02 / Species

What can you catch in the lakes and rivers of Hungary?

Meet the species recorded in these waters. Open a species for its techniques, bait and fishing grounds.

See all 35 species ↗

Search 35 species

Common carp

Cyprinus carpio

Grass carp

Ctenopharyngodon idella

Northern pike

Esox lucius

Wels catfish

Silurus glanis

Pikeperch

Sander lucioperca

Common bream

Abramis brama

Asp

Leuciscus aspius

Prussian carp

Carassius gibelio

European perch

Perca fluviatilis

European chub

Squalius cephalus

Tench

Tinca tinca

Roach

Rutilus rutilus

In season · October

Hungarian Lakes & Rivers fishing calendar

Species with a productive season this month. Seasonal data is a guide, not a guarantee of a catch.

Species counts peak in the lakes and rivers of Hungary in Aug, Jul, Jun — the strip shows how many species are productive in each month.

2 Jan
1 Feb
3 Mar
6 Apr
9 May
27 Jun
31 Jul
33 Aug
25 Sep
17 Oct
8 Nov
5 Dec

The height of the strip is the number of productive species in that month; it is not a guarantee of a catch. The turquoise column is the current month.

In season · October

What is caught in the lakes and rivers of Hungary month by month

For each month, the species in season — the most seasonal ones first.

Jan: Burbot, Rainbow trout
Feb: Burbot
Mar: Roach, Cactus roach, Rainbow trout
Apr: Common carp, Brown trout, Largemouth bass, White-eye bream, Cactus roach, Rainbow trout
May: Prussian carp, Crucian carp, Brown trout, Common bream, Asp, Zope and 3 more species
Jun: European chub, Rudd, Black bullhead, Pumpkinseed, Common bleak, Brown bullhead and 21 more species
Jul: Tench, Wels catfish, European chub, Rudd, Black bullhead, Pumpkinseed and 25 more species
Aug: Tench, Wels catfish, European chub, Rudd, Black bullhead, Pumpkinseed and 27 more species
Sep: Wels catfish, Grass carp, Northern pike, Pikeperch, Silver carp, Round goby and 19 more species
Oct: Northern pike, Pikeperch, European perch, White bream, Volga pikeperch, Common nase and 11 more species
Nov: Northern pike, Pikeperch, Burbot, Volga pikeperch, Ide, Roach and 2 more species
Dec: Northern pike, Burbot, Roach, Cactus roach, Rainbow trout

What bites in the lakes and rivers of Hungary this month

Ranked by this month’s research score at the lake and river spots of this region.

Very good

Good

+15 more species

Weak

A 0–100 score from season, water temperature, habitat and local records; a general trend, not a guarantee.

Before you cast

Rules specific to this region 34

The entries are summaries compiled from that country’s fishing legislation; each lists its legal basis and official source. The official text is binding, and rules can vary by state and by water. Check the rules on your permit before you fish.

Legal framework and permits

Act CII of 2013 on fisheries management and fish protection (2013. évi CII. törvény (with amendments up to 2026)). Fishing rights, designation of halgazdálkodási kíméleti terület (protected area) (§ 9 (2)), extension/shortening of closed seasons and general fishing ban (§§ 15–16), ban on catching protected fish (§ 12), prohibited methods (§ 46), state angling exam/licence (§§ 38/C, 40, 40/A), area ticket (§ 44). Permit: On registered waters: állami horgászjegy (state angling licence; állami horgászvizsga exam for those over 15, association membership) or turista állami horgászjegy (foreigner/tourist, may be obtained once a year) + horgászkártya + fogási napló (catch log) + területi jegy (area ticket, § 44). Under-15s accompanied by an adult; over-70s exempt from fees. Competent authority: Agrárminisztérium (Ministry of Agriculture); fisheries authority: vármegyei kormányhivatalok; NÉBIH (state angling licence system); MOHOSZ (National Angling Federation, operator of most waters).

Legal basis: 2013. évi CII. törvény a halgazdálkodásról és a hal védelméről (Hhvtv.) communiqué text

Legal framework and permits

Implementing regulation of the Hhvtv. (Ministry of Rural Development, 133/2013) (133/2013. (XII. 29.) VM rendelet; latest amendments 3/2023 (AM) and 4/2024. (II. 14.) AM rendelet). § 28 daily/annual catch quotas; melléklet 8 (species that may/may not be caught), melléklet 9 (species-specific closed seasons, minimum sizes, daily quota). If the start of a closed season falls on a weekend/holiday, it begins on the following working day; if the end falls on a weekend, it ends on the preceding working day. Permit: Daily quota: 3 per species from the melléklet 9 species, 5 in total (tourists: 2 per species, 3 in total); of other native species 10 kg in total per day (3 kg for sügér, garda, domolykó, jászkeszeg, szilvaorrú keszeg, paduc, menyhal). Annual limit on MOHOSZ waters: 100 specimens or 150 kg of protected species. Competent authority: Agrárminisztérium; kormányhivatalok (local exceptions/amendments: § 28 (5)–(6)).

Legal basis: 133/2013. (XII. 29.) VM rendelet a halgazdálkodásról és a hal védelméről szóló… communiqué text

Legal framework and permits

Ministry of Environment decree on protected and strictly protected plant and animal species (13/2001. (V. 9.) KöM rendelet). Fish species under nature protection (e.g. galóca Hucho hucho, lápi póc, réticsík, kurtaszájú/kilincses törpe species, sturgeon species). 133/2013 VM rendelet § 28 (1) prohibits fishing for these species; any caught must be released immediately. Competent authority: Agrárminisztérium (nature conservation), nemzeti park igazgatóságok.

Legal basis: 13/2001. (V. 9.) KöM rendelet a védett és a fokozottan védett növény- és állatf… communiqué text

Legal framework and permits

Balaton: Balaton Angling Regulation (Balaton Fisheries Management Company) (Operator rule updated annually (2026 version)). Stricter local rules on some matters on top of national rules: ban on fishing from boats (point 35, normally until 15.05), zander nest protection zones, time limits, separate area ticket. Permit: separate területi jegy for Balaton (BHNZrt.). Competent authority: Balatoni Halgazdálkodási Nonprofit Zrt. (BHNZrt.).

Legal basis: Balaton: Balatoni Horgászrend (Balatoni Halgazdálkodási Nonprofit Zrt.) communiqué text

Legal framework and permits

Local (each water): Local angling regulations (by the holder of the fishing right) (Separate for each water). Boat use, night fishing, prohibited bank sections, additional quotas, local changes to closed seasons (e.g. Tisza-tó, Ráckevei-Duna). Permit: Valid together with the area ticket. Competent authority: Halgazdálkodásra jogosult (MOHOSZ tagszövetségek etc.).

Legal basis: Local (each water): Helyi horgászrend (by the holder of fishery management rights) communiqué text

Methods and bait

Electrofishing (DC exception for scientific/management purposes), poisonous/narcotic substances, explosives, harpoons/spearing devices, gereblyézés (snagging/foul-hooking), longlines (paragat) and automatic hook devices, and gill nets are prohibited; devices blocking more than half of the channel cross-section (including fish passes) are prohibited. Period: All year.

Legal basis: Hhvtv. 46. § (3)–(4) communiqué text

General provision

Fishing gear that does not allow a protected fish in its closed season to be released alive may not be used; a species in its closed season may not be retained regardless of size. Period: During species-specific closed seasons.

Legal basis: Hhvtv. 46. § (2); 133/2013 VM r. Annex 9 communiqué text

General provision

If the start of a closed season falls on a weekend/public holiday, it begins at 00:00 on the next working day; if the end falls on a weekend, it ends at 24:00 on the preceding working day (e.g. in 2026 the zander/perch ban began on Monday 02.03, pike 02.02–31.03). Period: Closed season start/end rule.

Legal basis: Application of 133/2013 VM r. 9. melléklet (NÉBIH notices) communiqué text

General closed season

The fisheries authority (kormányhivatal) may extend the closed season or impose a general angling/fishing ban (általános halászati és horgászati tilalom) on a specific water on grounds such as drought, low water, fish kills or protection of endangered species (e.g. Dömsödi Holt-Duna-ág June–July 2026). Period: Exceptional circumstances.

Legal basis: Hhvtv. 15. §, 16. § communiqué text

General provision

Native species may not be kept in unregistered waters. National: releasing non-native (idegenhonos) fish brought from elsewhere into the water is prohibited; non-native live bait fish may only be used in the water where it was caught; invasive non-native fish caught while collecting bait fish may not be released (§ 28 (17), (17a)). A general release ban for invasives caught by rod (razbóra, ezüstkárász, busa, törpeharcsa, fekete törpeharcsa, naphal, amurgéb) could not be verified from the official text; check the local horgászrend. Period: all year.

Legal basis: 133/2013 VM r. 28. §; local horgászrend communiqué text

Methods and bait

Balaton: Fishing with live bait, fish fillet and artificial lures is prohibited until the predatory fish closed season (süllő, csuka, balin, sügér) ends; ban on fishing from boats (Balatoni Horgászrend point 35, normally until 15.05; in 2026 lifted on 01.05). Period: During the predatory fish ban (01.03–30.04).

Legal basis: Balaton: Balatoni Horgászrend point 35 communiqué text

General provision

Fish hooked outside the head (kívülről, outside the head) may not be retained; fish that may not be retained must be returned to the water immediately even if injured/dead; once the daily quota is reached, kifogott hal cseréje (swapping) is prohibited. Period: All year.

Legal basis: 133/2013 VM r. 28. § (8), (10), (15) communiqué text

General provision

Since the 2025 season, an e-fogási napló option (MOHOSZ Horgász Napló app); the paper napló is also valid, and one may switch from paper to electronic during the year (not the reverse). If the phone does not work and the catch cannot be recorded, the fish must be released. The paper napló must be returned by 28 February; those who do not return it or fill it in incompletely pay a late (szankciós) fee. Period: from 2025.

Legal basis: Hhvtv. + MOHOSZ practice (press source) communiqué text

Protected species

Species on the 13/2001 KöM list + Annex 8 'nem fogható' species (galóca, tok species, lápi póc, bucók, durbincsok, Petényi-márna, szivárványos ökle, csíkfélék) (Hucho hucho, Acipenser nudiventris, A. gueldenstaedtii, Huso huso, Umbra krameri, Zingel zingel, Z. streber, Gymnocephalus schraetser, G. baloni, Barbus carpathicus/petenyi, Rhodeus amarus, Misgurnus fossilis, Cobitis spp., Sabanejewia spp.): fishing prohibited.

Legal basis: 133/2013 VM r. 28. § (1) + 13/2001 KöM r.; if caught, release immediately (28. § (8… communiqué text

Invasive species

Invasive species of 8. melléklet II. rész (razbóra, ezüstkárász, busa, törpeharcsa, fekete törpeharcsa, naphal, amurgéb) (Pseudorasbora parva, Carassius gibelio, Hypophthalmichthys spp., Ameiurus nebulosus, Ameiurus melas, Lepomis gibbosus, Perccottus glenii): invasive: release prohibited.

Legal basis: Definite: releasing into the water from elsewhere is prohibited (28. § (17)) and caught while collecting bait i… communiqué text