Am I allowed to fish without a licence?
Generally no. To fish in Germany you usually need two documents: a fishing licence (after passing the fishing exam) and a fishing permit for the specific water. Fishing without a licence is an administrative offence with a fine; fishing without the owner's permit is poaching under §293 of the criminal code — up to 2 years in prison. Some states have exceptions (tourist fishing licence, exam-free coarse fishing).
📋 The rules
- Usually required: a fishing licence (after an exam) and a permit for the water
- The licence is issued by the local authority after a preparation course and exam
- Without a fishing licence = poaching of a sort (administrative offence, fine)
- Without the water owner's permit = poaching (§293 criminal code, a crime)
- Closed seasons, minimum sizes and catch limits must be observed
- Animal welfare: humane, low-pain killing is mandatory
🔓 Exceptions
- Brandenburg: coarse fishing without an exam (with a fee/badge)
- Mecklenburg-Vorpommern & Schleswig-Holstein: time-limited tourist fishing licence without an exam
- Bremen: "rod-fishing right"; Lower Saxony: no licence needed on free coastal waters
⚠️ Penalties & fines
Fishing without a licence is, by state, an administrative offence with a fine of about €80 to €75,000. Fishing without the owner's permit is poaching under §293 and can mean a fine or up to 2 years in prison; gear and catch can be confiscated.
📎 Official sources
- Bußgeldkatalog · fishing without a licence →
- § 293 criminal code · poaching of fish →
- Angelschein.de · fishing without a licence →
❓ Frequently asked
Do I need a licence to fish?
In most cases yes: a fishing licence after passing an exam, plus a permit for the specific water. Without these papers, fishing is generally banned.
What does fishing without a licence cost?
By state, a fine of around €80 to €75,000. If you fish without the owner's permit it is poaching (§293) — up to two years in prison or a fine, plus confiscation of gear and catch.
Where can I fish without an exam?
In a few states with exceptions: Brandenburg allows exam-free coarse fishing, Mecklenburg-Vorpommern and Schleswig-Holstein offer a time-limited tourist fishing licence, Bremen has the rod-fishing right, and in Lower Saxony you need no licence on free coastal waters.
How do I get a fishing licence?
You take a preparation course and pass the fishing exam (theory and practice). With the certificate, the local authority issues your fishing licence.
What must I observe about the catch?
Keep closed seasons, minimum sizes and catch limits per water and species, and kill caught fish humanely and with minimal pain. Animal-welfare and closed-season breaches are punished separately.
🔎 Common searches
What people search to land here:
- “fishing without licence penalty germany”
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