

There are 37 reserves in Pontevedra that will be trained during the fishing season. 11.3 kilometers of Tox, on the river of the same name, marked for trout fishing, leads the way in terms of size. A total of 67 water bodies will remain closed in this province.

Fishing without death conquers space

Although it still represents a small percentage — according to data from the Galician Fishermen’s Association, it would be about 7% of the total — the practice of no-kill fishing, also known as catch and release, continues to thrive. The Xunta expanded the areas in the province of A Coruña, with two sections added in the Barcés River and in Lengüelle, with another six in Dubra, De Casanova, Eume, Samo, Do Viso and another area in Tambre. Another one will be made possible in the rivers Narón and Cruzul (Lugo), as well as in Limija and Tuño (Ourense).

In the province of Pontevedra, this year the practice of this activity will be extended to Lagoa Mercedes, located in the municipality of Valga.

Concerns about the low flow of some rivers and the spread of invasive species

Marcos Rama Varela is the fishing representative of the Sociedade de Caza e Pesca Coristanco: «The members complain that there will be little catch because of the cormorants that are destroying part of the Verdes reserve. That’s why most now prefer to face fishing without dying, because they know it’s over. This year there are also dry days, which you have to see how they affected the rivers”, he says.

The fishing season is presented to the unknown among the fishermen of Deza and Tabeirós. José Luis Montoto, president of the Lalín Hunting and Fishing Society, confirms that “last year it was regular and that thought will continue in the same direction.” For his part, Jesús Caramés of the fishing society Silleda shares this vision and indicates that the current flow allows us to face it “with hope”. Miguel Montoto, president of the Deza River Fishing Society, expressed pessimism about the low flow of the Deza River that was recorded a few weeks ago, the condition of its bed and invasive species. “Water falling is not enough. A week ago I went to the julio levels and there is no help or problem with disposal, the course of the river Deza is in a very bad state. We are also affected by the presence of invasive species such as koma or cormorant, which are increasingly settling in our canals”, he believes.

David Arcay: “The local season is a privilege”

David Arcay, from A Coruña, team gold and individual silver at the last World Salmon Championship, welcomes the new season with anticipation. “We are afraid of the uncertainty of seeing the condition of the rivers after two months of drought last year, which could have affected the fish. However, there should be no death of our rivers in general thermoses, because some of them survived. Or yes, we expect clean rivers from the floods that happened this year, even though they coincided with the breeding season and we will see how much they will be affected”, he comments.

«No Río Xallas, which is not what we hunted in the Salmo club, or coto sen morte estivo moi ben nas duas ultimas saunas. Last year was also dry, the catch was good. I don’t stop competing, but obviously being able to enjoy my fans here next to home every day is a privilege,” he admits.