Fishing in Germany – What permits do you need?

If you like to grill fish and would prefer to prepare your own catch, you should know that anglers in Germany need special permits. In this country, it is not permitted to simply head to the nearest fish-rich body of water with a fishing rod. Private ponds are an exception. For all other bodies of water in Germany (with a few exceptions), you need a fishing license, often referred to as an angling permit. The prerequisite for this is passing a fishing test in a federal state. Depending on the fishing location, a (fishing) permit is also required. Let's take a look at the requirements for anglers.

Before fishing, obtain the appropriate permits!

Overview checklist:
As a rule, you need the documents listed below to be allowed to fish in Germany. These should always be carried with you when fishing, as they can be checked by authorized control bodies. The requirements for obtaining these documents can vary in the German federal states. The names for the required documents also sometimes differ:

  1. State fishing license (also fishing license)
    The fishing license is a necessary certificate for fishing in Germany. It is compulsory in almost all federal states. The license is usually obtained after passing the fishing test.
  2. Fishing fee (membership fee)
    The fishing fee is like a membership fee that is paid together with the fee for the fishing license. Only then is the fishing license valid. A one-time admission fee is usually also due upon entry.
  3. (Fishing) permit (also fishing license)
    The permit is the written authorization to fish in a certain body of water (section). The permit must always be carried when fishing. Permits for many bodies of water are available online or alternatively at the relevant sales outlets.

To obtain a fishing license, you must have successfully passed both a theoretical and a practical fishing exam.

State fishing license (also fishing license)
In order to be allowed to fish in German waters, a fishing license is required. To obtain this, a preparatory course must be attended and a theoretical and practical fishing test must be successfully passed. A test certificate is then issued, which can be used to collect the fishing license from the responsible authority. Depending on the federal state, there may be some small differences in the procedure. The theoretical test covers topics such as the broad field of fish and water science, questions about fishing equipment, behavior on the water and when catching fish, and current regulations. The practical test tests knowledge of the equipment and on the water. Often, differences and the structure of fishing rods and fishing methods must be explained. However, this again depends on the respective federal state.

The practical exam tests your knowledge of the equipment and the water. Often you have to be able to explain the differences and structure of fishing rods and fishing methods.

Unfortunately, the fishing license is not free, but in contrast to a hunting license or driving license, it is very cheap. There are costs for the preparatory course including the learning materials, the exam fee and the issuing of the license, including any processing fees. The preparatory course depends on the respective organizer and can cost up to €200. Online courses and crash courses are now also offered, where the exam questions are taught at least as well. An additional €50 must be paid for the exam fee. The costs for issuing the license vary greatly, as in some federal states the fishing license is issued either for 5 years or for life. Here, costs of up to €300 can be incurred. Added together, the fishing license costs are therefore €550. Depending on the federal state, however, this can be significantly less. In Lower Saxony, it is possible to get a fishing license for under €150.

Fishing fee (membership fee)
In many federal states, payment of the fishing fee is another requirement for the validity of the fishing license. The period for which the fishing fee is paid is variable. It can be paid for one year, five years, ten years, or sometimes even for life. Membership fees are between €50 and €450. The one-off joining fee is about the same.

(Fishing) permit (also fishing license)
The fishing license, often also called a (fishing) permit, is the authorization to fish in a certain body of water. Some components must always be provided (e.g. name, address, body of water), while others are variable and differ according to the respective fishing laws. Fishing licenses can now be purchased online or at the issuing offices on site. The tenants of bodies of water are usually the local fishing clubs. In order to obtain permission from these clubs, day, week or annual tickets must be purchased. The prices for day tickets are usually between €5 and €30. Annual tickets are between €50 and €450. It is best to contact the relevant club or association directly to find out about the issuing offices in your area.

Fishing with children
The age at which children and young people in Germany can take the official fishing test varies from state to state. In Bavaria and Schleswig-Holstein, the official fishing test can be taken from the age of 12. In North Rhine-Westphalia, Thuringia and Hesse, the age must be 14. In some states, there are also so-called "youth fishing licenses" for children and young people, such as in Bavaria, Hesse and North Rhine-Westphalia.

Fishing in Germany as a tourist
There are various options available to foreign tourists who want to fish in Germany. As a rule, you can apply for a "tourist fishing license" for a short-term stay. This is then valid for a specific period of time. Whether you have to prove that you are qualified to fish for the application also depends on the federal state in question.
But tourists from another German state also have to take regulations into account. Fishing licenses issued in another German state are not always recognized. Many different requirements apply here. We recommend contacting the state fishing association of the relevant state in advance.

Penalties for non-compliance
Illegal fishing is prohibited in Germany. Fish poaching is punishable in Germany with a fine or a prison sentence of up to two years. It is irrelevant whether a fish was caught or not. Depending on the severity of the crime, the angler may also be deprived of the opportunity to ever take a fishing test.

Exceptions – Fishing without a fishing license
Although fishing is very strictly regulated in Germany, you can fish in some federal states without a valid fishing license. With what is colloquially known as a "holiday license", you can fish in the federal states of Brandenburg, Mecklenburg-Western Pomerania, Schleswig-Holstein and Thuringia. You don't have to take a fishing test and you can start fishing quickly without having to spend months attending a course and passing a fishing test. The federal states wanted to react to tourists who wanted to fish in their holiday area but were not allowed to do so due to a lack of requirements. This tourist fishing license does not replace the fishing license and has some disadvantages. After paying the fishing fee, you can fish in Brandenburg for a year, but not with artificial bait or bait fish. In Mecklenburg-Western Pomerania, the tourist fishing license can be purchased (several times in a calendar year) for up to 28 days. In Schleswig-Holstein, it is also valid for up to 28 days (one-time extension of 28 days in the same calendar year), but under the name holiday fishing license. In Thuringia, you can buy a quarterly fishing license, which entitles the angler to use a hand rod for three months. As usual, permits must be purchased separately in these four federal states, otherwise you risk a fine!

If you meet all the legal requirements, all you need is the right equipment, patience and a bit of fishing luck. You can find out more about fish in the FIRE&FOOD fish special .

Detailed information can be found in the fishing laws of the German federal states:

Schleswig-Holstein
Lower Saxony
North Rhine-Westphalia
Baden-Wurttemberg
Bavaria
Brandenburg
Bremen
London
Hesse
Mecklenburg-Western Pomerania
Saarland
Saxony
Saxony-Anhalt
Rhineland Palatinate
Thuringia
Berlin

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