Fishing in Schleswig-Holstein: rules & closed seasons
To fish in Schleswig-Holstein you need the state fishing licence and a permit for the water. Pike closed season: 15 Feb – 15 Apr. Closed today (2026-10-23): Bachforelle, Lachs, Meerforelle. Checked 2026-10-23
Closed seasons and minimum sizes
| Species | Closed season | Minimum size | Today |
|---|---|---|---|
| Hecht | 15 Feb – 15 Apr | 45 cm | open |
| Zander | 15 Mar – 15 May | 45 cm | open |
| Bachforelle | 1 Oct – 28 Feb (inland waters) | 30 cm | closed |
| Aal | none (inland waters) | 50 cm | – |
| Lachs | 1 Oct – 28 Feb (inland waters) | 60 cm | closed |
| Meerforelle | 1 Oct – 28 Feb (inland waters) | 40 cm | closed |
| Äsche | 1 Jan – 30 Apr | 35 cm | open |
| Quappe | 1 Jan – 28 Feb | 35 cm | open |
Compare all states: closed season Pike · closed season Zander (pikeperch) · closed season Brown trout · closed season Eel · closed season Salmon
Licence
State fishing licence after the fishing exam (courses run by angling associations and private providers). People with main residence abroad can also obtain a regular licence in Schleswig-Holstein. Fees not taken from the official sheet.
Visitors
Time-limited holiday licence (Urlauberfischereischein, LFischG-DVO §5(1)) as an exception to the licence requirement; for inland waters you additionally need a permit from the owner or tenant of the fishing right. No licence needed on supervised commercial angling ponds/boats, but the fishing levy is still due.
Notes
Inland waters per Binnenfischereiverordnung (BiFVO) Anlage 1, as listed in the ministry's official Merkblatt zum Urlauberfischereischein (status 01/2026, sheet dated Feb/Mar 2026). Coastal waters follow the Küstenfischereiverordnung and EU rules (e.g. Baltic cod and eel in Union waters closed all year) – not shown in the table. 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.