Latvia Lakes & Rivers Fishing Map

Fisheries Law (1995 (consolidated; date not verified)). Fishing rights, regulatory powers (Section 13), transport of fish/crayfish (Section 22), inspection (Sections 18, 20). Competent authority: Zemkopības ministrija; inspection Valsts vides dienests (VVD).

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) →

Regulations on Angling, Crayfish Catching and Underwater Hunting (MK Nr. 800, 22.12.2015 (LV 2016/9; in force 01.02.2016). Amendments: LV 2020/36 (MK 106, 18.02.2020), LV 2021/8, LV 2024/81 (MK 253, 23.04.2024), MK 739 (09.12.2025; in force 12.12.2025, 11.5 p. from 10.01.2026)). Card requirement, number of rods/hooks (13. p), bag limits (16. p), minimum sizes (18. p), retention ban periods (23. p), boat and bait-fish ban 1.3–30.4 (24–25. p), mouth/dam/bridge bans (26. p), licensed-fishing-only sections (27. p), river closed periods (3. pielikums). Permit: everyone aged 16–65 must carry a makšķerēšanas, vēžošanas un zemūdens medību karte (electronic also accepted) + ID; <16, >65 and persons with disabilities exempt. At licensed fishing sites a licence (licence) is additionally required. The card price was not verified in this study. Competent authority: Zemkopības ministrija; VVD; Dabas aizsardzības pārvalde; municipalities (46. p).

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) →

Licensed angling, crayfishing and underwater hunting regulations (MK Nr. 799, 22.12.2015 (01.02.2016). Amendments: MK 701 (19.10.2021; in force 22.10.2021), MK 229 (12.04.2022) — likumi.lv copy of 11.12.2025.). Licensed fishing sites and by-laws of municipalities/water operators; rules at these sites differ from MK 800. There is no single national list of licensed fishing sites: each site is established by a municipal 'nolikums' (saistošie noteikumi); MK 800 27. p only lists the 6 national sections where only licensed fishing is permitted (Prohibited Areas). Permit: A licence is mandatory at licensed sites. Competent authority: Zemkopības ministrija; municipalities.

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) →

List of specially protected species and protected species of limited use (MK Nr. 396, 14.11.2000). Protected fish of limited use (2. pielikums 5. p) — referred to in MK 800 as alata, lasis, repsis, salate, sīga, taimiņš. Competent authority: VARAM / Dabas aizsardzības pārvalde.

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) →

In inland waters, 2 rods per person at the same time; each with at most 3 hooks (including multi-pronged). Multi-pronged hook gape ≤15 mm (except catfish fishing in the Daugava basin); more than one multi-pronged hook may be used only if attached freely to a single artificial lure and spaced ≤12 cm apart. 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) →

Cemmerēšana (hooking the fish from outside the mouth), gaff (except ice fishing), free-floating lines (ūdas), moving more than 50 m away from the lines prohibited; natural bait prohibited for salmon, sea trout, burbot and brown trout. 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) →

Fish not retained are carefully unhooked and released immediately (if the hook cannot be removed, the line is cut). Retained fish are killed immediately or kept alive swimming freely in the water and killed at the end of fishing; in ice fishing they are killed at the end of fishing and may not be left on the ice. 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) →

In all inland waters, angling from boats/floating craft prohibited; in 2.1 pielikums canals, all angling prohibited. Period: 01.03–30.04.

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) →

No national night ban; municipalities may prohibit/restrict fishing at night (diennakts tumšais laiks) on the basis of scientific advice. Period: Municipal decision.

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) →

Līdaka 5 (one may be >75 cm), zandarts 5 (one >75 cm), asaris 5 kg in inland waters, sams 3, sīga 3, salate 3, ālants 3, sapals 5, līnis 5, vēdzele 5, vimba 7, repsis 20, zutis 1 (3 in the list of 16 lakes). Municipalities may reduce the number of līdaka/zandarts. 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) →

Until fishing has ended, fish may not be cut up/have their integrity damaged (except cleaning of species with a number limit). 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) →

Card + ID for ages 16–65; licence at licensed sites; shown on hunting and fishing inspections. 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) →

The rules of events involving fishing are agreed with the municipality and the VVD (and in protected areas also with the DAP). 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) →

Makšķerēšanas, vēžošanas un zemūdens medību karte: 1 day 1,50 €, 1 month 5,00 €, 3 months 7,50 € (a 3-month card bought after 1 October is valid until the end of the year). The annual card was not listed on the sales page (27.10.2026). Period: 2026.

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) →

River lamprey (nēģis) (Lampetra fluviatilis): No retention all year in rod fishing.

The table in our records

Closed season

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) →

Grayling (alata) (Thymallus thymallus): Specially protected species of limited use (ierobežoti izmantojama īpaši aizsargājama suga) — 5-fold compensation for size/bag limit violations.

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) →

Atlantic salmon (lasis) (Salmo salar): Specially protected species of limited use (ierobežoti izmantojama īpaši aizsargājama suga) — 5-fold compensation for size/bag limit violations.

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) →

Vendace (Coregonus albula): Specially protected species of limited use (ierobežoti izmantojama īpaši aizsargājama suga) — 5-fold compensation for size/bag limit violations.

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) →

Asp (salate) (Leuciscus aspius): Specially protected species of limited use (ierobežoti izmantojama īpaši aizsargājama suga) — 5-fold compensation for size/bag limit violations.

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) →

Whitefish (sīga) (Coregonus lavaretus): Specially protected species of limited use (ierobežoti izmantojama īpaši aizsargājama suga) — 5-fold compensation for size/bag limit violations.

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) →