Recreational Fisheries

Many people enjoy recreational fishing – especially angling – as sport or just to relax. In Denmark there are about 300.000 people engaged in recreational fishing activities. Most of them are angling. As a foreigner you are very welcome to angle in Denmark. In order to do so, you have to buy a fish licence.

You can buy the licence online at www.fisketegn.dk – it is very simple and the site has an English and German version. You can also buy the licence in most post offices, in some stores making postal operations, many tourist offices and even at some camp sites.

Angling includes only the use of light hand tackle. Everyone aged 18 – 65 years must have a fishing licence. It costs 140 DKR for a year, 100 DKR for a week and 35 DKR for a day.

Only residents and non-residential foreigners working in Denmark are allowed to go hobby fishing using passive fishing tackle such as hook line, net and trap. The price for a hobby fishing licence is 275 DKR for a year; the licence is also valid for angling. You have to be 12 years old to go hobby fishing; there is no upper age limit.

If you have questions about the licences, please call +45 72 18 56 06, Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday and Friday 9 – 12 am and Thursday 1 – 3 pm.

When you go fishing, you have to bring the licence number you get when you buy the licence, together wit personal ID. In fact it is enough to memorize the number of the licence, but most people bring the print when they buy online, the receipt from the post office, etc.

Should you loose your number, you are welcome to call +45 72 18 56 06. Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday and Friday 9 – 12 am and Thursday 1 – 3 pm.

Please note that if you should catch any fish, you are not allowed to sell them. And of course you should pay attention to general as well a local regulation. If you fish without fishing licence and you are inspected, you will have to pay 560 DKR (1.100 DKR for hobby fishing with passive tackle).

There are some put-and-take lakes where you do not need the state licence. Please ask on the location.