Northern 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) →

Bremen: Bremen Fisheries Act + Inland Fisheries Regulation (BremFiG 17.09.1991; Binnenfischereiverordnung 30.09.2011 (Brem.GBl. 2011 S.410)). §2 species with fishing ban; §3 minimum sizes; §4 Schonzeiten + 01.02-15.05 predator-fish period ban on spinning/baitfish. Permit: Fischereischein mandatory; Erlaubnisschein. Competent authority: Senator für Wirtschaft; Staatliches Fischereiamt Bremerhaven.

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) →

Hamburg: Hamburg Fisheries and Angling Act + Implementing Regulation (HmbFAnG 04.06.2019; HmbFAnGDVO 04.06.2019 (amended 01.02.2022)). Annex 1: Schonzeiten, minimum AND maximum size (slot), daily quota (Aal 3, Hecht 2, Zander 2, Meerforelle 2, Rapfen 1, Quappe 3). Permit: Fischereischein mandatory (confidence medium); Angelkarte. Competent authority: BWI / Behörde für Umwelt (Fischereibehörde Hamburg).

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) →

Mecklenburg-Vorpommern: MV Fisheries Act + Inland Fisheries Regulation + National Park Fisheries Regulation (LFischG 13.04.2005; BiFVO 15.08.2005 (amended 2009, 2011); NP-FischVO 07.08.2007). BiFVO §3 species under fishing ban, §4 minimum sizes, §5 Schonzeiten, §7 fishing ban at fish passes and in the adjacent 100 m section. Separate KüFVO for coast/Bodden (out of scope). Licence: Fischereischein from age 14; 28-day Touristenfischereischein without exam (can be obtained more than once a year). No free waters – Angelerlaubnis required. Competent authority: LM M-V; LALLF (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) →

Niedersachsen: Lower Saxony Fisheries Act + Inland Fisheries Regulation (Nds. FischG 01.02.1978 (amended 2022); BiFischO 06.07.1989 (last amended 22.12.2005)). §2 species with fishing ban (Lachs, Meerforelle, Nase, Rapfen may be fished only in stocked waters), §3 minimum sizes, §4 Schonzeiten, §5(3) use of protected species as bait prohibited. Permit: NO statutory Fischereischein requirement (Lower Saxony exception); only an Erlaubnisschein is required, associations usually require an exam certificate. Competent authority: ML Niedersachsen; LAVES – Dezernat Binnenfischerei (Fischereikundlicher Dienst).

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) →

Schleswig-Holstein: SH Fisheries Act + Inland Fisheries Regulation (LFischG 10.02.1996 (amended 17.03.2022); BiFVO 29.06.2016 (GVOBl. S.557; amended 26.05.2021)). §2 + Annex 1 Schonzeiten/Mindestmaße; §4 + Annex 2 Fischschonbezirke; §5 + Annex 3 Winterschonzeit (01.10-31.12 all fishing prohibited in the listed watercourses). Permit: Fischereischein mandatory; time-limited Urlauber-Fischereischein without exam (28 days, confidence medium); Erlaubnisschein. Competent authority: MLLEV SH; LLnL – 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) →

Bremen: Raubfischschonzeit: all spin fishing (including spoons, twisters) and fishing with baitfish/fish pieces prohibited. Period: 01.02-15.05.

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) →

Schleswig-Holstein: Winterschonzeit: all fishing prohibited in approx. 38 watercourses listed in BiFVO Annex 3 and their tributaries (lakes on these waters excepted). Period: 01.10-31.12.

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) →

Hamburg: Daily quota: Aal 3, Hecht 2, Zander 2, Meerforelle 2, Rapfen 1, Quappe 3; also maximum sizes (slot). 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) →