Fishing in Cyprus Checked: Changed:
In short
- Who it applies to
- Anyone fishing at a reservoir with a reservoir licence, for one or for all. Nobody fishes here without a licence at any age: a child under 12 fishes only when entered on a parent’s licence.
- What it costs
- A licence for one reservoir costs €17, for all of them €35, valid until 31 December. There is no separate entry or day fee.
- How long it takes
- Fishing runs from an hour before sunrise to an hour after sunset. You may not carry gear to the bank earlier than an hour and a half before sunrise, and none may remain there an hour and a half after sunset. Achna is closed from 1 January to 30 June.
- Where to apply
- Only at reservoirs on the 2026 open list and only from the bank. At Asprokremmos, Kannaviou, Lefka, Klirou and Achna part of the water is closed — the boundaries are on the maps of the Department of Fisheries (ΤΑΘΕ).
- If your case differs
- One rod and one hook per person; a treble hook counts as one. Boats, kayaks, drones and any floating craft are banned. Cars may not park within 15 metres of the water, and fires and tents on the bank are banned. Selling the catch is not allowed.
Your case
If the reservoir is open in 2026
Nicosia: Kafizes, Lefka, Tamasos, Klirou-Akaki-Malounta. Limassol: Germasogeia, Polemidia, Prodromos, Kouris. Paphos: Asprokremmos, Ayia Marina, Pomos, Evretou, Arminou, Kannaviou. Famagusta: Achna. Larnaca: Dipotamos, Aradippou, Kalavasos, Lefkara. You may keep zander, trout and sturgeon within the quota.
If you fish at Achna or Polemidia
Catch and release only: every fish is unhooked gently and returned alive, and it may not be killed or taken away — the quota does not apply here. Achna is also closed from 1 January to 30 June.
If it is Argaka-Makounta, Mavrokolympos, Lympia, Xyliatos, Kalopanagiotis, Palaichori or Vyzakia
These reservoirs are closed to recreational fishing for all of 2026, and an “all reservoirs” licence does not cover them. A licence is valid only where the head of the department has declared fishing open.
If a child is fishing
Under 12 — only when entered on a parent’s or guardian’s licence, with a telescopic pole up to 5 metres and no more than 5 metres from the adult. Over 12 the child gets a licence of their own, under 18 with a parent’s written consent. Every minor wears a life jacket while fishing.
Deadlines and conditions
- no more than 5 fish a day in total from the three species with a quotaDFMR reservoir licence conditions 2026 (revised), “fishing quota”.
- zander — no more than 2 a dayThe same conditions: «δύο (2) ψάρια του είδους Λουτσιόπερκα».
- trout — no more than 5 a dayThe same conditions: «πέντε (5) ψάρια του είδους πέστροφα».
- sturgeon — 1 a dayThe same conditions: «ένα (1) ψάρι του είδους οξύρυγχος».
- trout under 20 cm go backThe same conditions, “size limit”; length is measured from the tip of the snout to the end of the tail.
- sturgeon under 70 cm go backThe same conditions, “size limit”.
- zander under 30 cm are best releasedThe English edition of the 2026 conditions (DFMR, 15.05.2026): “Zander less than 30cm”. The revised Greek edition (30.12.2025) gives no size for zander — releasing is the safe choice.
- fishing runs from 1 hour before sunrise to 1 hour after sunsetThe same conditions, “angling hours” (a).
Show all conditions (13)
- Achna is closed from 1 January to 30 JuneThe same conditions, “Achna reservoir”; the same in the 2026 reservoir list.
- a child under 12 fishes only when entered on a parent’s licenceThe same conditions, point (b) on children.
- the child uses only a telescopic pole up to 5 m and stays within 5 m of the adultThe same conditions, point (b): a telescopic pole (απίκο) up to 5 m, no more than 5 m from the parent.
- no parking within 15 m of the highest water lineThe same conditions, “protection of the natural environment” (a).
- breaching the conditions — a fine of up to €20,000Cap. 135, art. 6(3) — breach of the regulations, including licence conditions (reg. 12(2)): up to a year in prison, or the fine, or both.
Sources
- Conditions for recreational fishing licences in reservoirs 2026www.gov.cyQuota, sizes, hours, methods, the rules for children, what to release, the closed reservoirs.
- Reservoirs open in 2026 and their fishwww.gov.cyWhich reservoirs are open by district, which fish live in each, which are closed.
- Restricted areas in reservoirs (maps)www.gov.cyMaps and coordinates of the closed parts of six reservoirs.
- The Fisheries Law, Cap. 135, consolidated versionwww.cylaw.orgArticle 6(3) — the penalty for breaching the regulations, licence conditions included.