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Fishing licence in Poland: what anglers need

On Poland's Baltic coast you may only fish after paying a fee, from PLN 15 a week. Inland, visitors need no Polish angling card but always need a permit for the water, which Wody Polskie sells online only.

Checked on 13.10.2026 against official sources. Not legal advice.

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Do you need a licence for sea fishing in Poland?

To fish recreationally in the sea, from the shore, a boat or another floating device, you need proof that you paid the fee. The sea fisheries inspectorate GIRM issues no paper licence; you are covered from the day of payment. Carry photo ID and the proof of payment.

Source: GIRM, Informacje ogólne nt. rybołówstwa rekreacyjnego (ohne Datum), abgerufen 13.10.2026

Do you need a licence for freshwater fishing in Poland?

Inland you need an angling card (karta wędkarska) and, on waters of a fishing rights holder, that holder's permit (zezwolenie). Rights holders include Wody Polskie and the Polish Angling Association PZW. Foreigners staying temporarily need no angling card if they hold the permit.

Source: Ustawa o rybactwie śródlądowym, Art. 7 Abs. 2 und 4 (Tekst jednolity Dz.U. 2022 poz. 883)

How much is a fishing licence in Poland?

Sea, since 1 January 2024: week PLN 15, month PLN 25, 12 months PLN 65, with the Large Family Card PLN 50. Inland, example Wody Polskie RZGW Gdańsk 2026 (shore, ice or boat): 1 day PLN 30, 3 days PLN 60, 7 days PLN 90, month PLN 140, season 1 May to 30 September PLN 200, year to 31 Dec 2026 PLN 300 (reduced PLN 150). Other rights holders set their own prices.

Source: Rozporządzenie Dz.U. 2023 poz. 2816, § 16 und § 18

Where do you buy a fishing licence for Poland?

Sea: bank transfer to GIRM's account at the NBP, stating the period and your full name; the page names no online shop. Inland: Wody Polskie permits are sold only online in the Wirtualny Informator Rzeczny (wir.wody.gov.pl) or the WIR app, paid via Przelewy24 or BLIK; ordinary transfers are refunded. Permits of other rights holders such as PZW are bought from them.

Source: GIRM, abgerufen 13.10.2026

What about children, teens and seniors?

Inland: the angling card is issued from age 14. Under 14 you need no card but may only fish supervised by an adult who holds one. Wody Polskie gives a discount to pupils and students aged 14 to 26. Sea: the official texts name no age exemption from the fee.

Source: Ustawa o rybactwie śródlądowym, Art. 7 Abs. 3 und 6

What applies to visitors from abroad?

Visitors pay the same Baltic fee as residents. Inland, foreigners staying temporarily only need the permit for the water; residents also need the angling card, issued by the district office (starosta) after an exam. A parliamentary question from July 2026 challenges this exemption; it has not been changed so far.

Source: Ustawa o rybactwie śródlądowym, Art. 7 Abs. 4 und 5

Which catch and take-home rules apply?

Sea, daily limit per person: 1 salmon (only with clipped adipose fin), 2 sea trout, 2 zander and pike combined, 15 perch, 10 garfish, herring 6 kg, all other species together 7 kg. From the shore or wading at most 2 rods, 1 when spinning or fly fishing. Inland: bag limits, times and methods are set in the rights holder's permit.

Source: Rozporządzenie Dz.U. 2023 poz. 2816, § 6 und § 11

What else should you know?

If you fish from a boat in the open Baltic, Puck Bay or the Gulf of Gdańsk, notify GIRM by email at least 2 hours beforehand (boat name, date, time, area or port). If you catch cod, sprat, herring or eel, a catch report is due afterwards, at the latest the next day.

Source: GIRM, Informacje ogólne nt. rybołówstwa rekreacyjnego, abgerufen 13.10.2026

Not confirmed yet

Whether recreational anglers may keep cod on the Polish coast in 2026 (EU ban on targeted cod fishing) is not officially clarified; in the regulation cod falls under the 7 kg catch-all limit. Inland prices apply only to Wody Polskie RZGW Gdańsk; other RZGW and PZW districts have their own rates. The fee for the angling card itself was not confirmed from an official source. The act was read in the 2022 consolidated text; newer versions not checked.

Do you know more or have an official source? Let us know.

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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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