Fishing in Germany

A Fischereischein usually requires passing a state exam, which makes casual visiting difficult — except in Mecklenburg-Vorpommern, which sells an exam-free tourist licence.

10 researched spots — 6 Freshwater, 2 Saltwater, 2 Fly Fishing.

Species you can target

  • European bass
  • European eel
  • bream
  • brown trout
  • carp
  • cod
  • flounder
  • garfish
  • grayling
  • mackerel
  • northern pike
  • perch
  • pike
  • rainbow trout
  • sea trout
  • wels catfish
  • whitefish
  • zander

Fishing spots in Germany

  • Rhine at Karlsruhe — Baden-Württemberg. Freshwater, Intermediate. Target species: carp, pike, wels catfish.
  • Müritz Lakes — Mecklenburg-Vorpommern. Freshwater, Beginner. Target species: northern pike, zander, perch.
  • Rügen Sea Trout — Rügen, Baltic Coast. Saltwater, Intermediate. Target species: sea trout, cod, garfish.
  • Upper Isar — Lenggries, Bavaria. Fly Fishing, Intermediate. Target species: brown trout, grayling, rainbow trout.
  • Lake Constance — Bodensee, Baden-Württemberg. Freshwater, Intermediate. Target species: whitefish, northern pike, perch.
  • Elbe at Hamburg — Hamburg. Freshwater, Intermediate. Target species: zander, wels catfish, bream.
  • Müggelsee — Berlin. Freshwater, Beginner. Target species: northern pike, zander, European eel.
  • Danube at Deggendorf — Bavaria. Freshwater, Advanced. Target species: wels catfish, zander, carp.
  • Sylt North Sea — Sylt, Schleswig-Holstein. Saltwater, Intermediate. Target species: European bass, mackerel, flounder.
  • River Wiesent — Franconian Switzerland, Bavaria. Fly Fishing, Advanced. Target species: brown trout, grayling.

Licence requirements and closed seasons change regularly. Always confirm with the relevant fisheries authority before you fish — each spot page links to its source.

View the fishing map