Catfishing in Spain? It’s next level.
Forget the small rivers and ponds where you might pull in a decent fish if you’re lucky. This is where giants live. Wels catfish that break gear, pull you into the water if you’re not paying attention, and fight harder than anything you’ve ever hooked. If you’re looking for an easy fish, this ain’t it.
I’ve spent years chasing these monsters, figuring out where they move, what they eat, and how to actually land one when you hook into something that feels like it belongs in a horror movie.
3 best catfish fishing locations in Spain
Embalse de Alcántara – Sleeper spot. Everyone talks about the Ebro, but this reservoir? Loaded. Deep water, tons of baitfish, and night fishing here is straight-up ridiculous. When the sun drops, the big ones come out.
Embalse del Guadalcacín – Andalusia’s secret weapon. Warmer water = catfish that feed aggressively year-round. No off-season here. Just brutal fights and huge fish.
Embalse de Ricobayo – Remote. Wild. Less pressure, huge fish. If you’re after a true secluded, big-water battle, this is where you go.
Techniques for catching Spanish catfish
Ledgering with live or dead bait. Simple. Big baits, heavy rigs, and patience. If you’re fishing at night (which you should be), this is the go-to method. Mackerel, eel, squid—catfish can’t resist.
Trolling massive lures. Slow and steady. Cover ground, find the roamers. Big crankbaits, swimbaits, even oversized soft plastics—if you’re not dragging something substantial, don’t bother.
Drifting with pellets and cut bait. When it’s hot, catfish move deep. Drifting lets the scent trail bring them up from the depths, which means more bites, bigger fish, less sitting around.
Catfish behaviour in Spanish waters
They’re lazy hunters, but that doesn’t mean they’re easy to catch.
Spring & summer? They move up, hunt aggressively, and smash baits.
Autumn? Feeding frenzy. They know winter’s coming, and they’re bulking up.
Winter? Slower. Deeper water, slow presentations, and patience. They’re still eating, but you need to work for it.
What’s the right gear for catfish fishing?
Rod? 10-12ft, heavy action. You need serious backbone if you want to control a big one.
Reel? High-capacity baitrunner. If you think your bass reel can handle this, you’re about to get humbled.
Line? 80-100lb braid. Anything less, and you’re watching your line snap like it was never even there.
Hooks? Massive circle hooks. Keeps the fish hooked, reduces deep hooking.
Rod pods & alarms? If you’re fishing overnight, don’t even think about skipping these. These fish hit hard, and if you’re not ready, your rod is gone.
Spain: home of the true freshwater giants
If you’re after a real battle, this is it. These fish don’t give up, they don’t fight fair, and they will test every single part of your setup.
When you hook into a big one—when the rod doubles over, the reel starts screaming, and you realize you’re in for a full-on war— you’ll understand why Spain is one of the best places in the world to fish for catfish.
Tight lines everyone.
