Fishing in Rheinland-Pfalz: rules & closed seasons
To fish in Rheinland-Pfalz you need the state fishing licence and a permit for the water. Pike closed season: 1 Feb – 31 May. Closed today (2026-10-23): Bachforelle, Lachs. Checked 2026-10-18
Closed seasons and minimum sizes
| Species | Closed season | Minimum size | Today |
|---|---|---|---|
| Hecht | 1 Feb – 31 May | 50 cm | open |
| Zander | 15 Mar – 15 May (Lahn: 1 Apr – 31 May) | 45 cm | open |
| Bachforelle | 15 Oct – 15 Mar (where no general winter closure applies) | 25 cm | closed |
| Aal | – | 50 cm | – |
| Lachs | no fishing allowed | – | closed |
Compare all states: closed season Pike · closed season Zander (pikeperch) · closed season Brown trout · closed season Eel · closed season Salmon
Licence
First licence requires passing the fishing exam (licence for 1 or 5 calendar years). Ages 7–15 get only a youth licence (fishing accompanied by a licence holder) unless they passed the exam and are at least 14. Fees not stated in the law text.
Visitors
People not registered for a home in Germany are exempt from the exam (LFischG §36(2)); no separate tourist licence name. Note the law also lets authorities refuse a licence to people without residence in Germany (refusal grounds section). Fee not stated.
Notes
Source: SGD Süd download area (official), not the robots-blocked portal. LFischO consolidated to amendment of 3 May 2021; LFischG to 14 Jul 2015 (PDFs dated 22.02.2022) – newer changes not checked. Some waters have a general spring closure 15 Apr – 31 May or winter closure 15 Oct – 15 Mar (LFischO §§18–19). SGD Süd also hosts a document on an eel closed season in the Rhine, but it is a scanned PDF – Aal season left EMPTY. 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.