Fishing in Norway has a history of more than a thousand years, as Norway's coastline together with the islands is more than 83,000 km. Today, Norway is one of the three largest exporters of fish and seafood in the world fishing In terms of profitability, it ranks 2nd after oil products in Norway. About three million tons of fish and seafood have been harvested in Norway in recent years. More than 200 species of fish and crustaceans are found in Norwegian coastal waters. You will experience the pleasure of fishing in Norway, you will be surprised by the size, variety, quantity and taste.

Both the species of the fish and theirs are different methods of capture. "In Norway, no fisherman, even a beginner, will be without a fish" - this is the saying you can read in many companies that provide fishing guide services. But it is not, fishing In Norway it is different. Yes, you can catch fish standing on a jetty or on the shore near a campsite, you can go out to sea after driving several tens of kilometers, but without special skills, suitable equipment and other preparation you will not be able to catch a trophy, you will not see the variety of fish that Norway is famous for.

Fishing rules in Norway

Fishing in fresh water requires a license ("fiskekort") - this rule is strict and applies to all water bodies - rivers, lakes, streams. The presence of such a document is regularly monitored and checked, so don't try to circumvent this rule - violators will be fined heavily. Fishing in the sea is not licensed, nor is a license required to fish in the fjords.

• "100 meters from the river" rule to prohibit fishing right at the mouth of the river - these areas are protected
• Tourist fishermen and citizens of other countries are free to fish in the sea, but cannot sell their catch;
• Each area has a minimum size of fish that can be caught. Its dimensions should be found out before starting fishing and strictly adhered to
• In Norway, quotas have been set for the export of fish outside the country - one person can take no more than 15 kilograms of fish caught here
• Fishing is only possible with a fishing rod or spinning rod
• Disinfection requirements for gear and fishing gear that apply to gear used for fishing in other countries apply. Many regions have special stations where equipment can be disinfected
• eel in Norway fishing strictly prohibited.

Acquisition of a license for Fishing in Norway

There are several fairly convenient ways to purchase a fishing license. Fishing permits are sold by specialized organizations and by the owners of the lands where the body of water is located. You can purchase the necessary license on the website in a special section. A license can be purchased locally at many fishing and sporting goods stores. Fishing licenses are also sold at campgrounds and gas stations.

An important point is that all licenses are valid for a strictly defined location, so when buying, you should clarify where exactly you intend to fish. By the way, the license may give you the right to fish not even in the entire lake, but only in a part of the pool, so be careful. The fishing license has a validity period, after which it is not possible to fish. The price of the permit can vary, but it is usually NOK 100 per day (which is just over 10 euros).

Fishing in Norway - the best places

For lovers of the biggest trophies, experts recommend fishing in the northern part of Norway. If we talk about fishing in the sea, the central and northern parts of the sea are considered the most "productive", the regions from Tromsø to Trondheim. in the Lofoten Islands and in Tromsø it is common to catch up to 40 kilograms of fish per day. In the south fishing not at all, here the result may not be available all day, so all adventurous fishermen are attracted to the north of the country.

When the sea is rough, it is best to fish in the fjords, where there is no strong wind and the depth reaches 500-800 meters. In the fjords rather large mackerel are caught, as well as cod. If you choose the central region for fishing, you can successfully combine the cultural and excursion program with fishing. For example, near Bergen you can go fishing or just have fun with family and friends. In addition, the climate here is quite mild.

In and around the island of Hitra popular fishing. Hitra is a Norwegian island of impressive size, located south of Lofoten near the entrance to Trondheim Fjord. By the way, the most picturesque fishermen's houses are right on the Lofoten Islands. These colorful cottages, usually home to four to six fishermen, are a recognizable part of the island's landscape. As a rule, the price of renting such a house includes a small boat adapted for fishing.

Fans of freshwater fishing should head to the area around the Namsen River, where excellent salmon are caught. In general, Norway holds the record for fish-rich rivers - there are as many as 450 of them in the country! In addition to Namsen river, you can enjoy salmon fishing in Surna, Sundal, Gaula, Verdal rivers. Representatives of the salmon family weighing more than 22 kilograms are caught every year in the Alta River, which is famous for its large individuals. The arctic and eastern part of the country is a paradise for lake fishing enthusiasts - this pike, brown trout, starlings and other fish paradise.

Spearfishing is another type of fishing that has recently become popular in Norway. In many ways, its development was facilitated by the country's geographical features, especially its long coastline. The best time for spearfishing in Norway is from September to December, both in terms of water clarity and catch. During this period, fish swim in shallow water, so hunting becomes more effective. Such fishermen-hunters mainly catch cod, halibut, as well as catfish and flounder.

Spearfishing in Norway tends to be successful in areas where the water moves in the opposite direction from the main current - for example, the Saltstraumen Whirlpool is a recognized location for this sport. Spearfishing catches often exceed those of traditional fishermen, but it also requires a lot of preparation.

Fishing in Northern Norway

It is the largest region of the country. It is washed by two seas - Norwegian and a small part - Barents. Two-thirds of the region is above the Arctic Circle, ending at the North Cape, Europe's northernmost point. The main feature of the fishery in the north of Norway is cod, which each spring travels from the Barents Sea to the spawning grounds off the coast of the Lofoten Islands and back. These huge shoals of fish contain many trophy cod up to 30 kilos and the fishing is more than productive… However, this Norwegian sea fishing festival only takes place 3 months a year, from February to April. At this time of year, the main enemy of anglers in the north is the weather. And although the winter on the coasts of the Norwegian Sea is quite mild - the proximity of the Gulf Stream has an effect, but even +/- 5 degrees, and with wind, spray, rain or snow (currently storms are frequent) - not the most comfortable weather for fishing. However, this problem is solved with the right equipment. However, the main enemy of anglers is the wind: at a speed of more than 8 m/s, fishing becomes almost impossible.

Another and very desirable target in the north is Ots, which has become a legendary Norwegian fishing trophy. Here it can be caught purposefully and quite effectively. In other regions, it is only bycatch and irregular, and the further south, the less. Halibut is a powerful fighter, even a small one, so catching him is a real pleasure.

It must be said that from a culinary point of view, large halibut is not very interesting - usually they are taken for "food" up to 15-20 kg of fish. The rest are released after the photo shoot. And according to the new rules of tourist fishing, which were introduced a few years ago, halibut 2 m and longer (about 100-120 kg) are immediately released.

The next most popular sea fishing object in Norwegian polar waters is RED (SEA) BISH. It also stays in the farthest north - it is mainly caught on the islands of Senija and Soroj, and is also in the top ten record specimens. The red one perch is in high demand, and although it seems that it is a very primitive fishing - but it has its own interest: you need to find a perch, it lives in underwater holes and the depths are from 150 to 400 m, so this fishing is not so easy.

IMPORTANT: SEA BASS FISHING IS ONLY ALLOWED IN THE NORTH FROM JUNE 1st TO AUGUST 31st.