Top 10 Fishing Spots in Morocco
Morocco faces two very different seas. The Atlantic coast runs from Tangier to Dakhla — nearly 3,000 km of surf beaches, rocky headlands, kelp beds, and estuaries where cold Canary Current upwellings push nutrients and fish into shallow water year-round. The Mediterranean shore, from Ceuta to Saïdia, is calmer, warmer, and produces different species: sea bream, wrasse, barracuda, and the prized swordfish that Mediterranean longliners have targeted for generations. Inland, the High Atlas mountains conceal rivers with wild brown trout and Mediterranean barbel that most visiting anglers never discover.
The Atlantic Coast near Essaouira — Sea Bass Surf Fishing
Essaouira, the blue-and-white port city on Morocco's Atlantic coast midway between Casablanca and Agadir, sits in the centre of one of the Atlantic's most productive upwelling zones. The Canary Current brings cold, nutrient-rich water north along the coast, and this creates a year-round supply of sardines, anchovies, and mackerel that draws European sea bass (Dicentrarchus labrax) to the rocky shelves just 50–100 m from shore. Surf casting with heavy beach leads and frozen sandeel bait from the rocky platforms south of the medina produces bass of 1.5–3 kg, with larger fish taken during the winter months when the upwelling is most intense. Local anglers fish with simple running leger rigs; visiting anglers have had success with large soft-plastic shads worked on lead-jig heads through the bass zones at dawn.
Moulouya River — Barbel and Bass near the Mediterranean
The Moulouya is Morocco's longest river and one of the few that drains to the Mediterranean, entering the sea near Saïdia in the country's northeast. Its lower reaches hold impressive Mediterranean barbel (Barbus callensis) of 2–4 kg, along with mullet in the tidal section and occasional sea bass pushing upstream. The middle Moulouya in the Missour and Guercif areas offers good barbel and chub fishing in a landscape of semi-arid plateaux and red sandstone outcrops. The river flows through the Moulouya wetlands — a Ramsar site — before reaching the sea, and the wetland section is particularly productive for mullet on small lures or bread bait.
The Oum Er-Rbia River — Brown Trout in the Middle Atlas
Rising from springs near the town of Khénifra in the Middle Atlas, the Oum Er-Rbia is Morocco's most important brown trout river. The upper reaches above Khénifra, at elevations between 1,200 and 1,800 m, flow through cedar and oak forests and hold wild brown trout of 20–35 cm. Stocking with hatchery fish takes place each spring, and a fishing permit purchased at the Khénifra water authority office is required. The season opens in late February and closes in September. Dry-fly fishing with small sedge and mayfly patterns produces well in the evening when hatches are active from May onward; spinning with size 1 Mepps or gold Devinettes is more reliable for beginners.
Bin El Ouidane Reservoir — Big Perch and Carp
The Bin El Ouidane Reservoir in the Beni Mellal region of the Middle Atlas is Morocco's most important coarse fishing destination. Created in 1953, the reservoir covers 3,800 hectares and holds European perch that have reached impressive sizes — fish of 600–800 g are common and occasional perch exceeding 1.5 kg have been reported. Black bass (largemouth) were introduced in the 1980s and now constitute a significant part of the fishery. Common carp are present throughout the reservoir and take boilies, sweetcorn, and bread paste on simple ledger rigs. The landscape is spectacular — red mountains dropping steeply to the deep blue water — and the absence of motorboats in most areas makes for peaceful fishing.
The Laou River — Sea Trout and Mullet in the Rif Mountains
The Laou River descends from the Rif Mountains near Chefchaouen and enters the Mediterranean at the small port of El Jebha, 60 km east of Tetouan. The river holds brown trout in its upper reaches above 600 m elevation, with fish averaging 25–35 cm in the Bab Taza area. In the lower tidal section, sea-run brown trout (sea trout) move in from October to December, and large mullet up to 2 kg push into the estuary on the tidal flow. The Laou valley is extraordinarily beautiful — a lush green gorge cutting through limestone cliffs — and the combination of mountain trout fishing and estuary mullet makes it one of Morocco's most complete angling destinations.
Dakhla — World-Class Shore Fishing in the Deep South
Dakhla, located in Western Sahara on a peninsula extending into the Atlantic, has developed a devoted following among European shore and surf anglers. The combination of Canary Current upwelling, vast tidal flats, and rocky headlands creates exceptional shore fishing for shark (smoothhound and starry smooth-hound), large meagre, sea bass, and surf-zone flatfish. The sand bars at the southern tip of the peninsula are accessible only at low tide and fish particularly well for smoothhound using ray's bream or mackerel bait. The famous lagoon inside the peninsula is a separate ecosystem of warm, shallow water where sole, flounder, and juvenile turbot abound in winter.
The Atlantic Coast at Agadir — Pier and Boat Fishing
Agadir's commercial fishing port is one of Africa's busiest, and the surrounding area provides accessible angling for visiting tourists. From the Agadir breakwater and nearby rocky headlands, anglers take mackerel, horse mackerel, small sea bass, and colourful wrasse on small jigs and feather rigs. Boat trips operating from the port target larger species including gilt-head sea bream (dorade royale), conger eel, and in summer, wahoo and the occasional dolphinfish as the Atlantic warms. The area south of Agadir toward Tiznit holds particularly productive rock fishing from platforms accessible by road, with larger bass and bream taken in autumn.
Mediterranean Swordfish off Al Hoceima
The Mediterranean coast east of Al Hoceima in the Rif region produces Morocco's most prestigious pelagic fishing. Swordfish are present from July to October in the deep water channels north of the Al Hoceima National Park, and local fishing boats have historically targeted them on longlines set at depth overnight. Sport fishing for swordfish by day — drifting whole squid rigs under balloon floats in 200–400 m of water — is a growing practice among visiting anglers who charter local vessels from Al Hoceima marina. The same grounds produce bluefin tuna during the spring migration in April and May, with fish ranging from 30 to over 200 kg.
Explore on the map
Morocco's Atlantic coast, Mediterranean shoreline, Atlas mountain rivers, and southern lagoons comprise one of the most geographically diverse fishing countries in Africa. From the trout rivers above Khénifra to the surf beaches of Dakhla and the swordfish grounds off Al Hoceima, every location described here can be found on the interactive map. Plan your route along Morocco on the map and identify which coast suits your target species, whether that's surf-cast sea bass on the Atlantic or wild brown trout in the cedar forests of the Middle Atlas. The full picture becomes clear on the map.