Guide
Fish species
Which fish is it, where does it live, what do you catch it with? The key species for anglers in Germany and Central Europe, with sources.
Northern pikeA fast ambush predator with a duck-bill mouth that strikes from cover and is one of the most popular predatory fish.
ZanderEurope's largest freshwater member of the perch family: a shy predator with long fangs that sees well in murky water and at night.
European perchA striped shoaling predator with a spiny dorsal fin, found almost everywhere and an ideal fish for getting started with lure fishing.
Common carpA powerful peaceful fish with four barbels that roots around on the bottom for food and fights with huge strength.
Rainbow troutA fast-growing trout introduced from North America with a reddish band along its side, the most common fish at trout lakes.
Brown troutA native trout with red spots, the key species of clear, cool streams and a classic for fly fishing.
European eelA snake-like migratory fish that swims all the way to the Sargasso Sea to spawn and is now critically endangered.
Wels catfishEurope's largest purely freshwater fish: a scaleless night hunter with long barbels and enormous strength on the line.
Common breamA deep-bodied peaceful fish, also called Blei in German, that feeds on the bottom in large shoals and is a typical feeder fishing catch.
RoachA common shoaling fish with a bright red iris, easy to catch and so the classic fish for beginners.
TenchAn olive-green, slimy bottom fish with red eyes that bites cautiously and loves warm, weedy waters.
Atlantic codAn important predator of the North Sea and Baltic Sea with a chin barbel; in German it is called Dorsch in the Baltic and usually Kabeljau in the North Sea.
Sea troutThe silver, migratory form of the trout, which feeds at sea and runs up rivers to spawn; a sought-after fish on the Baltic coast and in its long inlets (Förden).
GraylingAn elegant salmonid with a large, colourful dorsal fin (the flag) that needs clear, cool rivers and is a classic for fly fishing.
ChubA strong, shy omnivore with a wide mouth that is found almost everywhere in rivers and even bites on cherries.
AspA predatory member of the carp family, also called Schied in German, that strikes into shoals of small fish at the surface and loves fast lures.
Brook troutA colourful salmonid from North America with white-edged pelvic fins, introduced to Europe in 1884 and popular in fish farms and ponds.
BurbotThe only member of the cod family in fresh water: a nocturnal bottom predator with a chin barbel that is most active in winter.
European flounderA flatfish of coasts and estuaries that loves brackish water, travels far up rivers and is a classic for surf casting.
European plaiceEurope's most important flatfish, also called Goldbutt in German, recognisable by its orange-red spots and a sought-after food fish.
Atlantic mackerelA fast shoaling fish with green-blue wavy stripes that moves to the coasts in summer and snaps at anything that shines.
Atlantic herringOne of the most common fish in the world: a silver shoaling fish that moves into the inlets and harbours of the Baltic Sea in spring.
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