In Spain, to go fishing inland or in the sea you need a license (permiso de pesca). These are obtainable through the Generalitat de Catalunya (www.gencat.cat). Available to anglers aged 16 and above, general licences for free waters (non-private areas) are valid from one to four years, include a sea fishing license, and cost around €16. There are three main water categories where you can fish – libros, cotos and intensivos. Cotos and intensivos are private establishments. One of the most popular fishing spots is the River Ebro delta, roughly two hours south of Barcelona, as it is famous for its wild carp and large catfish. The season runs from February to October. The Federación Catalana de Pesca Deportiva provides information on the various clubs in the area (93 330 48 18, www.fcpeic.cat/societats) and the Reial Club Maritím (www.maritimbarcelona.org) organises group sea fishing excursions.