What you’ll experience
This is fishing the way it should be: a proper working boat, a skipper who has fished these waters his whole life, and four hours out on the sheltered fjords around Bergen with a rod in your hands. Whether you have never held a fishing rod before or you fish every weekend at home, this trip is built to put fish on your line — no experience, no licence and no equipment of your own required. Everything you need is on board.
You depart from Bergen’s central harbour and head out through the Byfjord into the network of islands, sounds and deep channels that ring the city. These are rich, cold, clean waters, and the skipper knows exactly where the fish are holding on the day — the marks shift with the tide, the season and the weather, which is precisely why local knowledge beats guesswork. Within twenty minutes of leaving the quay your lines are in the water.
The bread-and-butter catch here is cod (torsk) and coalfish (sei), which fight hard and are superb eating, along with pollock, haddock, mackerel in summer and the occasional big flatfish. The real prize is halibut — Norway’s giant flatfish, which can top a hundred kilos in these waters — and while landing one is never guaranteed, the skipper will show you how to fish for them and every so often somebody on board gets the fight of their life. The crew bait your hooks, help you play and land your fish, and show you how to handle each species.
Rods, reels, tackle, bait and warm flotation suits are all included, and there is shelter and a toilet on board. Best of all, you keep a share of your catch — the crew will fillet cod and other keepers for you to take back, and there is no finer dinner in Bergen than fish you caught yourself a few hours earlier. This is a genuine, hands-on Norwegian experience, equally good for a family, a group of friends or a solo traveller who wants to do something real on the water.
The pace is relaxed and sociable — this is as much about being out on the fjord, the salt air and the scenery of the islands as it is about the numbers on the line. If the weather closes in, the sheltered fjords stay fishable when the open sea does not, so trips run reliably through the season. Come with an empty stomach and a bit of patience, and you will go home with a story, a photograph and, very often, dinner.
Your itinerary
- 0:00
Depart Bergen harbour
Board at the central quay, pull on a flotation suit and get a quick safety and tackle briefing.
- 0:20
First fishing marks
Reach the skipper’s productive grounds in the sheltered fjords and drop your lines for cod and coalfish.
- 1:30
Move to deeper water
Shift to deeper channels to target bigger fish — pollock, haddock and the chance of halibut.
- 3:00
Fillet & photos
The crew fillet your keepers and help with catch photos as you fish the final marks.
- 4:00
Return to Bergen
Cruise back to the harbour with your share of the catch.
Practical information
Meeting point
Bergen’s central harbour quay near the fish market (Strandkaien / Zachariasbryggen area), a short walk from Bryggen. Look for the fishing boat and the crew in the branded flotation suits; arrive 20 minutes before departure.
What to bring
Warm layers, a windproof jacket, a hat and gloves — it is cold on the water even in summer — plus sunglasses, sunscreen and any personal seasickness remedy if you are prone to it. A cool bag is handy for carrying your fillets home. Rods, tackle, bait and flotation suits are provided.
Accessibility
This is an active trip on a working fishing boat with some steps and movement underfoot, so it is best suited to those with reasonable mobility. Children are welcome with an adult. Contact us to discuss specific needs before booking.
Price & season
The fishing season runs from March to October, when the sheltered fjords around Bergen fish well and the weather is most reliable. Spring and early summer are strong for cod as the fish move inshore; summer adds mackerel and the best chance of a big halibut; and early autumn offers hungry, feeding fish before the season closes. Trips still run in fresher weather because the fjords stay fishable when the open coast does not.
Prices are indicative “from” fares per adult in Norwegian kroner and are confirmed at the time of booking. The final price depends on your travel date, group size and season.
Frequently asked questions
- Do I need any experience or a fishing licence?
- No. In Norway, sea fishing with a rod is free and open to everyone, and this is a guided trip — the skipper and crew teach complete beginners everything they need, and experienced anglers are well looked after too. No licence and no experience are required.
- Is fishing gear included?
- Yes. Rods, reels, tackle, bait and warm flotation suits are all provided. You only need warm clothing, a windproof jacket and something to carry your fillets home in.
- What fish will we catch?
- The main catch is cod and coalfish, with pollock, haddock and summer mackerel too. The prize is halibut, Norway’s giant flatfish — never guaranteed, but the skipper will show you how to fish for one and some trips land a real monster.
- Can I keep and eat what I catch?
- Yes. You keep a share of your catch and the crew will fillet cod and other keepers for you to take back — freshly caught fjord fish makes the best dinner in Bergen. Note Norway’s export limits if you plan to take fish out of the country.