Fishing rules by federal state
Fishing law is state law in Germany: every state sets its own closed seasons, minimum sizes and licence rules. Pick a state on the map or below.
Map: Natural Earth (public domain); © OpenStreetMap contributors (ODbL)
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Baden-Württemberg
Guest licence for non-residents8 species with rules · 5 waters
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Bavaria
Guest licence for non-residents8 species with rules · 10 waters
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Berlin
No tourist licence8 species with rules · 2 waters
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Brandenburg
Exemptions instead67 species with rules · 9 waters
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Bremen
No tourist licence8 species with rules · 1 waters
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Hamburg
Guest licence for non-residents8 species with rules · 1 waters
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Hesse
Guest licence for non-residents8 species with rules · 4 waters
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Lower Saxony
No licence required8 species with rules · 5 waters
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Mecklenburg-Vorpommern
Tourist licence for everyone8 species with rules · 4 waters
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North Rhine-Westphalia
Guest licence for non-residents8 species with rules · 4 waters
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Rhineland-Palatinate
Guest licence for non-residents8 species with rules · 2 waters
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Saarland
Guest licence for non-residents8 species with rules · 1 waters
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Saxony
Guest licence for non-residents8 species with rules · 3 waters
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Saxony-Anhalt
No tourist licence8 species with rules · 3 waters
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Schleswig-Holstein
Tourist licence for everyone8 species with rules · 1 waters
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Thuringia
Tourist licence for everyone8 species with rules · 1 waters
Statewide rules for anglers as of 24 Oct 2026, without guarantee. Clubs and waters can set stricter rules; the ordinance text is binding.