Fishing in Baden-Württemberg: rules & closed seasons
To fish in Baden-Württemberg you need the state fishing licence and a permit for the water. Pike closed season: 15 Feb – 15 May (Main: 1 Feb – 30 Apr). Closed today (2026-10-23): Bachforelle, Aal, Lachs. Checked 2026-10-18
Closed seasons and minimum sizes
| Species | Closed season | Minimum size | Today |
|---|---|---|---|
| Hecht | 15 Feb – 15 May (Main: 1 Feb – 30 Apr) | 50 cm | open |
| Zander | 1 Apr – 15 May (Main: 1 Feb – 30 Apr) | 45 cm (Main: 50 cm) | open |
| Bachforelle | 1 Oct – end Feb | 25 cm; 35 cm Hochrhein; 20 cm in brooks above 800 m | closed |
| Aal | 15 Sep – 1 Mar (Rhine catchment only) | 50 cm | closed |
| Lachs | protected all year | – | closed |
Compare all states: closed season Pike · closed season Zander (pikeperch) · closed season Brown trout · closed season Eel · closed season Salmon
Licence
Show expertise, usually by passing the state fishing exam after an approved prep course; minimum age at exam 10. Licence is normally issued for life. Youth licence age 10–15 (fishing only under supervision of a licence holder aged 18+). State fishing levy: EUR 8 per year per LFischVO (status 2022) – some municipal pages now quote EUR 12; the change is not confirmed in an official consolidated text. Admin fees set by municipalities.
Visitors
People staying in Germany for no more than one month can get a one-year licence (Jahresfischereischein) without proof of expertise. Fee not stated in the state texts.
Notes
LFischVO (status 2022). Licence text excerpt in LFischVO mentions a youth licence (Jugendfischereischein) and an exam requirement; details not fully extracted. Licence vs permit: the Fischereischein is a personal, state-issued licence; the Fischereierlaubnis/Angelkarte is a separate permit sold by the owner or tenant of a specific water. You normally need both. Local waters (club/lease rules, Hegeplan, local orders) may be stricter; the conditions on your water permit always apply on top of state law.