Fishing in Kristiansand

Just a 10-15min walk away from Kristiansand city, you could be fishing one of the wild trout (Salmo trutta) lakes or trying your luck at a sea trout (Salmo trutta) along the beach, trying to fool a wild salmon (Salmo salar) in the river or even bait fishing for bottom dwelling cod off the deep waters of an islands. Yes, all this just a short walk away from the main town. If you have a car, then a feast of opportunities awaits!

Trout Fishing

The wonderfully large forest area of Baneheia and beyond, just North of the city centre boasts many trout lakes that are passionately managed and cultivated by the local fishing society. Here you can quickly find yourself in the Norwegian forest, by a pristine lake, casting out to a wild Norwegian brown trout. All methods are allowed from bait to spin to fly fishing and the average size of the fish respectable. Fishing licenses are very cheap (free of charge for under 16s) and can be purchased at the local fishing shop in the city called Grønberg Sport. Here you can also catch some fishing tips and any equipment you may need.

Here a link to the map covering all of the lakes.

If you’d like to explore outside of the city centre, then there is a vast array of other lakes, small streams and rivers that are definitely worth a visit.

Fishing Brown Trout Baneheia, Kristiansand

Fishing Brown Trout in Baneheia

Coastal Sea Trout Fishing

The sea trout, a beautiful silver bullet often prized for not only it’s appearance but also, it’s fabulous pink meat. This fish can be found all along the Kristiansand coast both just a short walk from the city centre or either via bus, taxi or car. These opportunistic hunters eagerly take a well presented worm, wobbler, spinner or fly and give quite acrobatic and lively fight at times. Fishing for this species is free for all ages in the sea but be aware that all sea trout of 35cm and smaller must be returned unharmed by law.

Casting for sea trout in Kristiansand.
Photo: Lukas Bamatter

Casting for sea trout

"Many consider the Atlantic salmon as the king of all fish"

Atlantic Salmon Fishing

Many consider the Atlantic salmon as the king of all fish. It could be the salmon’s captivating appearance, or it’s great fight, or the challenge of getting it to bite, or wonderful taste, or all of these, that attracts many hopefuls each season in hope of a bite. Kristiansand boast three rivers that during the salmon fishing season of 1st of June to 31st August can be fished for salmon. The water level controlled Otra which runs through the city of Kristiansand, the wild and untouched spate Tovdalselva river, and lastly the small and intimate spate river Søgne og Sogndalselva. Fishers under 16 yrs need both the national license for migratory fish fiskeavgiften and a local river license that can be bought either online here or at Kristiansand fishing shop; Grønberg Sport.

Read more information about the Otra river.

Fishing salmon in Otra river, Kristiansand.
Photo: Johan Persson Friberg

Fishing salmon in Otra river

Sea Fishing

Whether it be casting a piece of mussel out along the rocks for a colourful wrasse or dragging a whole mackerel along a ledge of a monster ling, the coast that’s free to fish for all ages has an experience for everyone. Here there is a vast array of different species eager to swallow your bait. A short walk out to the island of Odderøya will have you immediately in deep water where you can expect species like cod (Gadus morhua), whiting (Merlangius merlangus), pollack (Pollachius pollachius), mackerel (Scomber scombrus), wrasse (Labris bergylta), European seabass (Dicentrarchus labrax) and more. Alternatively fishing from a boat is an excellent way of fishing both even deeper water for even bigger fish like ling (Molva molva), cusk (Brosme brosme), cod and more.

Another good tool for finding fishing spots is an app called Fiskher.

Coarse Fishing

Although not a so very practiced part of fishing here in Southern Norway, there can be found different coarse species in the lakes of Kristiansand. Here there are lakes with common carp (Cyprinus carpio), perch (Perca fluviatilis), rudd (Scardinius erythrophthalmus), tench (Tinca tinca), crucian carp (Carassius Carassius) and golden orfe (Leuciscus idus). White bread, sweetcorn or worms are favoured baits whether they be presented under a float or ledgered on the bottom. The lakes that hold the species are very specific, and I would highly recommend a visit to Kristiansand’s fishing shop Grønberg Sport for the hottest tips.

Fishing Coastal cod in Kristiansand.
Photo: AnglerPilot

Fishing Coastal cod in Kristiansand

If you need further guidance with either where to fish, which techniques to use or developing your fishing skills, maybe a professional fishing guide is something for you?

Fishing Guide - AnglerPilot

Combine Southern Norway’s natural beauty and great fishing, with a guiding service based on a ’natural experience of quality'. AnglerPilot individually cater their service to all ages, abilities, fishing experience and fishing goals.

Ryan Marchese, the owner of AnglerPilot is a EFFA and FFI certified professional fishing guide and passionate fisherman. AnglerPilot is based in Kristiansand but deliver guided trips all over southernmost Norway.

Please get in contact regarding your needs:
Tlf. no: +47 909 15 846
Email: ryan@anglerpilot.no
Website: www.anglerpilot.no