Fishing in Bavaria

Statewide rules for anglers in Bavaria: when each species is protected, how big it must be, and which licence you need.

Species with rules: 8
Closed today: 2
Waters: 10

Fishing licence

Guest licence for non-residents

Without the exam for adults not resident in Germany, for up to three months; issued by the municipality.

Besides a fishing licence (Fischereischein) you need a permit (Angelkarte) from whoever holds the fishing rights for the water.

Fishing licence BayFiG AVBayFiG Compare all states

Districts may set different rules.

Map: Natural Earth (public domain); © OpenStreetMap contributors (ODbL)

In closed season today (4 Nov 2026)

Closed seasons through the year

Compare all states

Jan Feb Mar Apr May Jun Jul Aug Sep Oct Nov Dec

Brown Trout

26 cm

European Eel

50 cm

Grayling

35 cm

Northern Pike

50 cm

Pike-perch (Zander)

50 cm

Closed season Today (4 Nov 2026)

Minimum sizes and closed seasons in Bavaria

Species	Minimum size	Closed season	Notes
Brown Trout	26 cm	1 Oct – 15 Mar
Common Carp	35 cm	none
European Eel	50 cm	1 Oct – 31 Dec	Applies only in the Elbe, Rhine and Weser basins.
European Perch	none	none
Grayling	35 cm	1 Jan – 30 Apr
Northern Pike	50 cm	15 Feb – 30 Apr
Pike-perch (Zander)	50 cm	15 Feb – 30 Apr
Wels Catfish	none	none

Listed here: 8 commonly fished species. Every species is in the ordinance: AVBayFiG. Statewide rules for anglers as of 24 Oct 2026, without guarantee. Clubs and waters can set stricter rules; the ordinance text is binding.

Waters in Bavaria

Other federal states

Baden-Württemberg Berlin Brandenburg Bremen Hamburg Hesse Mecklenburg-Vorpommern Lower Saxony North Rhine-Westphalia Rhineland-Palatinate Saarland Saxony Saxony-Anhalt Schleswig-Holstein Thuringia