Sea fishing has become popular in Poland since the mid 1990s, on the one hand due to small cod quotas, and on the other hand caused by the improved standard of living. Now, sea fishing is a very popular sport in Poland.
The beginnings
At the end of 1980s, the Sea Angling Club in Kołobrzeg decided to use two fishing boats for sports angling. The idea did not work because the operating expenses were too high and, eventually, the fishing boats had to be sold; however, this marked the beginning of this sports activity in Poland, which became popular with time so that it now attracts crowds of anglers interested in catching a big fish from across the country and abroad at seaside locations.
On the greater scale
Sea angling began to develop on a larger scale from the early 1990s, initially in Łeba and Kołobrzeg. Widely criticised by fishermen cod fishing quotas gave rise to investments in sports angling. In the mid 1990s the sport began to grow rapidly in popularity, in line with an expressed increase in the standards of living of the Polish community.
Sea angling today
Sea angling activities are concentrated predominantly in the ports of Łeba, Darłowo, Władysławowo, Kołobrzeg and Ustka. The number of anglers in these ports only is estimated at approximately 80 thousand per year, and the number of sea fishing trips at more than 7 thousand. The above-mentioned statistics come from 2006 and these numbers are deemed to have increased since that time. The number of angled codfish accounts for 1% of the entire harvest.
A navy cutter converted to an angling boat
What kind of vessels are used for angling purposes?
Now, vessels used in Poland for sports fishing purposes include commercial and sports fishing boats, boats that were not previously used to catch fish and those initially used to practice commercial fishing and now used only for sports angling and tourist purposes (passenger transport, diving trips). The popularity of the latter is a result of the very strict fishing quotas imposed upon fishermen after Poland's accession to the European Union.
What fish can be caught?
Sea angling from a boat enables one to catch herrings, belones, bull routs, platfish and sand eels; however, they are hooked only occasionally - almost all the fish caught is cod.
Legal regulations
Sports angling is governed by a Resolution of the Minister of Agriculture and Rural Development dated 9th July 2004 detailing the sports and leisure fishing methods and conditions as well as the layouts of sports fishing licences.
Bag limits
In accordance with Polish law, any natural person is allowed to catch two salmon or sea trout together; three rainbow trout, pike perches or pikes together; five eels or tenches together; ten breams; seven cods; ten herrings - 10 kg; other species - 5 kg together.
Required licenses
To be allowed to legally fish in the Polish sea, one requires a sports fishing license which is available to buy in district sea fishing inspection offices. An angler participating in fishing trips organised by professional boat owners does not need to have any license since all the required charges must have been paid by the boat owner. An angling license is also not required.
Permitted fishing methods
In Poland, angling is permitted from shore, ice or a boat. One is allowed to use only two fishing rods, and only one when fishing with a spinning. It is forbidden to use artificial light to attract and localise fish or any fish injuring methods as well as fishing at a distance of less than 100 metres away from designated bathing areas. Fishing from a boat is allowed not earlier than one hour before sunrise and not later than one hour after sunset, exclusively outside the waterways, and not closer than 100 metres away from the fishing equipment left in water.
See also
About sea angling
Sea angling is a sporting domain that has recently been in its prime. It is a great opportunity for one to communicate with nature, and it brings considerably more thrills than angling on land.
Sea fishing in Norway
Norway is a true paradise for sea anglers who are attracted by its huge fishing grounds, varied landscapes and fish species.
