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.

Geography
For those who are bored with fishing in the Baltic Sea, a trip to Norway is a great opportunity to angle in the Norwegian Sea which is part of the North Atlantic Ocean. The very diversified Norwegian coastline with lots of islands and fjords has a total length of more than 25 thousand kilometres. The unique natural environment prompts many anglers to fish not only from the fishing boats but also from the shore.

What is the best time to go angling in Norway?
Any time of the year is good, but you must bear in mind that the weather varies depending on the year season.

What can be caught?
The Norwegian sea waters are abundant with codfish, both near the coastline and in the deep water. An attraction for anglers who were previously fishing in the Baltic Sea is the opportunity to catch orange or red cod. Trophies weighing a dozen or so kilograms are not rare in Norway.

Apart from codfish, you can catch salmon, especially when they migrate into river mouths to return to their natal stream to spawn. For those who are satisfied with caching smaller fish, we recommend angling herrings and mackerels using the paternoster method. Other fish species that can be caught include coalfish, pollack, halibut or piked dogfish. Catching piked dogfish can give a particular reason to be proud as it belongs to the shark family.

What to fish?
When setting out on a trip to Norway, one should anticipate fishing with the use of pilks or cut bait. Spinning also guarantees a good catch. Herrings and mackerels can be hooked using the above-mentioned paternoster method.

Legal regulations
Norway has imposed no bag limits on sea anglers which is due to a great wealth of fish in the Norwegian waters. However, the amount of fish that can be taken out of Norway is subject to restrictions - any angler is allowed to bring a maximum of 15 kilograms of fish (or processed fish products - fillets) back from Norway. In addition regulations concerning conservation seasons and size limits are strictly observed. In Norway fish cannot be used as live bait. Furthermore, sports anglers are not allowed to harvest lobsters. It is also not allowed to fish a distance that is less than 100 metres away from fish farms.

Attention!
Unlike sea fishing, angling on inland waters requires a licence and payment of a charge. So if you become bored with fishing in the Norwegian Sea and wish to test your angling skills in Norwegian rivers which are full of fish, first check what conditions have to be met.

Things to remember
Angling in fjords is particularly attractive. However, when setting out in a boat, you should bear in mind that a sudden change of weather may turn clam water into rough sea, and navigation into a problem. There is a risk of colliding with the steep side of a fjord which might have tragic consequences. If you decide to moor your boat to the side of a fjord, don't forget about tides prevailing in Norway; otherwise you might be in for a nasty surprise.

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