Raor season in Mallorca 2026: dates and catch limit

The raor fishing season begins this Tuesday, 1st September, in Mallorca and across the rest of the Balearic Islands and will run until 31st March 2027. The maximum catch limit is 50 raors per person per day, and the Govern will step up inspections in the main fishing areas. The only exception to the general opening date is the Highly Protected Area of the Illes Malgrats, where fishing will not be permitted until 1st October.

The 2026 raor fishing season in Mallorca begins this Tuesday, 1st September, one of the most eagerly awaited dates for recreational anglers in the Balearic Islands.

This year, the season will open simultaneously along the entire Balearic coastline, including marine reserves, allowing anglers to catch the species again after the closed season established to protect it during its breeding period.

The season will remain open until 31st March 2027.

When does the raor fishing season start in Mallorca in 2026?

Fishing for raor (Xyrichtys novacula) will be permitted from 1st September 2026 until 31st March 2027.

The closed season therefore runs from 1st April to 31st August.

The main exception is the Highly Protected Area of the Illes Malgrats, where raor fishing will not be allowed until 1st October.

How many raors can be caught per person per day?

The regulations establish a maximum of 50 raors per person per day.

The Govern stresses the importance of respecting both this limit and the closed seasons in order to maintain the good condition of a fishery that is deeply rooted among recreational anglers in the Balearic Islands.

Coinciding with the start of the season, fisheries inspectors will step up checks in the main raor fishing areas.

Fines for fishing raor during the closed season

Breaching a fishing closed season is considered a serious offence.

The regulations provide for a minimum fine of €151 for each specimen caught illegally, although the penalty may increase depending on the specific circumstances of the offence.

The inspections are aimed particularly at preventing illegal fishing during periods when the species is protected.

The raor population has recovered

Data collected by the Directorate-General for Fisheries show a significant recovery in raor populations since the closed season was introduced in 2000.

Scientific monitoring began in 1994 and revealed a situation of overfishing towards the end of that decade, accompanied by a progressive decline in the average size of the fish.

In 1999, the year before the closed season was introduced, the raors analysed had an average length of 124 millimetres.

In the most recent season studied directly by the Govern in Mallorca, the average reached 168 millimetres, 35% higher.

Raors now weigh almost three times as much as in 1999

The change is even more significant when the weight of the fish is compared.

In 1999, the average weight of the raors analysed was 26 grams. In 2025, it reached 70 grams per specimen, almost three times as much.

According to the Directorate-General for Fisheries, the population’s average size is now close to the maximum that can be achieved by a population subject to fishing activity.

For comparison, values close to 180 millimetres are recorded mainly in areas where fishing is prohibited.

The Govern expects results during the 2026-2027 season to be similar to those recorded last year.

Why is there a closed season for raor fishing?

The closed season is intended to prevent raors from being caught during their breeding period.

Studies carried out by the Laboratori d’Investigacions Marines i Aqüicultura (LIMIA) and the Mediterranean Institute for Advanced Studies (IMEDEA, CSIC-UIB) indicate that the measure has helped restore both the abundance of the population and the average size of the fish.

Since 2013, the average size recorded has consistently remained above the level observed when monitoring began in 1994.

Raor fishing in Mallorca’s marine reserves

In marine reserves, anglers are required to record and report their catches.

For reserves managed by the Govern, catches should preferably be reported through the Diari de Pesca mobile app.

In state-managed marine reserves, the Ministry’s PescaREC app must be used.

Since 2019, around 6,600 catch declarations have been collected.

These records show that, by number of specimens, raor is the species most frequently caught by recreational boat anglers in the Balearic Islands. By weight, it accounts for 15.7% of the declared annual recreational catch.