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I have had many posts giving me advice so I feel obliged to provide information after my 1st Cyprus visit. I spoke to tackle dealers, locals and divers to obtain any helpful advice for myself and for this report.
Don’t give fishing a high priority if you visit Cyprus! There are few fish. The water is glass clear and there is little sea life inshore.
Even seaweed is limited, no prawns, very few little fish and little to see if you snorkel except a mason's yard of strange shaped rocks, passage ways and caves. The limestone and sandstone erode into a maze of alien shapes. Ledger fishing is almost impossible in most places! The rocky coastline can be quite dangerous for children and those who are not sure footed! The irregular sharp sufaces are unlike any in the UK! Not a good place to be at night!
It is said that the best fishing is from the rocks, not beaches, northwards from the Tombs of the Kings. St. Georgios Island area, a short drive up the coast, and Sea Caves is recommended. North of Coral Bay has some good rock marks. You need a good road map and follow the unmade tracks towards the shoreline!!! 4 wheel drive helps!
If the water is cloudy and the sea rough ledger with very small weight and .5 metre fluorocarbon trace with 1 hook. No.6 is the largest used, No.8 most popular. Line thickness maximum .30 or .35, .25 preferred for bream. Various bream are the main target for the table and wrasse for fun, grouper and Moray eel can be caught also small barracuda! When the water is clear only float fish for mullet other fish will be out at sea! The same fish are here all year - there is no best season. However, I was told by one dealer that after the summer, early Autumn was best.
Good size mullet can be found in the harbours. Locals use a string of small hooks wrapped around and pushed into a ball of bread paste. Wire cages or feeders stuffed with bread paste with short baited snoods is also a technique! Cheese and boiled egg can be used for mullet.
Small rag worm is used and can be bought from tackle dealers. Live shrimp is recommended and small fish live baited under a large float. Squid also is used. Winkles and a few limpets can be found in pools or close to the waterline. Most fishermen appear to use bread flake or paste and many use a flour and water thick glue mixed with fish oil or mashed sardine. Ground bait with bread paste or flour and water. Rice can be used and toast works well with bream. A few pieces of bread flake will soon show if any fish are around. Float fish next to your foating breadflake. Small sardines and other small fish buried in cooking salt will harden up and stay fresh. The larger local supermarkets have fish counters with squid, mackerel, cuttlefish, sardines and prawns.
Locals use 14-16 poles without reels from the rocks. A 10-12 ft telescopic, a 40gr spinning rod, or a carp rod would do. Beach casters not needed!
Fly fishing from the shore met with disbelief - just not done here! Worth trying?
Most serious fishing is from boats using nets or long lines. The many inshore reefs are popular. Trolling or down rigging for snapper, bonito and Dorado is the main boat angling. Tuna can be found 5 to 20 miles offshore May to July. Boat fishing trips can be booked at the harbour or through the many travel/tourist offices. Many “fishing” trips are only a couple of hour and compare with Cornish mackerel fishing trips - a good way of entertaining tourists and getting their cash!!!!
Local boat hire in Paphos was limited to speed boats charged by the half hour!
East of the harbour on the seafront there is a dive shop advertising bait and tackle.
Eraclouse & Pidias, Fishing Tackle & Scuba Diving Shop, 2, Karnavalou str. (junction with Makarios Ave) Tel 26 932 363
( email [email protected] ) has rag worm & maggots. They can provide advise and have an excellent range of rods, reels, lures and terminal tackle. Lures are cheaper than U.K! They are in Old (Upper) Paphos close to the market, beside the bus stop and close to the municipal car park.
Opposite is another sports shop with a smaller fishing section N. Taliotis Shop, 5C, Karnavalou str. Tel 06-234116
Fishing Boat Trips with “The Angler” (boat) www.theangler-paphos.com email [email protected] go out from Paphos harbour. Tel Elias +357 9942 1044 or Claire +357 99187044 They advertise for deep sea all year, barracuda/Dora do/bonito August - December, Tuna May-August, Shark all year.
http://agrino.org/fishing/htmldocs/sltwtrfish.html This site gives details of the fish which can be caught and the seasons.
The area around Latchi on the north coast was recommended for fishing from shore and boat. Boats can be hired by the full or half day or by the hour from George's Watersports Boat Hire in Latchi Harbour (TEl 99 632 840) for about £70 (Cypiot) per day. They will provide tackle and advise, and even powerboat lessons before you go! Hagle down the prive for full 8 hour days!
For other tourist information where to stay, eat, car hire or any other help PM me.
If you go to Google Earth I have pinned several photos of the coast and harbours within an hour or so of Paphos. The site also does give a good view from the air!!
Do please add to this info as its a wonderful place and I am going back. I will catch more than 1 peacock wrasse next time!!!
Don’t give fishing a high priority if you visit Cyprus! There are few fish. The water is glass clear and there is little sea life inshore.

Even seaweed is limited, no prawns, very few little fish and little to see if you snorkel except a mason's yard of strange shaped rocks, passage ways and caves. The limestone and sandstone erode into a maze of alien shapes. Ledger fishing is almost impossible in most places! The rocky coastline can be quite dangerous for children and those who are not sure footed! The irregular sharp sufaces are unlike any in the UK! Not a good place to be at night!

It is said that the best fishing is from the rocks, not beaches, northwards from the Tombs of the Kings. St. Georgios Island area, a short drive up the coast, and Sea Caves is recommended. North of Coral Bay has some good rock marks. You need a good road map and follow the unmade tracks towards the shoreline!!! 4 wheel drive helps!
If the water is cloudy and the sea rough ledger with very small weight and .5 metre fluorocarbon trace with 1 hook. No.6 is the largest used, No.8 most popular. Line thickness maximum .30 or .35, .25 preferred for bream. Various bream are the main target for the table and wrasse for fun, grouper and Moray eel can be caught also small barracuda! When the water is clear only float fish for mullet other fish will be out at sea! The same fish are here all year - there is no best season. However, I was told by one dealer that after the summer, early Autumn was best.
Good size mullet can be found in the harbours. Locals use a string of small hooks wrapped around and pushed into a ball of bread paste. Wire cages or feeders stuffed with bread paste with short baited snoods is also a technique! Cheese and boiled egg can be used for mullet.
Small rag worm is used and can be bought from tackle dealers. Live shrimp is recommended and small fish live baited under a large float. Squid also is used. Winkles and a few limpets can be found in pools or close to the waterline. Most fishermen appear to use bread flake or paste and many use a flour and water thick glue mixed with fish oil or mashed sardine. Ground bait with bread paste or flour and water. Rice can be used and toast works well with bream. A few pieces of bread flake will soon show if any fish are around. Float fish next to your foating breadflake. Small sardines and other small fish buried in cooking salt will harden up and stay fresh. The larger local supermarkets have fish counters with squid, mackerel, cuttlefish, sardines and prawns.
Locals use 14-16 poles without reels from the rocks. A 10-12 ft telescopic, a 40gr spinning rod, or a carp rod would do. Beach casters not needed!

Fly fishing from the shore met with disbelief - just not done here! Worth trying?
Most serious fishing is from boats using nets or long lines. The many inshore reefs are popular. Trolling or down rigging for snapper, bonito and Dorado is the main boat angling. Tuna can be found 5 to 20 miles offshore May to July. Boat fishing trips can be booked at the harbour or through the many travel/tourist offices. Many “fishing” trips are only a couple of hour and compare with Cornish mackerel fishing trips - a good way of entertaining tourists and getting their cash!!!!
Local boat hire in Paphos was limited to speed boats charged by the half hour!
East of the harbour on the seafront there is a dive shop advertising bait and tackle.
Eraclouse & Pidias, Fishing Tackle & Scuba Diving Shop, 2, Karnavalou str. (junction with Makarios Ave) Tel 26 932 363
( email [email protected] ) has rag worm & maggots. They can provide advise and have an excellent range of rods, reels, lures and terminal tackle. Lures are cheaper than U.K! They are in Old (Upper) Paphos close to the market, beside the bus stop and close to the municipal car park.
Opposite is another sports shop with a smaller fishing section N. Taliotis Shop, 5C, Karnavalou str. Tel 06-234116
Fishing Boat Trips with “The Angler” (boat) www.theangler-paphos.com email [email protected] go out from Paphos harbour. Tel Elias +357 9942 1044 or Claire +357 99187044 They advertise for deep sea all year, barracuda/Dora do/bonito August - December, Tuna May-August, Shark all year.
http://agrino.org/fishing/htmldocs/sltwtrfish.html This site gives details of the fish which can be caught and the seasons.
The area around Latchi on the north coast was recommended for fishing from shore and boat. Boats can be hired by the full or half day or by the hour from George's Watersports Boat Hire in Latchi Harbour (TEl 99 632 840) for about £70 (Cypiot) per day. They will provide tackle and advise, and even powerboat lessons before you go! Hagle down the prive for full 8 hour days!
For other tourist information where to stay, eat, car hire or any other help PM me.
If you go to Google Earth I have pinned several photos of the coast and harbours within an hour or so of Paphos. The site also does give a good view from the air!!
Do please add to this info as its a wonderful place and I am going back. I will catch more than 1 peacock wrasse next time!!!