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Fishing licence in Croatia: what anglers need

In Croatia you always need a licence to fish in the sea, even from the shore; a one-day licence costs EUR 10 and is sold online by the ministry. For fresh water you buy the permit from the fishing rights holder of that water.

Checked on 13.10.2026 against official sources. Not legal advice.

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Freshwater
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Do you need a licence for sea fishing in Croatia?

You need a licence for recreational or sport fishing in the sea, from the shore or from a boat. Licences run for 1, 3 or 7 days, 150 days or the calendar year. A new ordinance (NN 48/2026) applies since 1 June 2026.

Source: gov.hr, Marine recreational and sport fisheries, abgerufen 13.10.2026

Do you need a licence for freshwater fishing in Croatia?

For fresh water you need a permit (dozvola) for the fishing zone. The ministry issues it electronically and the fishing rights holder of the zone sells it (132 in the country). It also covers zones of other holders that have a reciprocity agreement.

Source: gov.hr, Sportski ribolov na slatkim vodama, abgerufen 13.10.2026

How much is a fishing licence in Croatia?

Sea, 2026 rates (NN 48/2026, Art. 6): 1 day EUR 10, 3 days EUR 25, 7 days EUR 45 (same for recreational and sport). Recreational licence, adults under 65: 150 days EUR 99.54, calendar year EUR 66.36; minors, pensioners and people 65 and over: EUR 13.27. Annual sport licence for adults EUR 46.45. Big game add-on, 1 day EUR 15.93. Some prices rise from 2027 (for example the annual recreational licence to EUR 75). Fresh water, per the Croatian gov.hr page: 1 day EUR 2.65, 3 days EUR 6.64, 7 days EUR 9.29, calendar year EUR 13.27; the rights holder adds its own fees.

Source: NN 48/2026, Art. 6 Tabelle (Gebühren 2026 und ab 2027)

Where do you buy a fishing licence for Croatia?

Buy sea licences in the online shop of the Directorate of Fisheries (ribarstvo.mps.hr), at ministry offices or at authorised sellers. Annual licences are sold only from 1 December to 1 March, the 150-day licence from 2 March to 30 November. Freshwater permits are sold by the rights holder through an authorised app; the list of holders is on the Croatian Sport Fishing Federation site (ribolovni-savez.hr).

Source: NN 48/2026, Art. 18 und Tabellenhinweise zu Art. 6

What about children, teens and seniors?

Sea: under 14 you may fish recreationally without a licence, using one line with or without a rod. Pensioners and people 65 and over get cheaper annual and 150-day licences; people 65 and over living on an island or on Pelješac get the recreational licence free. Fresh water: under 14 you need no permit but must be accompanied by an angler who has one.

Source: Zakon o morskom ribarstvu NN 62/17, Art. 27 Abs. 2

What applies to visitors from abroad?

Visitors buy the same licences as residents, whatever their place of residence; your ID or passport number goes on the licence and you carry the document. In fresh water, 1-day, 3-day and 7-day permits need no angling exam and no club membership; the annual permit requires an exam and membership.

Source: gov.hr Meer und Süßwasser, abgerufen 13.10.2026

Which catch and take-home rules apply?

Sea: no more than 5 kg of fish and other sea creatures per angler per day; a single fish that takes you over 5 kg may be kept, then you must stop. Per species: at most 2 octopus, 1 grouper, sharks and rays 0. Without a special licence, at most 2 handlines of each type. Bluefin tuna and swordfish are off limits to recreational anglers (tuna only as a trophy catch under separate rules). You may not sell fish from leisure fishing.

Source: Zakon o morskom ribarstvu NN 62/17, Art. 33 Abs. 3 (Fassung NN 62/17, spätere Änderungen 1

What else should you know?

From 1 January 2027 holders of 1-day, 3-day and 7-day licences must log their catch in the ministry app mRecFish within 24 hours; for dolphinfish (lampuga) this already applies from 15 August 2026. Spearfishing needs a sport licence, not the recreational one. Big game fishing needs a sport licence plus a special licence and circle hooks.

Source: NN 48/2026, Art. 5, 10, 15

Not confirmed yet

Freshwater prices conflict: the Croatian gov.hr page gives EUR 2.65 per day, the English version of the same page EUR 7.96 (salmonids EUR 19.91, Otočac zone EUR 33.18); the English page is probably outdated, not confirmed. Rights holders' own fees differ by zone and are not listed centrally. That the 5 kg limit is unchanged after the 2019 to 2024 amendments is confirmed only by secondary references; the English gov.hr page mentions monthly licences, which NN 48/2026 does not provide.

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Not legal advice. Rules and prices change; the linked authority and the local water permit are what count. Found a mistake? Write to [email protected].

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