Fishing gear and methods
Frequently asked questions (FAQs)
Please note that this section does not provide a complete list of requirements
No more than 5 crayfish traps or scoops may be used at a time (more about crayfish catching – here) and 4 other pieces of amateur fishing gear, including no more than 2 tools (not applicable to smelt fishing) that uses a live fish or a piece of it as bait.
One fisherman may use no more than 2 fishing rods at a time when fishing from a watercraft, except in cases where fishing is done from a watercraft suspended by an anchor or other means – in which case the usual conditions apply. More about watercraft sailing – here.
The total number of hooks used at a time cannot exceed 6 units, except for smelt and vendace fishing*, where the total number of hooks can be 12 units.
A double or triple hook is considered as one piece.
❌ Electric fishing devices,
❌ lines with hooks,
❌ spearguns,
❌ floating recreational fishing gear (wheels that are not attached to a fishing rod and are used for fishing using a hook (except for ice fishing),
❌ firearms or pneumatic weapons (except for spearfishing gun),
❌ rubbers longer than 40 cm attached to recreational fishing gear (also known as stretches),
❌ net non-recreational fishing gear (for example, trawls, towed, set, floating and drift nets, traps, seine nets, hoop nets, other nets used in commercial fishing, etc.).
If fishing is prohibited in a body of water at that time or you do not have an amateur fishing permit granting the right to fish in that body of water or a right to fish for free, it is prohibited to be in bodies of water or closer than 25 m from them with amateur fishing gear; if spearfishing is not allowed in a body of water, it is prohibited to be in those bodies of water or closer than 25 m from them with spearfishing guns.
It is prohibited to store and transport electric fish incapaciting devices, spearheads, lines, nets for non-amateur fishing and other non-amateur fishing gear, except for cases when these tools are used for commercial or special fishing or for scientific and educational purposes in accordance with the procedure established by the legislation.
It is prohibited to fish using:
❌ electricity to incapacitate fish,
❌ poisonous or explosive substances,
❌ firearms or pneumatic weapons (except for spearfishing guns),
❌ scuba and other self-contained breathing apparatus,
❌ piercing, hooking (when the fish is caught with a hook or large hook by any part of the body, except the head), impact, and other non-amateur fishing gear.
Shooting of fish with spearfishing rifles from a boat, while wading or walking along the coast is prohibited.
Read about permissible and prohibited spearfishing gear and methods here.
If you have noticed any inaccuracies or have any suggestions, please inform us at [email protected].
* It should be noted that when catching smelt or vendace is done not off ice, all fish of other species, except for flounder, that are caught are immediately released into the same body of water.