Skip to content

Fishing in Halkidiki 2026 — Sithonia & Kassandra

On our summer trips around Halkidiki, guests always ask the same thing: “Can we fish a bit while we cruise?” Yes — but we do it so it fits a relaxed day on the water and respects the sea. You get swimming, coves, good views, and if the fish are in the mood, a proper fight on the rod.

Below I explain what we offer, why we do it this way, and what you can realistically expect when you come onboard with us for a day out of Sithonia or Kassandra.

Some explanations about the kind of fishing we do during our day trips

If you join as an individual, you can take part on one of the regular trips. While the boat moves from beach to beach we do troll fishing with our rods and artificial plastic lures. That is the only kind of fishing we offer. It costs an extra 10€ per fisherman, payable in cash onboard, and only when you successfully catch fish.
Target fish are “Atlantic Bonito” (Palamida) and “Little Tunny” (Karvouni)

This is light, straightforward fishing that suits the rhythm of a holiday cruise. No bait, no messy buckets, no hooks left around for children to step on. We set the lure, explain how the rod works, and you enjoy the ride until the reel starts screaming. If you have never held a rod before, don’t worry — we show you in a couple of minutes and you are ready.

Because we move between beaches and coves, troll fishing does not take time away from swimming. You still get the anchor stops, the clear water, and the little bays that make Sithonia and Kassandra so good for a day boat trip.

Fishing at Sithonia or Kassandra, Halkidiki, Greece, during your summer 2026 holidays.

Take a fishing charter and enjoy fresh fish at Sithonia or Kassandra, Halkidiki Greece

Halkidiki sits in Northern Greece, southeast of Thessaloniki, with three peninsulas reaching into the Aegean. Kassandra is the first “leg” and the easiest for quick access and lively beach towns. Sithonia is the middle “leg” with more coves, pine trees down to the sea, and that wild feel when you round a cape and the water suddenly turns glassy. Getting here is straightforward: most guests fly into Thessaloniki Airport, then drive down. In summer, roads can be busy at weekends, so leaving Thessaloniki a little earlier saves you some nerves, especially with children.

Before you plan your route, check official local information. For general travel planning the Greek National Tourism Organisation is a solid start: visitgreece.gr. For local administration and practical notices in the Sithonia area, see the Municipality of Sithonia: sithonia.gr. For wind and weather I always tell people to check the official HNMS forecast: hnms.gr.

Happy fisherman after Fishing in Halkidiki with CharterAyachtHalkidiki fish are famously tasty. My commercial fisherman friends say the combination of relatively deep coastal waters, varied underwater formations that create reefs, and the nearby mountains supplying fresh water from rains, helps produce naturally plump, flavoursome fish. Even the humble sardines caught in Toroneos gulf, between Kassandra and Sithonia peninsula, are tastier than those a few miles offshore or in Thermaikos Gulf.

That same mix of deep water close to shore and changing seabed is also why trolling can be enjoyable here. You are not dragging a lure over empty sand for hours. You pass points, drop-offs, and current lines where baitfish gather. Some days you see birds working and know there is life below. Other days it looks quiet, and then suddenly you get hit right next to a calm bay where everyone is swimming.

Many people enjoy fishing. That is why we choose to offer it.
The thing is, to do the kind of bait-casting that many people know as proper fishing, you need to wake very early — around 04:00 or 05:00 — come to our boats and sail for about an hour so you are over a fishing spot or reef before sunrise. That is when you can catch adult fish of real size with bait.
Of course, it’s very difficult to wake that early on holiday; we understand.

And it is not just the early start. Proper bait fishing needs preparation, fresh bait, and a plan for what to do with fish you do not want. On a family day cruise the goal is simple: easy fun, a clean deck, and a chance to catch something decent without turning the trip into a hardcore fishing mission.

Sport Fishing in Halkidiki Sustainability Concerns

If we did bait-casting during our normal day trips, during the day, we would mostly catch juvenile fish or inedible bottom feeders — in essence causing small-scale environmental damage. If everyone killed a few baby fish for fun this would become a problem. We choose to protect the environment of our seas and our country. And no, “just for the kids to play” is not acceptable when it means killing fish we will not eat afterwards. It is a pity to kill a small grouper of a few grams (that could grow to more than 15kg) just for a short thrill.

This is not theory for us. We see the pressure on the coast every summer: more boats, more lines in the water, more people trying “just one small fish”. Multiply that by thousands and you understand why we keep things strict. If we fish, we aim for species that are fast-growing and are caught as adults by trolling, not tiny reef fish that should be left alone.

It also keeps the trip nicer for everyone onboard. No piles of small fish, no smell, no drama. Just a clean, respectful approach and a chance to catch something that actually deserves a photo.

We do troll fishing, which gives us the opportunity to catch mature Palamida of about 1–4kg (Atlantic bonito) or Karvouni of about 1–10kg (Little Tunny) using this method during the day. Sometimes we can also hook a bigger 6–20kg Albacore tuna; the best times for them are around midday and at sunset — times that suit a holiday boat trip.
In troll fishing we tow artificial lures 15–25m behind the boat that look like small squid or baitfish. All surface predators love them and attack. When a fish strikes we stop the boat, fight it and bring it onboard.
We have special equipment and rods on board suited to this kind of light troll fishing.
Occasionally we catch swordfish or Mediterranean marlin.
As you can see, you can bring the whole family, enjoy swimming, and do troll fishing while moving between beaches and coves.

A practical note from a skipper: trolling is not about sitting still. It is about covering water. We watch the sea surface, birds and colour changes in the water. When we get a strike, we slow down, clear other lines if needed, and coach the angler. The first 20 seconds are the messy ones, then it becomes a clean fight. If you have children onboard, we handle the rod with them so they feel the pull but stay safe.

Sea and outdoor activities depend on the weather and your own fitness level. Always follow local safety advice and skipper instructions.

What a normal day looks like onboard (with fishing included)

Most guests want a mix: a couple of swim stops, a bit of exploring, some cold drinks, and a chance to fish while we move. That is exactly how we run it. We usually start from a marina or small harbour on Kassandra or Sithonia, then cruise along the coast and pick anchorages based on wind and sea state.

We do not publish exact start times in a blog post because they change with weather, season and the port we use. If you tell us where you stay, we will suggest the easiest meeting point and the smoothest route for the day. Parking can be tricky in peak season near popular harbours, so arriving a bit early helps a lot.

Timetables, opening hours and routes can change without notice. Always double-check locally before you travel.

While we cruise, we troll. When we stop to swim, we bring the lines in. Simple. After swimming we set the lures again and continue. If you like snorkelling, bring your mask. Water clarity in Sithonia can be excellent, especially outside the busiest weeks. If you want a proper dive or to combine your boat day with scuba, have a look at portoscuba.com for local diving information and options.

Light troll Fishing in Halkidiki target fish species

  • Albacore (Thunnus alalunga), also known as the longfin tuna or the Alonniosos white tuna,
  • Little tunny (Euthynnus alletteratus), also called the false albacore, little tuna, bonita, bonito or blue bonito (Karvouni in greek, “Καρβούνι” because your hands get black like you touch “karvouna” – coal in Greek),
  • Atlantic bonito (Sarda sarda) or “Παλαμίδα” – Palamida in Greek
  • Young Greater amberjack (Seriola dumerili), also known as the allied kingfish, great amberfish, greater yellowtail, jenny lind, sea donkey, purplish amberjack, reef donkey, rock salmon, sailors choice, yellowtail and yellow trevally
Fishing in Halkidiki information - Diferences between Albacore Tuna (Άλμπακορ ή άσπρος Τόνος), Little Tunny (Καρβούνι) and Atlantic Bonito (Παλαμίδα)
Albacore (Thunnus alalunga), little tunny (Euthynnus alletteratus), Atlantic bonito (Sarda sarda)

When we hook bonito or little tunny you feel it straight away. They are not shy fish — they run hard, circle and make people laugh because they expect it to be easy, then their arms start burning. If we are lucky and a bigger tuna shows up, that becomes a proper event onboard. Not every day, but it happens.

If you want to read more about the species and the naming confusion, Wikipedia is fine for the basics and helps guests understand what they caught and how it fits into the tuna family.

Here is a clear article about the most common tuna and similar species: Bonito vs Skipjack Tuna vs Little Tunny: What’s the Difference?

Season and weather issues for fishing in Halkidiki.

Like all fish, the species we target tend to feed intensively just before rain.
After a storm, especially a thunderstorm, they often move to deeper water and it can take up to three days for conditions to return to normal. Debris washed from the land after rain makes fishing difficult — lures keep picking up weeds and leaves, while the fish we target are not vegetarians — so we often need to clean lures constantly until it becomes impractical to fish.
During July and early August the surface water can become too warm for many species, so fishing is often slow then. The rest of the year is generally good.

Local feel matters. Early summer — June — is often a sweet spot: warm water, decent fish appetite and fewer crowds than late July. September is also excellent: the sea stays warm for swimming, the light is softer and the coast calms down after the big holiday rush.

Wind can affect routes. North winds can pick up and make crossings bumpy, so we plan the day around conditions. On a sailboat you can enjoy a proper sail when the breeze is right; on a motor yacht we can tuck into the lee and keep it comfortable. Either way, comfort comes first and fishing comes when it makes sense.

Who this kind of fishing trip suits

This setup is for normal holidaymakers, not dedicated anglers only. Families like it because children can swim and still have that moment of “I caught something!” Couples like it because it is relaxed, with a bit of action and a nice lunch afterwards. Groups of friends often turn it into a fun competition — who lands the first Palamida, who gets the bigger Karvouni, who loses the fish at the boat. It happens.

If you are older or simply want it easy, tell us. We can keep the pace calm, choose smoother anchorages and still troll between stops without making the day tiring.

About Tuna game fishing (professional) catch and release

The other kind of fishing we run is tuna game fishing. Big tuna schools come into the open Aegean near Halkidiki after the water temperature drops in late September and remain until mid-November, feeding on the surface.
We love to head out for them. The plan is to catch, make photos and release unless the fish is injured and will not survive. In that case, as required by law, the fish is donated to a homeless children’s foundation and other charities.
Tuna pro game fishing is a full-day experience as we need around three hours’ sailing to reach the hunting area, south of Kassandra or Sithonia. Our professional local fishermen are always on the lookout for sightings — like a local secret service for fish — and keep us informed, so we usually know where the fish are and what they are feeding on. We start early, around 06:00 or 07:00, and typically return around 16:00. The programme includes a good breakfast, snacks, wine, fruit and so on so nobody gets hungry.
The season starts after September 15, once the first cool autumn showers lower the water temperature. We can fish in winds up to Beaufort 3; anything stronger is uncomfortable and lines tangle constantly.
Onboard we have equipment for large fish. We use artificial plastic lures while searching for feeding schools and fresh bait on social troll gear near feeding frenzies, with the heaviest equipment. Our crew are experienced with this type of fishing and usually find and catch the fish.

This is a different world from light trolling on a family cruise. It is longer, more focused and depends heavily on conditions. When it works, it’s a day you remember for years: big fish on the surface, birds diving, the sea boiling. When it does not work, you still get a serious offshore experience and learn how wild the Aegean can feel just a few hours from the beach bars.

Sea and outdoor activities depend on the weather and your own fitness level. Always follow local safety advice and skipper instructions.

Find out more about our game fishing trips

Our philosophy about fishing and the good life

There is an old Greek wisdom that says “the fisherman and the hunters’ plates are full once in every ten days”, so there are no guarantees we will catch fish. But the day will be enjoyable, with good drinks, good conversation and stunning Halkidiki views.
As a great Greek fisherman once told me, “the quality of fishing is directly related to the number of beers” (or tsipouro, I would add).

That is really it. We go out to enjoy the sea. Fishing is a bonus, not a promise. If you want the pure holiday version, we mix it with swimming and sightseeing. If you want a more serious approach, we plan a dedicated game fishing day when the season is right.

If you are thinking of coming during a Greek holiday period, book early. Weekends and long weekends fill up fast, especially when the weather is stable and the sea is flat. Just send us a message with where you are staying and what kind of day you want, and we will suggest the best boat and route.

Not sure where to start? Contact our local travel agency for friendly, personalised advice, seasonal offers and travel options.