Southern Poland Lakes & Rivers Fishing Map

Inland Fisheries Act (Dz.U. 1985 nr 21 poz. 91; tekst jednolity Dz.U. 2022 poz. 883 (latest amendment: Animal Health Act of 21.11.2025, Dz.U. 2025 poz. 1795, in force 18.03.2026)). Art. 7 recreational fishing (rod/spear) and permit documents; Art. 8 prohibitions (protected size, closed season, 50 m from damming structures, methods, limit of 2 rods); Art. 12–16 obwody rybackie, obręby hodowlane and ochronne; Art. 17 ust. 3 pkt 2 decision of the voivodeship board on a temporary fishing ban. Permit: Karta wędkarska (angling card; issued by the starosta after an exam before a commission of PZW etc.; from age 14; fee 10 zł) + zezwolenie from the uprawniony do rybactwa (water user: PZW okręg, Wody Polskie, private lessee). Under-14s and temporarily present foreigners are exempt from the karta wędkarska (foreigners only with a zezwolenie). Competent authority: Minister właściwy do spraw rybołówstwa (Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development); wojewoda (obwody rybackie); zarząd województwa (obręby ochronne); Wody Polskie (PGW) – leasing of obwody; Państwowa Straż Rybacka.

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) →

Regulation of the Minister of Agriculture on detailed conditions for the protection and fishing of fish in inland surface waters (Dz.U. 2023 poz. 1373; in force 27.07.2023 (no amendments)). It replaced the 2001 regulation mentioned in the brief (Dz.U. 2001 nr 138 poz. 1559; t.j. Dz.U. 2018 poz. 2003) – the old regulation was repealed on 27.07.2023. § 2 definition of rod and eel 2 per day; § 6 protected sizes (wymiary ochronne); § 7 closed seasons (okresy ochronne); § 8 killing of invasive species; § 14 places where obręby ochronne may be established (including 50 m above/below fish passes). Competent authority: Minister Rolnictwa i Rozwoju Wsi.

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) →

PZW waters (national framework + okręg rules): Polish Angling Association Amateur Fishing Regulations and okręg (district) fishing rules (ZG PZW framework RAPR + annual rules of each Okręg (e.g. Okręg PZW w Gdańsku 2026)). The framework RAPR authorises the Okręg that is uprawniony do rybactwa to tighten protected sizes, closed seasons, limits and methods relative to the legal minimum (or to relax them without breaching the law). Rules therefore differ among more than 40 okręgi. Permit: PZW membership + okręg fee/permit (składka), or a daily/weekly zezwolenie for non-members. Competent authority: Polski Związek Wędkarski – Zarząd Główny and Zarządy Okręgów.

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) →

Wody Polskie obwody: Recreational fishing regulations for fishing districts operated directly by the Wody Polskie regional directorates (Annual (e.g. 2026 Lublin, Poznań, Szczecin, Białystok, Gdańsk)). In non-leased obwody the RZGWs set their own rules (e.g. Poznań 2026: 50–75 cm protected slot for sandacz and szczupak, combined daily 2 fish). Permit: Karta wędkarska + RZGW zezwolenie. Competent authority: PGW Wody Polskie – Regionalne Zarządy Gospodarki Wodnej.

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) →

Nature Conservation Act (Dz.U. 2004 nr 92 poz. 880; tekst jednolity Dz.U. 2026 poz. 1315). Art. 15 ust. 1 pkt 14: in national parks and nature reserves fishing is prohibited outside the places designated in the protection plan or protection tasks; Art. 49 protected species (Rozporządzenie ws. ochrony gatunkowej zwierząt). Permit: in national park waters, the park administration's own permit (e.g. Drawieński PN licence). Competent authority: Minister Klimatu i Środowiska; park directors; RDOŚ.

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) →

Rod: rod at least 30 cm; single hook + bait, or at most 2 fly hooks, or an artificial lure with at most 3 hooks (points not exceeding 30 mm in diameter). Artificial light to locate/attract fish prohibited. At most 2 rods; 1 rod for salmonids and huchen. Continuously raising and lowering the bait (except under ice), electricity, poison, explosives and injuring devices prohibited. Bait fish may only be released into the water they were taken from; bait net (podrywka) max. 1×1 m. 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) →

Eel: maximum 2 per day. Fish below the protected size or in the closed season must be returned to the water immediately. On river/lake banks, keep 50 m from fishing nets and marked krześliska, 75 m from spearfishing markers. Fish from recreational fishing may not be sold. Invasive species (babka bycza, babka łysa, babka rurkonosa, babka szczupła, czebaczek amurski, sumik czarny, sumik karłowaty, trawianka; signal, spiny-cheek, Louisiana and marbled crayfish) must be killed immediately. 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 law contains no general night fishing ban (only a ban on attracting fish with artificial light); spearfishing only by day. Night fishing rules are set by the okręg/user. Example Okręg PZW Gdańsk: on PZW waters fishing is allowed 24 hours, but on mountain/trout waters listed in the permit only from 1 hour before sunrise to 1 hour after sunset; ice fishing at night (dusk to dawn) prohibited; under 16 at night only when accompanied. Period: No national night fishing ban.

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) →

Recreational spearfishing (kusza) is prohibited during this period; spearfishing for salmonids and eel, fishing in navigation channels and scuba fishing are always prohibited. Period: 15.10–15.05.

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) →

Okręg PZW Gdańsk (example): Spinning and trolling prohibited in all lakes and reservoirs. Other okręgs apply a similar 'spinning ban' (mostly 01.01–30.04 or 01.03–30.04/31.05); check each okręg's rules. In Gdańsk also: daily limit sandacz+szczupak+boleń+troć+łosoś+sieja 2 in total, lipień+pstrąg potokowy 2 in total, brzana 3, karp 3, lin 4, certa 5, węgorz 2, 10 fish in total; other species 5 kg; caught catfish (sum) may not be released. 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) →

Okręg PZW Gdańsk (example): Fishing from bridges prohibited; anchoring and fishing in marked navigation channels prohibited; the 'szarpak' (jerking/snagging) method prohibited; distances of 10 m on the bank for bottom/float fishing, 25 m for spinning/fly fishing, 50 m between boats. 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) →

Voivodeships: The Zarząd województwa may, by uchwała, wholly or partly prohibit recreational fishing in specific places and periods for the protection and reproduction of fish (published in the wojewódzki dziennik urzędowy). Period: According to the resolution.

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) →

If the first or last day of a closed season falls on a public holiday, the closed season is shortened by that day (except sturgeon; in PZW Gdańsk also except eel). Period: Closed season start/end rule.

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) →

Under ice: one baited hook (max. 3 points, 20 mm circle) or artificial lure with max. 2 hooks (each ≤3 points). PZW Gdańsk: live/dead fish bait prohibited under ice, ice fishing at night (dusk–dawn) prohibited, hole ≤20 cm. Period: Ice fishing.

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) →

babka bycza, babka łysa, babka rurkonosa, babka szczupła, czebaczek amurski, sumik czarny, sumik karłowaty, trawianka (Neogobius melanostomus, Babka gymnotrachelus, Proterorhinus semilunaris, Neogobius fluviatilis, Pseudorasbora parva, Ameiurus melas, Ameiurus nebulosus, Perccottus glenii): invasive: release prohibited.

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) →

rak luizjański, marmurkowy, pręgowaty, sygnałowy (Procambarus clarkii, Procambarus virginalis, Faxonius limosus, Pacifastacus leniusculus): invasive: release prohibited.

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 sturgeon (Acipenser oxyrinchus): fishing prohibited.

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) →

Legally protected species (alosa, brzanka, piekielnica, ciosa, różanka, piskorz, kozy, śliz, minogi, głowacze, kiełb białopłetwy/Kesslera, jesiotr zachodni, strzebla błotna etc.) (Alosa spp., Barbus carpathicus, Alburnoides bipunctatus, Pelecus cultratus, Rhodeus amarus, Misgurnus fossilis, Cobitis spp., Barbatula barbatula, Lampetra/Eudontomyzon spp., Cottus spp., Romanogobio spp., Acipenser sturio, Leucaspius delineatus): fishing prohibited.

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) →

Wels catfish (PZW Gdańsk) (Silurus glanis): invasive: release prohibited.

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) →

Brown trout (pstrąg potokowy) (Salmo trutta m. fario), All waters — Closed season: 01.09 – 31.12. Minimum size: 30 cm. General rule ('pozostałe wody'). Gdańsk okręg 33 cm (Reda 35 cm).

The table in our records

Minimum size

30 cm

Closed season

01.09–31.12

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) →