Fishing in Rhineland-Palatinate

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

Species with rules: 8
Closed today: 1
Waters: 2

Fishing licence

Guest licence for non-residents

Guest licence without the exam for people not resident in Germany, twice a year for up to 30 days.

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

Fishing licence LFischG Landesfischereiordnung Compare all states

Many waters (incl. Rhine, Mosel, Lahn) have additional closed seasons.

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

In closed season today (4 Nov 2026)

Brown Trout until 15 Mar

Closed seasons through the year

Compare all states

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

Brown Trout

25 cm

Grayling

30 cm

Northern Pike

50 cm

Pike-perch (Zander)

45 cm

Closed season Today (4 Nov 2026)

Minimum sizes and closed seasons in Rhineland-Palatinate

Species	Minimum size	Closed season	Notes
Brown Trout	25 cm	15 Oct – 15 Mar
Common Carp	35 cm	none
European Eel	50 cm	none
European Perch	none	none
Grayling	30 cm	15 Feb – 30 Apr
Northern Pike	50 cm	1 Feb – 31 May
Pike-perch (Zander)	45 cm	15 Mar – 15 May	In the Lahn: closed 1 Apr – 31 May.
Wels Catfish	none	none

Listed here: 8 commonly fished species. Every species is in the ordinance: Landesfischereiordnung. 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 Rhineland-Palatinate

Rhein
Mosel

Other federal states

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