Fishing in Hessen: rules & closed seasons
To fish in Hessen you need the state fishing licence and a permit for the water. Pike closed season: 1 Feb – 15 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 | 1 Feb – 15 Apr | harvest slot 50–90 cm | open |
| Zander | none | from 50 cm | – |
| Bachforelle | 1 Oct – 31 Mar | harvest slot 25–60 cm | closed |
| Aal | 15 Sep – 1 Mar | harvest slot 50–70 cm | closed |
| Lachs | catching prohibited | – | closed |
Compare all states: closed season Pike · closed season Zander (pikeperch) · closed season Brown trout · closed season Eel · closed season Salmon
Licence
Minimum age 14 and a passed fishing exam; lifetime licence. Ages 10–15 may angle without licence under supervision of an adult licence holder. Fees not stated in the law text.
Visitors
Besucherfischereischein: for people without residence in Germany who prove expertise (e.g. a foreign fishing licence or permit); valid one month per calendar year (HFischG §§33–34). Fee not stated.
Notes
HFischV 14.04.2023 uses harvest slots (Entnahmefenster), not plain minimum sizes. 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. HFischG source is the GVBl. 2022 original; later amendments not checked.