Are you a fishing lover? If you are, than you take both sailing and fishing gear on a sailing trip with you!  Hooks, line, sinker, baits, fishing rods...

In Croatia, apart from being a vital industry and a traditional way of life, fishing today for many people, especially Dalmatians, provides an ideal way to relax and reconnect with nature. We only have one thing to say – the Adriatic Sea is a perfect option for you.

Why? It is often considered one of the brightest seas in Europe due to its high transparency, pleasant sea temperatures, currents are not that strong, and the scenery is gorgeous. But, there is also one thing the Adriatic Sea has to offer – rich underwater full of different fish species. Instead of stopping and chatting with the locals, who would be glad to advise you about the best fishing tips and tricks, read below where and how to fish on the Adriatic and which regulations you must obey to do it.

 

 

Nature protection first

How many times has happened that you were on a sailing vacation along Croatian coast and decided to go fishing, but your catch wasn’t good enough?

Maybe then you thought you were a lousy fisher or that there was no fish in the sea, but it’s highly possible that your fishing spot was wrong. And despite the fact that due to sea pollution most of the species are endangered (make sure to see all the regulations on the protection of fish species), there are among 400 fish species in the Adriatic such as; orada (sea bass), brancin (sea bream), arbun (common pandora), sardele (sardines), škarpina (scorpion fish), etc and most of them you’ll catch in different locations. But also, some species have protected status in Croatia and therefore are forbidden to get found; common dolphin, sea cucumber, sunfish, fan mussel, etc.

 

 

Best fishing locations

Some of the best fishing locations you’ll find along Croatian coast are in the Zadar archipelago, more precisely the Bay of Pag and the Tri Sestrice islets, located near Molat. The Bay of Pag is a Croatian island in the northern Adriatic Sea and the island with the longest coastline ideal for fishing. Your fishing exploration can also take you to Mali Lošinj, a town on the island of Lošinj, in western Croatia. You can choose any of Mali Lošinj bays to stop and cast out your line, sit and wait for a bite.

On the south Jabuka is one uninhabited volcanic island in the Adriatic Sea, located in the west of Vis island, but with really charming surroundings and a sea full of different fish species. Svetac or Sveti Andrija could also be an ideal option for fishing, one island in the Croatian part of the Adriatic Sea, situated 14 nautical miles (26 km) from Komiža (a town on the island of Vis). It is uninhabited, although it used to have permanent residents. Unique fishing experiences wait for you off the coast of the Pelješac peninsula and close to the island of Šolta. Šolta was so beloved of Roman emperor Diocletian that he ordered fish ponds be built on the island. You might also be lucky enough to spot a Mediterranean monk seal, one of the world’s most endangered species, which is often placed there. If you, on the other hand, traditional fishing and you’re more spearfishing lover, you will find your pleasure in the depths of the islands of Glavat in Lastovo archipelago or the sea in Šibenik and Zadar archipelagoes.

 

 

Fishing permits

That there are several ways to fish at sea, and that most people usually go sea fishing for sport and recreation, we all know, but you have to bear in mind one thing. Whichever kind of fishing you want to enjoy, you must first take care of paperwork and have a look at all the fishing regulations (e.g., max. daily catch up to 5kg for recreational licenses, without selling it) applied. You have different options for buying permits (https://ribarstvo.mps.hr/default.aspx?id=5010)  for recreational fishing in Croatia.

There is one day permit (60kn), three days permit (150kn), seven days permit (300kn) or one month permit (700kn), while Croatian citizens and foreigners with temporary residence in Croatia can buy one-year permits. After all, it is up to you which permit you’ll take, and it always depends on your needs and wishes.

Fishing is not allowed in individual reservations, in harbors or close to beaches between June and October the 1st. So, if you accidentally find a female spiny lobster in your net or a European lobster with eggs, you must immediately put them back in the sea regardless of their size.

All in all, even though there are specific regulations to obey fishing life along Croatian coast and to protect endangered species, fishing on the Adriatic Sea is genuinely one fulfilling experience. During your sailing vacation, each day can be made even better with some fishing time on plenty of gorgeous locations. Enjoy fishing in Autumn along our coast