Faroe Islands

Freshwater fishing

The Faroes are not a classic salmon territory. There are only two lakes that rate as successful for salmon fishing, the Leynavatn with its two Mjóuvøtn lakes further upstream, and the lake in Saksun. As a general rule, these lakes yield up to 10 large salmon per day. The season is mostly from the end of July to mid-October. Much credit for this must go to the Faroes Fishing Association with its around 300 members, who have been very engaged over past decades in rearing and stocking Atlantic salmon, which they do with considerable expertise and enthusiasm.

Sea trout are the real treasure of the Faroes. You find them everywhere and in large numbers, and there is no set season. However, fish over 60cm are seldom caught. They can be found in numbers where fresh water runs into the sea in specific radii to the coast, where they appear on the tides in large quantities or shoals.
Sea trout mostly feed on sand eels or crustaceans and therefore have rich red meat. They migrate to freshwater areas to spawn during the winter months, and they also like to alternate between fresh and salt water areas throughout the year. Important to note: it is not permitted to take fish under 30cm, and in this case, catch and release is to be practised. In fact you should release every fish you are catching. Faroese anglers are very keen to protect and keep this species. Here it also makes sense to go fishing with a guide because they know the ideal time and place that offer the best chances of a good catch.

Apart from sea trout, the brown trout represents one of the real treasures of the islands. They are present in all the lakes and appear in different sizes and colours. Here one should dismiss one commonly held view: the bigger the lake, the bigger the fish – right? No, wrong. The opposite often applies. It is probably wiser to take note that if the water is relatively inaccessible, there is likely to be an abundance of fish. It is also important to be aware of the fact that in the Faroe Islands, in contrast to the lakes in continental Europe that have generous amounts of fish food, brown trout grow very slowly in the nutrient-poor lochs, and a fish between 30-40cm represents a Methuselah who deserves to be released. This is especially the case because there is no restocking of this wild species of self-reproducing fish.

Important to know: Every lake in the Faroe Islands is privately owned. Fishing is mostly tolerated, and respectful behaviour is required. To keep it this way, every guest should ask permission before they begin their activities, or even better, to go on tour with a local guide. Generally, is it forbidden to fish without permission. For the Leynavatn, Mjóuvøtn and Saksunartvatn lakes, which are leased by the Faroese Fishing Association, it is necessary to buy a fishing license.

Saltwater fishing

There is no point on the Faroes that is further than five kilometers from the ocean, and that means if you plan to fish in the sea, just follow the island map. It is possible to fish for sea trout and flatfish in all bays and inlets, ideally with sandy soil. It is possible to fill whole tubs with pollack when fishing from jetties and breakwaters.
Deep-sea fishing yields cod, pollack, ling, ocean perch, flatfish and mackerel, and it is not uncommon to catch up to 14 varieties of fish in a single day. There are large areas of coral reef on the seabed surrounding the Faroes, and these are important spawning grounds.

Deep-sea fishing in the North Atlantic is a real adventure. The deep, ice-cold water, the sometimes-raw conditions, and the rough seas all require seaworthiness and a little daring, but the reward is impressive. The fishing grounds are abundant, and a successful catch is practically guaranteed. And when back home, you can also entertain the landlubbers with a fascinating description of your fishing trip.

Text by: Mauritia Kirchner