Eastern Germany Lakes & Rivers Fishing Map

Animal Welfare Act (promulgated text of 18.05.2006, as last amended). §1 and §17 Nr.1-2: causing pain/harm to a vertebrate without 'reasonable cause' is a criminal offence. According to case law, catch-and-release (C&R) purely for recreation, holding for photographs and prolonged keeping alive (Setzkescher) may be punishable under §17. Catching fish for consumption is a 'reasonable cause'; fish below the legal size/in the closed season must be released. Permit: No licence provision at federal level; the Fischereischein is state law. Competent authority: State veterinary/animal welfare authorities, public prosecutor.

The article text is taken from the communiqué. The table above was carried into our own records from the relevant rows of the communiqué and may be abridged. The official publication is what binds. Official communiqué (PDF) →

Animal Welfare at Slaughter Regulation (20.12.2012). Fish must be stunned before killing (blow to the head etc.) and then killed immediately; also applies to anglers. Competent authority: State veterinary authorities.

The article text is taken from the communiqué. The table above was carried into our own records from the relevant rows of the communiqué and may be abridged. The official publication is what binds. Official communiqué (PDF) →

Federal Nature Conservation Act (29.07.2009, as amended). §23 Naturschutzgebiete (nature reserves; fishing prohibited/restricted according to each area's own regulation), §24 Nationalparke, §32 Natura 2000/FFH, §44 ban on taking strictly protected species (e.g. Edelkrebs, Flussperlmuschel, sturgeon species). Competent authority: State nature conservation authorities (Untere/Obere Naturschutzbehörde).

The article text is taken from the communiqué. The table above was carried into our own records from the relevant rows of the communiqué and may be abridged. The official publication is what binds. Official communiqué (PDF) →

Federal Species Protection Ordinance (16.02.2005). Annex 1: specially/strictly protected freshwater species (e.g. all native Neunauge species, Edelkrebs, Steinkrebs, some mussels) – taking and possession prohibited. Competent authority: State nature conservation authorities.

The article text is taken from the communiqué. The table above was carried into our own records from the relevant rows of the communiqué and may be abridged. The official publication is what binds. Official communiqué (PDF) →

Water Management Act (31.07.2009). Drinking water protection zones (Wasserschutzgebiete) are designated by state regulation; in Zone I (reservoir surface and shore) access/angling is mostly prohibited. Basic legal basis for Trinkwassertalsperren. Competent authority: State water authorities (Untere Wasserbehörde), reservoir operators.

The article text is taken from the communiqué. The table above was carried into our own records from the relevant rows of the communiqué and may be abridged. The official publication is what binds. Official communiqué (PDF) →

EU European eel stock recovery regulation (18.09.2007). Aalbewirtschaftungspläne for the states and river basins (Elbe, Rhein, Weser, Ems, Oder, Donau…); eel closed seasons, minimum sizes and daily quotas in the states are based on this plan. Competent authority: BLE / state fisheries authorities.

The article text is taken from the communiqué. The table above was carried into our own records from the relevant rows of the communiqué and may be abridged. The official publication is what binds. Official communiqué (PDF) →

Inland Waterways Navigation Regulation (16.12.2011). On federal waterways (Rhein, Main, Mosel, Elbe, Donau, etc.) entry to locks (Schleuse), dams and weir installations is prohibited; no fishing from these installations. A canal/river fishing permit must additionally be obtained from the holder of the fishing right. Competent authority: Wasserstraßen- und Schifffahrtsverwaltung des Bundes (WSV).

The article text is taken from the communiqué. The table above was carried into our own records from the relevant rows of the communiqué and may be abridged. The official publication is what binds. Official communiqué (PDF) →

Criminal Code – Poaching of fish. Fishing without the permission of the fishing rights holder (Erlaubnisschein/Angelkarte) is an offence. In Germany there is almost no free (permit-free) angling water. Licence: For every water a separate daily/annual permit from the owner/lessee (club, operator, state) is required. Competent authority: Public prosecutor/police.

The article text is taken from the communiqué. The table above was carried into our own records from the relevant rows of the communiqué and may be abridged. The official publication is what binds. Official communiqué (PDF) →

Berlin: Berlin State Fisheries Act + Fisheries Regulation (LFischG 19.06.1995 (amended 2018); LFischO 12.12.2001 (amended 2012)). LFischO §8 closed season/minimum size; live bait ban; ban on hooks with >3 points. Permit: Fischereischein mandatory; in Berlin a time-limited tourist Fischereischein is available (low confidence). Angelkarte for the Gewässer. Competent authority: Senatsverwaltung (Fischereiamt Berlin).

The article text is taken from the communiqué. The table above was carried into our own records from the relevant rows of the communiqué and may be abridged. The official publication is what binds. Official communiqué (PDF) →

Brandenburg: Brandenburg Fisheries Act + Fisheries Regulation (BbgFischG 13.05.1993; BbgFischO 14.11.1997 (last amended 24.08.2026, GVBl.II/26 Nr.39)). BbgFischO Annex (§2): Schonzeiten/Mindestmaße; §2a daily 3 Aal; §6 live bait ban; §7 maximum 2 rods; §17 50 m distance from fixed fishing gear. Permit: Fischereischein mandatory; however 'Friedfischangeln' (non-predatory species) is possible without a Fischereischein, with Fischereiabgabe + Angelkarte. Additionally Angelkarte (e.g. LAVB Gewässerfonds). Competent authority: MLEUV Brandenburg; Landesamt (LELF) Fischereibehörde.

The article text is taken from the communiqué. The table above was carried into our own records from the relevant rows of the communiqué and may be abridged. The official publication is what binds. Official communiqué (PDF) →

Sachsen: Saxon Fisheries Act + Regulation (SächsFischVO 22.04.2022). §2 + Annex: Schonzeiten/Mindestmaße; fishing ban within 30 m of fish pass entrances/exits; 01.02-30.04 ban on fishing with predatory fish baits; bait fish must be killed before use; maximum 2 rods. Permit: Fischereischein mandatory; Erlaubnisschein. Competent authority: SMEKUL; LfULG – Fischereibehörde.

The article text is taken from the communiqué. The table above was carried into our own records from the relevant rows of the communiqué and may be abridged. The official publication is what binds. Official communiqué (PDF) →

Sachsen-Anhalt: Saxony-Anhalt Fisheries Act + Implementing Regulation (FischG 31.08.1993 (amended 07.07.2020); DVO 11.01.1994 (amended 27.08.2020)). Schonzeiten/Mindestmaße; §2(1) catching of specially protected crayfish prohibited. Permit: Fischereischein mandatory (confidence medium); Erlaubnisschein. Competent authority: MWL Sachsen-Anhalt; Landesverwaltungsamt (obere Fischereibehörde).

The article text is taken from the communiqué. The table above was carried into our own records from the relevant rows of the communiqué and may be abridged. The official publication is what binds. Official communiqué (PDF) →

Thüringen: Thuringian Fisheries Act + Implementing Regulation (ThürFischAVO 11.08.2020 (amended 02.07.2024)). §1 Schonzeiten/Mindestmaße and fully protected species. Licence: Fischereischein mandatory; time-limited Urlauberfischereischein possible (low confidence); Erlaubnisschein. Competent authority: TMIL Thüringen; TLLLR (obere Fischereibehörde).

The article text is taken from the communiqué. The table above was carried into our own records from the relevant rows of the communiqué and may be abridged. The official publication is what binds. Official communiqué (PDF) →

Bodensee (BW/BY + AT/CH): Lake Constance Fishing Regulation / IBKF decisions (Updated annually). Common closed season and sizes in the Obersee (Felchen, Seeforelle, Hecht, Barsch etc.); for shore angling additionally the 'Bodensee-Angelkarte'. Permit: Fischereischein + Bodensee-Angelkarte. Competent authority: IBKF; BW/BY Fischereibehörden.

The article text is taken from the communiqué. The table above was carried into our own records from the relevant rows of the communiqué and may be abridged. The official publication is what binds. Official communiqué (PDF) →

Catch & release purely for fun, fishing with the intention of releasing legal-size fish without eating them, and keeping fish out of the water for a long time for photos are a risk under Tierschutzgesetz §17 (court rulings, e.g. competitions/C&R). Fish in closed season or below legal size, however, must be released immediately and carefully. Period: All year.

The article text is taken from the communiqué. The table above was carried into our own records from the relevant rows of the communiqué and may be abridged. The official publication is what binds. Official communiqué (PDF) →

Live bait fish: explicit prohibition in BY (AVBayFiG §15 Abs.1 Nr.3), NW (LFischVO §6), BB (BbgFischO §6 – authority exemption possible), BE (LFischO §12), HE (HFischV §14 Abs.5), SL (LFO 2020 §10). BW: prohibited if contrary to TierSchG §§1,17; where permitted, may only be hooked through the mouth/back (LFischVO §3 Abs.3 – de facto prohibited). SN: bait fish must be killed before being hooked (SächsFischVO §6 Abs.1). NI, SH, MV inland water VOs contain no explicit provision; considered de facto prohibited due to TierSchG §17. Period: All year.

The article text is taken from the communiqué. The table above was carried into our own records from the relevant rows of the communiqué and may be abridged. The official publication is what binds. Official communiqué (PDF) →

Angling competitions (Wettangeln/Preisangeln) are considered prohibited under animal welfare law (Tierschutz); only 'Hegefischen/Gemeinschaftsfischen' may be held with a permit (e.g. Saarland LFO §13-18). Period: All year.

The article text is taken from the communiqué. The table above was carried into our own records from the relevant rows of the communiqué and may be abridged. The official publication is what binds. Official communiqué (PDF) →

Brandenburg: In joint (Koppel) fishing waters, hand-line/rod angling only during daytime; the authority may grant exemptions. Period: in Koppelfischerei waters, outside 1 hour before sunrise – 1 hour after sunset.

The article text is taken from the communiqué. The table above was carried into our own records from the relevant rows of the communiqué and may be abridged. The official publication is what binds. Official communiqué (PDF) →

Brandenburg: Live bait prohibited (except by authority exemption); trolling from a moving sailing/motor boat prohibited; maximum 2 rods (1 for spin/fly); maximum 3 Aal per day; retained fish may be kept until the end of the day, retained fish may not be released back into the water. Period: All year.

The article text is taken from the communiqué. The table above was carried into our own records from the relevant rows of the communiqué and may be abridged. The official publication is what binds. Official communiqué (PDF) →

Sachsen: Fishing with baits suitable for predatory fish is prohibited; the bait fish net (Senke) is also prohibited during this period. Period: 01.02-30.04.

The article text is taken from the communiqué. The table above was carried into our own records from the relevant rows of the communiqué and may be abridged. The official publication is what binds. Official communiqué (PDF) →