Ohh Cyprus, how I love escaping to its sunny shores in late autumn, leaving behind the gloomy European skies. There’s something magical about the warm Mediterranean breeze, the crystal-clear waters, and the chance to indulge in my favorite pastime- spearfishing.
Ignoring the fact that Cyprus is definitely not a pure spearfishing destination- it has still so much to offer. Amazing food, kind people, great hinking- and of course the crystal clear mediterranean waters. In this guide, I will show you how to navigate the latter in terms of spearfishing.
Let’s dive in!
Cyprus Spearfishing License
You can get the Cyprus spearfishing licence and other fishing licences online at the Cyprus Department of Fisheries and Marine Research.
You can choose between four different types of Licences. The one you want is called „Spear Gun“.
Make sure you apply for your spearfishing license on time since it can take up to 2 days to process your application.
You will need the following information:
- ID/ Passport Number
- Date of Birth
- Contact Information (Cellphone number, email address)
- Adress of Residency in Cyprus (this can get tricky, see below)
- Legal Guardian (if you are applying for a minor)
Regarding the address of residency in Cyprus, some places might not be selectable within the drop down menu of the database.
In that case you simply select and address that might be close to your address and then Fill in your whole address into the „Number“ field.
It is not that important, that you type in the exact address (if it is not selectable), because you will receive the license in a digital formate anyways.
After submitting the application for the spearfishing license, you will be notified via SMS or E-Mail with the Payment Process. This can take up to two days, in my case it took 20 minutes.
After you payed, you can download your spearfishing license for Cyprus.
Cyprus Spearfishing Regulations
The spearfishing regulation in Cyprus is not all too different from other countries in Europe. Here’s a summary of the key regulations in Cyprus for spearos:
- Spearfishing Timing: Spearfishing is only allowed during daylight hours and is prohibited from sunset to sunrise.
- Equipment Rules:
- Using scuba gear or bright lights while spearfishing is not allowed.
- Spearfishers must carry a floating marker (buoy) visible from 300 meters, with a red flag and white diagonal stripe. Group members must stay within 50 meters of the marker or vessel.
- Catch Limits:
- The daily limit is 5 kg per spearfisher and one additional individual fish regardless of weight. For spearfishing from a boat (per 24 hours), boat-wide limits apply:
- 10 kg total, or
- 5 kg plus one additional fish of any weight, or
- 3 Albacore Tuna and 5 kg of other species combined.
- Onboard possession of octopus are only allowed during the day on Mondays, Wednesdays, Saturdays, Sundays, and public holidays, with no restrictions in July and August.
- Prohibited Species:
- Catching bluefin tuna, swordfish, sharks, rays, marine mammals, and sea turtles is strictly prohibited. If accidentally caught, these species must be released immediately with minimal harm.
- Size Restrictions: Fish must meet specific minimum sizes. For example, groupers must be at least 45 cm, and other species like gilthead bream or common pandora also have defined size limits. Removing the upper lobe of the tail fin is required to indicate the fish was recreationally caught.
- No Spearfishing Zones: Spearfishing is banned in marine protected areas, near fish farms, within 100 meters of fishing shelters, and in bathing areas during the season.
- Data Recording: Licensed spearfishers must report all fishing activities, including catches and trip details (for example the start and end of the fishing trip in real-time, the total catch (kg) per species, and length data for some species), via the Cy-FIS mobile app (Apple | Android) in real-time.
Cyprus Fish Species for Spearfishing
If you know where to look, Cyprus offers a mix of exciting and tasty species.
In terms of bluewater hunting, there are a few mid size species around: Amberjack is a top target. You’ll find them near reefs and drop-offs, especially during summer.
Summer in Cyprus has one standout target—Tuna. From mid-June to mid-August, Albacore Tuna move close to shore, making them a prime catch. These mid-sized fish are fast and travel in schools, giving you plenty of action.
If you’re heading out later in the season, you’re in luck. Skipjack Tuna take over from August to November. They’re smaller than Albacore but still offer a fun challenge and are fantastic to eat. Other species like Bullet Tuna and Bonitos can also show up, adding more variety to your hunt.
Looking for a more chill activity? Hole hunting should be your go to: Dusky and golden groupers are one of the favorites in this case. You can encounter them around rocky reefs at depths of 15-40 meters. They’re easiest to spot in late spring and early autumn when they’re most active, but patience and stealth are key to getting close.
Octopus is a year-round catch and a classic for spearfishers in Cyprus. They hide in cracks and under rocks, blending perfectly with their surroundings.
In autumn, you might also encounter Mahi Mahi while hunting near surface waters—they’re fast, beautiful, and delicious.
And don’t forget about Lionfish. They’re invasive, so taking them out helps the environment, and they’re surprisingly good to eat:
Lionfish
Originated in the Black Sea, this invasive species is spreading in the mild Mediterranean waters, quickly establishing itself along the Cypriot coast.
In recent years, Lionfish have become a common sight for divers and spearfishers around Cyprus, particularly in calmer, rocky areas and reefs where they hide and hunt smaller fish.
Lionfish pose a serious threat to the Mediterranean’s marine environment.
They devour large numbers of native fish, upsetting the natural balance and reducing biodiversity. With no natural predators here, their population is growing fast, crowding out local species and damaging the ecosystem.
So a call to all mediterranean spearos: Go out and hunt Lionfish!
The most sustainable fish to hunt and delicious too (for example as ceviche)!
For any other species, information like this is top secret, but for lion fish, you are helping preserve the local marine environment with excessively hunting it.
Just be cautious while handling them. Their spines carry venom that can cause painful stings, so a pair of puncture-proof gloves and a strong scissor is essential.
Catch Limits & Minimum Fish Sizes for Fishing in Cyprus
In Cyprus, there are official regulations in affect regarding the minimum sizes of the fish that you are allowed to spear (like the Minimum Conservation Reference Sizes (MCRSs) we have in Europe).
As of 2024 the Minimus Size Restrictions for Catching fish in Cyprus are as follows*:
| Species (Common and Scientific Name) | Minimum Legal Size |
|---|---|
| White Seabream (Diplodus sargus) | 23 cm |
| Sharpsnout Seabream (Diplodus puntazzo) | 18 cm |
| Common Two-Banded Seabream (Diplodus vulgaris) | 18 cm |
| Annular Seabream (Diplodus annularis) | 12 cm |
| Gilthead Seabream (Sparus aurata) | 20 cm |
| Common Pandora (Pagellus erythrinus) | 15 cm |
| Red Porgy (Pagrus pagrus) | 18 cm |
| Axillary Seabream (Pagellus acarne) | 17 cm |
| Blackbelly Rosefish (Pagellus bogaraveo) | 33 cm |
| European Seabass (Dicentrarchus labrax) | 25 cm |
| Groupers (Epinephelus spp.) | 45 cm, 1 Fish per Day** |
| Wreckfish (Polyprion americanus) | 45 cm |
| European Hake (Merluccius merluccius) | 20 cm |
| Anglerfish (Lophius spp.) | 30 cm |
| Striped Red Mullet (Mullus spp.) | 11 cm |
| Grey Mullets (Mugil spp.) | 16 cm |
| Common Sole (Solea vulgaris) | 20 cm |
| Sardine (Sardina pilchardus) | 11 cm |
| European Anchovy (Engraulis encrasicholus) | 9 cm |
| Mackerel (Scomber spp.) | 18 cm |
| Horse Mackerels (Trachurus spp.) | 15 cm |
| European Lobster (Homarus gammarus) | 30 cm / 10.5 cm CL |
| Norway Lobster (Nephrops norvegicus) | 7 cm / 2 cm CL |
| Spiny Lobsters (Palinuridae) | 24 cm / 9 cm CL |
| Red Shrimp (Parapenaeus longirostris) | 2 cm CL |
| Venus Clams (Venus spp. / Venerupis spp.) | 2.5 cm |
| Scallops (Pecten spp.) | 10 cm |
| **Snapper (Lutjanus spp.) | 3 fish per day, minimum size: 35 cm |
| **Amberjack (Seriola dumerili) | 2 fish per day, minimum size: 50 cm |
| **Tuna (Thunnus spp.) | 1 fish per day, minimum size: 70 cm |
| **Swordfish (Xiphias gladius) | 1 fish per year, minimum size: 140 cm |
| **Marlin (Makaira spp.) | 1 fish per year, minimum size: 200 cm |
| **Squid (Loligo spp.) | 10 squid per day, minimum size: 20 cm |
| **Octopus (Octopus vulgaris) | 5 octopuses per day, minimum size: 25 cm |
| **Barracuda (Sphyraena spp.) | 50 cm |
| **Dolphinfish (Coryphaena hippurus) | 60 cm |
| **Gulfstream Fish (Rachycentron canadum) | 40 cm |
| **Skate (Rajidae) | 40 cm |
| **Ray (Myliobatidae) |
*The restrictions can change over the years, I am trying my best to keep them updated, but I recommend, that you always check out the official resources of the Department of Marine Fisheries and Research of Cyprus.
** I got some of these minimum sizes from an inofficial source, but at least they list some species, that are not listed in the official documentation.
Marine Protected Areas & No Fishing Zones in Cyprus
The Cypriots have a quiet practical solution in place for letting spearfishers know where the Marine Protected Areas are located: A Google Earth Project with Markings
For setting up the Card, you simply need to:
- Download the “CyprusFisheriesRestrictedAreas.kmz” file to your desktop or smartphone.
- Open Google Earth (Browser or App).
- Create a new project and import the KML file.
The whole process does not even take 5 minutes and you will have a practical map with all restricted areas.
Each of those areas have a comment in Greek assigned to them, you will need to translate it, if you want to know the details.
This might useful because in a lot of these areas, fishing is forbidden. In some, there are restrictions on certain types of fishing or during certain periods of time.
The card might be updated, so I would advise, that you download the official file from this site (translated version) every time you visit cyprus.
Alternatively you can also check out the Marine protected areas at https://map.navigatormap.org/.
Wetsuit Choice for Spearfishing Cyprus
Choosing the right wetsuit for spearfishing in Cyprus depends on the time of year and what kind of spearfishing you want to do, as well as how long you are in the water.
In summer, with water temperatures peaking at 28-29°C (82-84°F), you can often get away with a 1.5-3mm wetsuit or even just a rash guard for added protection. This keeps you comfortable without overheating while offering protection from the sun and marine life.
In spring and autumn, when water temperatures range from 20-24°C (68-75°F), a 3-5mm wetsuit is your go-to. I was there in November once on a shore dive and it got cold in my 3mm after 1,5 hours in the water.
For winter and early spring, with the coldest water temperatures dropping to 16-19°C (61-66°F), a thicker 5mm wetsuit is necessary.
No matter the season, always wear gloves for protection from the sharp rocks.
Speargun Choice for Spearfishing Cyprus
The choice of your speargun depends on what you want to do.
To be honest, I have the bad habit of taking way too big guns out, because I can not let go of my ego… 😀
Don’t be like me, be smart:
If you are going hole hunting and shore diving, you will have more fun with a shorter gun. I would recommend sth. in the 60-80cm range. This way you can maneuver well and can check out the cracks and crevices for some delicious sea bream, octopus and grouper.
If you want to go out into the open water. A speargun within the 90-115cm might be best (for longer shots).
FAQ
Can you spear fish in Cyprus?
Yes, spearfishing is allowed in Cyprus, but you must follow strict regulations, including catch limits, minimum sizes, and designated no-fishing zones.
Do I need a Spearfishing License in Cyprus?
Yes, a recreational fishing license is required for spearfishing in Cyprus. You can apply through the local Department of Fisheries and Marine Research (DFMR).
What Sea Fish can you catch in Cyprus?
Spearfishers in Cyprus can target species like amberjack, dusky grouper, golden grouper, octopus, and seabream. Always check size and catch limits for sustainable fishing.
