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Gothenburg · Fishing

Fishing near Gothenburg

4 waters within reach, 6 species, and the rules a visitor needs to know — from official sources.

33 km66 km Gothenburg Stora DelsjönGothenburg northern archipelagoGöta älv at Lilla EdetGöta älv at Trollhättan
Direction and straight-line distance from the city centre. Not a travel time.

By ReasonStay editorial team · Updated · How we verify

In short

Hand-line fishing on the west-coast sea is free; coastal salmon and sea trout fishing is closed 1 October–31 March and both have a 45 cm minimum size. The waters with mapped locations lie 5.3 km to 66 km from the city centre. Sweden: hand-line fishing (rod, jig etc., up to ten hooks) is free on the coast; foreign non-residents may use hand-held gear but minimum sizes, bag limits, closed seasons and protected areas apply.

Fishing

Where to fish

  1. Gothenburg northern archipelago (Hönö)

    archipelago17 km from the city centre

    Fished for: mackerel, cod, sea trout, lobster (season).

  2. Göta älv at Lilla Edet

    river48 km from the city centre

    Fished for: salmon, sea trout, pike, perch, zander.

    About 700 m salmon stretch at the first barrier on the river.

  3. Göta älv at Trollhättan (falls area, Hojum–Olidan)

    river66 km from the city centre

    Fished for: salmon, rainbow trout, pike, perch, zander, whitefish.

    Other Trollhättan stretches: pike, perch, zander, large lake-run trout.

  4. Stora Delsjön

    lake5.3 km from the city centre

    Fished for: (species not stated by sources).

    Named by the city tourism board as a popular fishing lake near central Gothenburg; reservoir in the Delsjöområdet nature reserve.

Seasons

What you can catch, and when

SpeciesSeasonNotes
Sea troutCoast: closed 1 October–31 MarchMinimum 45 cm. Skagerrak/Kattegat: max two salmon + sea trout combined per day for hand-line anglers. Göteborg & Co lists sea trout trips 1 April–30 September.
Atlantic salmonCoast: closed 1 October–31 March. Göta älv at Lilla Edet: mid-April to end of September. Trollhättan Hojum–Olidan: 1 April–14 OctoberMinimum 45 cm on the coast.
Cod1 January–31 March: cod, pollack and coalfish banned inside the trawl limitMinimum 30 cm. Year-round ban on cod, pollack and coalfish in Gullmarsfjorden.
MackerelSummer along the west coast; spring trips from Gothenburg April–May—
European lobsterFrom the first Monday after 20 September (07:00) to 30 NovemberMinimum 9 cm carapace; lobster creels only (max six), each with two 60 mm escape openings; berried females released.
Pike, perch, zander—Göta älv (Lilla Edet and Trollhättan).

Best time: April–September (sea trout trips) · April–May (spring mackerel/cod trips) · late September–November (lobster)

Rules

Do you need a permit?

Sweden: hand-line fishing (rod, jig etc., up to ten hooks) is free on the coast; foreign non-residents may use hand-held gear but minimum sizes, bag limits, closed seasons and protected areas apply. Fresh water — including Göta älv upstream of the coastal boundary — needs the fishing-rights holder's permission, usually a fishing card. 'Gula kortet' covers many lakes around Gothenburg; Göta älv cards: Lilla Edet (8-hour permits from the local angling club's cabin), Trollhättan (Sportfiskarna Trollhättan/Vänersborg via iFiske or the tourist office).

Authority: Länsstyrelsen Västra Götaland (County Administrative Board) — lansstyrelsen.se

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Frequently asked

Do you need a fishing permit near Gothenburg?

Sweden: hand-line fishing (rod, jig etc., up to ten hooks) is free on the coast; foreign non-residents may use hand-held gear but minimum sizes, bag limits, closed seasons and protected areas apply. Fresh water — including Göta älv upstream of the coastal boundary — needs the fishing-rights holder's permission, usually a fishing card. 'Gula kortet' covers many lakes around Gothenburg; Göta älv cards: Lilla Edet (8-hour permits from the local angling club's cabin), Trollhättan (Sportfiskarna Trollhättan/Vänersborg via iFiske or the tourist office).

What can you catch near Gothenburg?

Sea trout, Atlantic salmon, Cod, Mackerel, European lobster, Pike, perch, zander. Seasons and limits differ by species — see the table on this page.

When is the best time for fishing near Gothenburg?

April–September (sea trout trips); April–May (spring mackerel/cod trips); late September–November (lobster).

How far are the waters from Gothenburg?

Stora Delsjön: 5.3 km; Gothenburg northern archipelago (Hönö): 17 km; Göta älv at Lilla Edet: 48 km; Göta älv at Trollhättan (falls area, Hojum–Olidan): 66 km (straight-line distance from the city centre).

Base yourself in Gothenburg

Where to stay in Gothenburg

Scenic view of Liseberg amusement park with charming architecture and rides in Gothenburg, Sweden. Gothenburg city guide Every neighbourhood compared — distances, stations, who each area suits. Hunting near Gothenburg In Västra Götaland, moose may be hunted 8 Oct - 31 Jan in registered moose areas for the 2026-27 season. Fishing across Europe All 14 cities with a researched fishing guide.

Sources