Viana do Castelo Portugal fishing forecast
Viana do Castelo Portugal is a saltwater fishing spot in Northern Portugal, Portugal. Anglers here target Atlantic Bluefin Tuna, Atlantic Bonito, European Seabass, Atlantic Mackerel. The most productive months are typically June, July, August, September, October.
Today’s verdict
Ranks #39 of 437 spots FishRadar scored worldwide today
In line with this spot’s 7-day average
Score confidence ±4 points, from 8 live signals
The statistical model disagrees with the physics model here today — treat this score with extra caution.
Current conditions
| Sea surface temp | 17.9 °C |
|---|---|
| Wind | 10 km/h from NE, gusting 15 km/h |
| Wave height | 1.2 m at 8 s |
| Current | 0.05 m/s toward SSE |
| Pressure | 1022 hPa |
| Depth | 6 m |
| Cloud cover | 12% |
| Chlorophyll | 5.08 mg/m³ |
| Salinity | 34.8 PSU |
| Mixed-layer depth | 10 m |
| UV index | 0 |
| Wind sea | 0.0 m at 0 s |
| Ground swell | 1.2 m at 8 s from WNW |
| Current shear (surface vs 50 m) | 0.05 → 0.00 m/s |
The water here is 2.5 °C cooler than the September average of 20.3 °C. Cooler-than-normal water slows the bite for warm-water species and holds cool-water species shallower for longer. The water is mixed to about 26.7 m, with the thermocline below that.
Updated 1 h ago.
What the score means at Viana do Castelo Portugal
Viana do Castelo Portugal currently scores 93 out of 100 (Good). Water temperature is 17.9 °C. 8 forecast signals are active in this score.
- Water temperature +25.0
- how close the water is to this species mix’s comfort band
- Chlorophyll +12.6
- plankton density — the base of the food chain
- Waves +9.0
- swell energy stirring the water column
- Wind +8.0
- surface chop, oxygen and bait drift
- Current +5.4
- moving water concentrates bait
- Thermal front +5.0
- temperature edges concentrate bait and predators
What’s biting now
The model expects today: atlantic-bonito, european-seabass, bluefin-tuna, atlantic-mackerel, comber, european-squid, horse-mackerel, black-scorpionfish
[object Object] — Protected here — release immediately
Bite windows
Best months for Viana do Castelo Portugal:
Score history at this spot
30 days tracked at this exact location
Best recent day: 2026-08-12, 97/100
26 day(s) at 70+ in the tracked period
About this spot
Open coastal saltwater — conditions and safety depend heavily on the live wind, wave, and tide forecast, so check them before you head out.
Approximate bottom depth: 6 m
Access & shore
Fishable from shore · offshore-only
What you can catch
-
Thunnus thynnus
-
Sarda sarda
-
Dicentrarchus labrax
-
Scomber scombrus
Best months by species at Viana do Castelo Portugal
| Atlantic Bluefin TunaThunnus thynnus | ||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Atlantic BonitoSarda sarda | ||||||||||||
| European SeabassDicentrarchus labrax | ||||||||||||
| Atlantic MackerelScomber scombrus |
Typical months; local seasons and closures apply.
Local regulations
| Species | Bag limit | Min size | Open season |
|---|---|---|---|
| European SeabassRegulation (EU) 2019/1241, Annex VII, Part A | — | min 36 cm | — |
| EU minimum conservation reference size in South Western Waters is 36 cm (Regulation (EU) 2019/1241, Annex VII, Part A). All Portuguese waters fall in this zone: the mainland is ICES division 9a, the Azores are sub-area 10 and Madeira is CECAF 34.1.2. DGRM may set stricter national measures and recreational daily limits. Verify current limits with DGRM before fishing. | |||
Licensing:
- saltwater-recreational — residents A recreational ("lúdica") fishing licence from DGRM is mandatory. Separate categories for shore ("apeada"), on-board ("embarcada") and underwater ("submarina") fishing, with daily/monthly/annual options. Obtain it via the Balcão Eletrónico do Mar (bmar.pt)., non-residents Non-residents need the same DGRM recreational licence; apply online via the Portal BMar (bmar.pt).
Some rules may have changed since our last verification — always confirm with the authority before you fish.
FishRadar regulations are summaries for informational purposes only. Portuguese recreational fishing rules are set by DGRM and EU regulations, and the Azores and Madeira autonomous regions may apply additional measures. Always verify with DGRM at dgrm.pt before fishing.
Check Viana do Castelo Portugal before you go
Live scores update through the day. Get the full forecast, bite windows, and your own saved spots in the FishRadar app.
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Nearby spots
Explore 10 more fishing spots within 1716 km of Viana do Castelo Portugal.
-
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Aveiro Portugal Atlantic
Figueira da Foz
Tagus River Lisbon
Cascais Lisbon Coast
Setubal Canyon
Algarve Coast
Madeira Deep
Azores Sao Miguel
Faial Channel
Frequently asked questions
What fish can you catch at Viana do Castelo Portugal?
Anglers at Viana do Castelo Portugal target Atlantic Bluefin Tuna, Atlantic Bonito, European Seabass and Atlantic Mackerel.
When is the best time to fish Viana do Castelo Portugal?
The most productive months at Viana do Castelo Portugal are typically June, July, August, September, October.
What is the fishing forecast for Viana do Castelo Portugal right now?
Viana do Castelo Portugal currently scores 93 out of 100, based on live ocean and weather conditions — see the full breakdown on this page.
Can you fish Viana do Castelo Portugal from shore?
Yes — Viana do Castelo Portugal is fishable from shore (offshore-only).
Is the thermocline set up at Viana do Castelo Portugal right now?
Not strongly right now — the water column is fairly mixed, so fish are less depth-locked.
How deep is the water at Viana do Castelo Portugal?
The scored point sits over roughly 6 m of water. Depth shapes which species hold here and how the thermocline forms.
Fishing guides for this spot
- How to Catch Atlantic Bonito: Chasing the Autumn SpeedstersHow to Read Tides for FishingHow to Read a Fishing Forecast
Forecasts, not guarantees — check local rules before you fish.