Sport Fishing in Åland – What You Need to Know
Åland offers fantastic sport fishing all year round. If you’re planning a fishing trip to the islands, it’s a good idea to be familiar with the local rules and regulations. This guide gives you the essential info: where to fish, why you need a license, and how to respect Åland’s unique waters.
Fishing Licenses Are Required
In Åland, all sport fishers must have a valid fishing license. This applies whether you’re using a rod, spinning reel, jig, or fishing with bait. It’s important to stay informed about the current rules for rod fishing and angling before your trip.
Åland’s Fishing Zones
The waters around Åland include private waters, owned by individuals or companies, jointly owned (community) waters, managed by local fishing associations, and public waters, owned by the Åland Government.
If you are a Nordic resident, you have the right to fish for household use in Åland’s public waters. However, for all private and community-owned areas – as well as the government’s privately held water areas – you must have a fishing license, even for sport fishing.
No Single License – Many Opportunities
There is no single fishing license that covers all of Åland. Instead, Åland has 56 local license areas and 16 government-owned fishing zones. A license typically allows you to fish with rod, jig, or bait in the area it covers.
You’re not restricted to fishing only near your accommodation. Thanks to short distances between locations, you can explore multiple areas by purchasing several licenses – giving you more flexibility to follow the best conditions of the day.
Fishing license areas and vendors of fishing licenses
Buy Your Fishing License Online
You can view all fishing zones on an interactive map. Each license zone may have its own rules and restrictions, which are linked directly on the map. Click on an area to find detailed information and links to purchase licenses online.
Licenses are available through here.
Catch & Release Recommended
Åland strongly encourages Catch & Release practices. The rule of thumb: only keep what you plan to eat. Fish that don’t meet minimum size limits must be released.
If a lure or hook is deeply embedded and risks harming the fish, it should be killed immediately in a humane way.
To practice responsible Catch & Release, make sure you're properly equipped. Use barbless hooks and bring a pair of pliers or hook remover. Carry a scale and a camera so you can document your dream catch before releasing it!
Fisheries Conservation in Åland
A healthy fish population is the foundation for great fishing experiences. Åland invests heavily in fish conservation and supports natural spawning through various projects.
Every year, large numbers of fish are released into the waters. In 2020 alone, Åland released:
- Over 1 million pike fry
- 137,000 sea trout
- 151,000 whitefish
Fishing license revenue helps fund this work – so by buying a license, you're also helping preserve the fish stocks.
General Sport Fishing Guidelines in Åland
To fish responsibly and legally, always follow these rules:
• Respect nature and avoid causing damage to sensitive environments.
• Learn about protected areas, spawning seasons, size limits, and local regulations.
• Never fish without the required permission and a valid license.
• Use fishing methods and equipment that minimize harm to fish being released.
• Immediately kill fish you plan to keep.
• Never catch more than you can consume.
• Be mindful of local commercial and household fishers and their traditional methods..
Note: Frm 15 April to 15 June, sport fishing from the shore is forbidden to protect breeding seabirds.
Size and Bag limits
| Perch | 20 cm – max 10 per person/day | |
| Bream | 42 cm | |
| Pika | 55-80 cm – max 1 per person/day | |
| Pikeperch | 40-60 cm – max 1 per person/day | |
| Seatrout | 50 cm – max 1 per person/day | |
| Salmon | 60 cm | |
| Whitefish | 35 cm |
