Fish you may come across in Bulgarian waters

The links below offer info about the various species of fish you can find in the larger lakes, reservoirs, dams and rivers in Bulgaria, and the Black Sea. The info is a little dated but its a useful guide.

Freshwater Fish of Bulgaria

Fish of the Bulgarian Coastal Waters

A little about Permits

Don't be fooled when Vasko says you don't need a permit to fish. We seem to be able to cuff-it at the beck in the village or even on the lake just outside (though I notice there are signs there now), but some of the bigger lakes and dams are patrolled by Rangers .... we were lucky on our last outing Chris

This is a little snippet about Permits I found on the net:

Fishing Permits

A fishing permit (риболовен билет) is required in order to fish in the lakes, dams and rivers of Bulgaria; sea fishing does not require a permit . There are a number of fishing permits available to amateur fishermen in Bulgaria:

• Annual permit


• Annual permit


• Six month permit


• Monthly permit


• Weekly permit


• A permit for disabled anglers - the permit is free of charge


• A permit for for women over 60 and men over 65 years old - 50 percent reduction on fee


• A permit for children under 14 - free of charge

Members of the National Hunters’ and Anglers’ Union (Национално ловно рибарско сдружение) are entitled to a 20 percent discount off the price of the permit.

Applications for a fishing permit can be made in one of the local offices of the National Hunters' and Anglers' Union, or in a fishing tackle store, licenced to issue fishing permits on the behalf of the Union. The only document required is proof of identity. The permit must be carried at all times when fishing

These permits give the permit holder the right to fish everywhere where fishing is allowed.

..... and a bit about seasons

Hoping that I'm not being too coarse, but it'd be nice to gut a fish that doesn't spew out spawn once in a while

Fishing Seasons In Bulgaria

Most species of fish spawn in spring and fishing is generally prohibited from mid April until mid June. There are some species that spawn in winter, such as trout, and the fishing season for these is quite different.

However, angling in certain lakes and small dams is allowed throughout the year in the so-called sports fishing basins (водоеми за спортен риболов).

* For further information on fishing and angling in Bulgaria: Click here (in Bulgarian - You'll have to use Google Translate or similar)