Lofoten Handbook

Fishing trips in Lofoten

Organised sea-fishing trips leave from Svolvær and Ballstad through much of the year, with gear and warm suits supplied. Visit Lofoten says winter, January to April, is the time for the traditional cod fishery, but trips also run in summer.

Last verified 16 September 2026

Why do it

Visit Lofoten describes the cod fishery as the reason Lofoten's villages are there; a short boat trip shows that working coast from the water, and some operators fillet the catch on board.

Where

Svolvær: XXLofoten (MS Symra), Go2Lofoten and No Problem Sportfishing. Ballstad: Captain Storm (rorbuer.info) and Solsiden Brygge's former pilot boat Varsool.

Best time

Visit Lofoten: January–April for the skrei (Northeast Arctic cod) season; No Problem Sportfishing runs mid-February to the end of October; Captain Storm has daily 14:00 departures from 15 June to 31 August.

How long it takes

Listed durations: XXLofoten 2 hours; Captain Storm and Solsiden Brygge about 3 hours; Go2Lofoten and No Problem Sportfishing 4 hours.

Who it suits

Listings for XXLofoten, Go2Lofoten and Captain Storm are marked child friendly; XXLofoten's trip is aimed at people who have never fished. No Problem Sportfishing takes 2–6 people per boat. Go2Lofoten suggests a seasickness tablet an hour before departure for those prone to it.

Operators

  • XXLofoten: 2-hour beginners' fishing trip from Svolvær on MS Symra, a heritage-listed boat in service since 1917; listed NOK 995.
  • Go2Lofoten: 4-hour trip on a traditional fishing boat from Svolvær into Vestfjorden; gear, thermal suits and filleting on board included; listed from NOK 650.
  • No Problem Sportfishing: Skipper Nigel Hearn; mid-February to end of October; up to 6 people, minimum 2; pick-up at the floating pier behind Circle K Svolvær; listed NOK 1,000.
  • Captain Storm (rorbuer.info, Ballstad): Deep-sea fishing on MK Iversen Jr. on the Vestfjord; daily 14:00 departures 15 June–31 August; about 3 hours; gutting and filleting facilities; listed NOK 950.
  • Solsiden Brygge (Ballstad): Fishing trips on the former pilot boat Varsool; about 3 hours; NOK 1,050 per person; gear provided.

Practical information

  • Only companies that operate tourist fishing trips may take guests on board; you cannot go out with a local commercial fisherman (Visit Lofoten).
  • Boat hire without a skipper requires the renter to be born before 1980 or hold a boat licence or equivalent (Visit Lofoten).
  • Sea fishing from the shore is allowed year-round; lakes and rivers need a local licence from the landowner in season (Visit Lofoten).
  • Export limit (Norwegian Customs, page updated 3 June 2026): fish caught through a registered tourist fishing business may be taken out of Norway up to 15 kg per person, twice per calendar year, from 1 January 2026, falling to 10 kg from 1 January 2027; minimum age 12; documentation from the business is required and cannot be issued to groups. Salmon, trout, char and freshwater fish you catch yourself are outside the quota.
  • Dress in three layers with wool next to the skin, and bring a hat and mittens (Visit Lofoten).

Questions

What fish can you catch on a Lofoten fishing trip?
Visit Lofoten says the most common species are cod (skrei), saithe, haddock and herring.
When is the best time for cod fishing in Lofoten?
January to April, when the skrei migrate to Lofoten to spawn.
Can you take fish home from Norway?
Yes, within limits. In 2026 the quota is 15 kg per person, up to twice a year, for fish caught through a registered tourist fishing business, with paperwork from that business. From 1 January 2027 it drops to 10 kg.
Do you need your own gear?
No. Tourist fishing operators supply rods, thermal suits and life jackets; bring warm clothes.
Can you go fishing in Lofoten?
Yes. Sea fishing with a hand line is free, and guided fishing trips run from places such as Svolvær, Nusfjord and Ballstad. Freshwater fishing needs a licence and the national fishing fee, available through inatur.no. Norwegian Customs allows 15 kg of fish per person via a registered tourist fishing business, falling to 10 kg from 2027; check its current quota rules before travelling.
How much fish can you take home from Norway after fishing in Lofoten?
Norwegian Customs allows 15 kg of fish or fish products per person, up to twice a calendar year, from 1 January 2026, but only for fish caught through a registered tourist fishing business, with individual export documents. The limit falls to 10 kg from 1 January 2027. Check toll.no before travelling.

Sources

Details last verified 16 September 2026.