Fishing in Croatia

Croatia boasts many plentiful rivers, offering experienced anglers and aspiring fishermen a diverse array of fish to catch. The Pike, Carp, Trout, Salmon, Catfish and many more species are there waiting to be prized.

Croatia’s rivers and lakes are amongst the cleanest in the world, which make them a stunning backdrop to a peaceful and exhilarating fishing holiday.

Rivers

Curak

The Curak river springs under a high rock, from a spring called the Green Whirlpool (“Zeleni Vir”). The flow of the river is an impressive 7km running through a beautiful wooded canyon concealed by dense forest of evergreen trees.

Fishing on the Curak creek is unmistakably a great challenge but no doubt an unforgettable experience, why not try the fly rod or an artificial fly for a great catch of Brown Trout!

Fishing season: May 16 to November 15

Kupa

The Kupa River forms a natural border between North-west Croatia and Southeast Slovenia. The Kupa springs from a small turquoise lake in the mountainous region of Gorski Kotar, northwest of Rijeka.

The Kupa is distinguished by its beautiful colour in its full natural environment which makes it an ideal fishing location in catching the Danubian Salmon!

Brown trout 1 April – 30 September

Grayling 16 May – 15 October

Danubian salmon 1 November - 1 March

Gacka

With breathtaking sights and unsurpassed natural valleys surround the River Gacka. Considered to be one of the richest trout rivers in Europe, the Gacka offers beauty, perfect ambiance, and a vast opportunity making it a real fisherman’s playground.

With Fly-fishing being the most common catches have ranged from Brown Trout, Californian Trout, Pike, Weather fish and European Eel and Carp have been spotted.

Fishing Season: 1 March – 31 October

Sea fishing

You only have to look over the side of any quay in Croatia and you’d be stunned by the number and variety of fish which are swimming around, like a well stocked fish tank! Owing to the unusual geology of the area, called karst, which makes the sea bottom very jagged, it is very difficult for trawlers to find a stretch to fish.

 

Fishing with a rod and line is a passion for Croatians of all ages, for man and women alike, not least because nearly everything you catch is edible. The past time can vary from dangling a line over a quay, feathering for squid off the rocks or big game fishing, which is now one of the up and coming tourist activities.

 

The Croatian Adriatic sea has a unique characteristic which puts it in front of other fishing destinations, and that is the bluefin tuna. Otherwise a highly migratory species it has chosen the Adriatic sea for its home and this is the only known place on earth, where bluefin can be caught any time of the year.

The ultimate fishing challenge for many sports fishermen, the broadbill swordfish, is also present in fair numbers, which are decreasing from south to north

Sharks, even though not as frequent here as in tropical waters, are around in respectable numbers, the major species being the blue shark and thresher shark. The best time of year for these are the summer and autumn months.