Fishing in Bulgaria
Fishing in Bulgaria is hugely popular and with many lakes, dams, reservoirs and rivers not forgetting the sea fishing along the Black Sea coast Bulgaria is the ideal destination to kick back and enjoy the pleasures of angling.
Fishing is a year round activity in Bulgaria except for the month of May when fresh water fish spawn and October through December for mountain Salmon fishing. There are no seasonal restrictions on salt water fishing. The Bulgarian authorities officially state that harpooning and spear fishing is forbidden in Bulgarian fresh water, although I’m not sure why this is officially stated as I don’t think anybody would consider harpooning a course fish!
Bulgaria’s fresh water fisheries hold all the fish you would expect to find including some huge carp and perch! Sport fishing for all species of trout is also very popular. One thing that you may find different than from your usual angling trip is the thought of “catch and release” is one that is taking some time sink in with Bulgarian fisherman, having said that it is not uncommon to see the fishermen barbequing their catch of an evening for a mini feast.Perch and roach of a tiny size don’t escape the BBQ and will be fried until crisp then eaten bones and all.
It goes without saying that the countryside and settings available for fishing in Bulgaria are breathtaking. Often secluded dams and lakes set in dramatic mountain landscapes it really is a pleasure to just be there and it’s not uncommon to forget the purpose of the trip.
Below is a non exhaustive list of some of the more popular fishing destinations in Bulgaria and examples of the species of fish available.
Kardzhali Dam
Situated close to the town of Kardzhali in southern Bulgaria. The Arda River flows into the Kardzhali Dam. There are three large reservoirs, the first being around 24 km long and up to 2 km wide - the next 32 km long and not quite as deep - only 40 metres at its deepest! These lakes are 30-40 years old and have never experienced modern carp fishing techniques.
Bulgaria’s Kardzhali dam contains lots of carp (45,000 introduced in 1980s. It also holds Zander and Sheatfish.)
Studen Kladenets
Studen Kladenets is a dam again on the River Arda, located near the town of Kardzhali. One of the biggest dams in Bulgaria, this area includes an artificial lake. The dam is full of rudd and roach.
Dospat Dam
The Dospat dam is situated in the heart of Bulgaria’s Rhodope Mountains near the village of Dospat only 82 km west of Smolyan. This is one of Bulgaria’s most scenic areas with ancient forests surrounding the lake. The dam is rich in fish, including perch, gray mullet, carp, trout and pike.
Pasarel Dam
Pasarel Dam is located 20kms east of Bulgaria’s capital Sofia. Near to the village of Dolni Pasarel. This is a fairly small dam but one which holds plenty of carp and roach.
Maritsa River
The Maritsa River is 480kms long, originating in Bulgaria’s Rila Mountains it then flows southwards through the country. Along the length of the Maritsa there are lots of fishing choices, particularly at the entrance of the Tundzha tributary.
Golyam Beglik Dam
This dam is located in the central part of Bulgaria’s Rhodope Mountains. This is one of Bulgaria’s main tourist areas attracting a lot of visitors each year. There is access to the fishing areas from both the north and south ends of the lake. The dam holds a huge amount of carp, pike and course fish.
Vacha Dam
Vacha (or Antonivanovtsi) Dam is again situated in Bulgaria’s Rhodope Mountains within the Devin district, located near to the road from Krichim to Devin there is lots of fish including zander, carp and rudd.
Dushanti Dam
Located in Bulgaria’s ever popular and beautiful Stara Planina mountain area. The dam is easily reached by car by following the old road from Sofia to Burgas the fishing boasts lots of carp and course fish.
Yovkovtsi Dam
The Yovkovtsi Dam is located in north-eastern Bulgaria, 5kms from Elena. This is a very large dam which is loaded with carp, roach and zander. The dam is a one of Bulgaria’s major tourist attractions.
Palitsi Dam
Palitsi is a dam located again the north-eastern region of Bulgaria, in the area of Elena. The dam forms part of the Stara Planina mountain range. The fishing waters are rich with carp, roach, rudd, perch and pike. Again the area is attractive as a tourist area.
River Kamchia
The River Kamchia and adjacent lakes are just a few kilometres from Kitka. Located close to the coast the fishing areas are about 30kms from Varna on the road to Burgas. The fishing is famous for it’s plentiful carp.
Cherney Vruk
Again situated close to Bulgaria’s Black Sea coastline the fishery in sited about 20 mins from Burgas on the Sredetz Road is a pretty spot for fishing. This is an established fishery with reasonable carp and other course fish. Fishing is free unless you take fish away to eat! It’s a small fishery but very productive!
Shiroka Polyana
Shiroka Polyana is a dam situated in the Bulgarian Western Rhodopes, 30kms south of Batak. A very scenic area of the country with lots of isolated areas for fishing. Access can be a little difficult but very much worth it down to the fact there is a lot of carp, gray mullet, perch, pike and trout.
Sadeivo
The fishery is situated approx 20 minutes from Burgas on the Burgas-Sofia E773 road. There are two lakes adjacent to the village. Regularly fished by locals the fish type and volume seems reasonable with steady catches.
Orizare
There are two large lakes with a variety of carp and course fish.
Tsonevo Dam
Tsonevo is the nearest dam to Varna, it is the 3rd largest dam in Bulgaria. It is situated in the valley of the Luda Kamchia River - 1km from the village of Tzoveno. Warm waters ensure lots of bream, carp, rudd and roach. Accommodation is available locally in Tzonevo and Asparuhova villages.
Note : Many venues will require you to have a monthly or annual fishing licence. This licence is available from your Bulgarian Hunting & Fishing Union. Offices are found in most towns and cities.
It is important not to forget that along with the fantastic opportunities for fresh water fishing Bulgaria boasts a reasonably long coastline form where you can enjoy the joys of salt water fishing from the Beach, the Boat or the Harbour along with many opportunities for spear-fishing.
Some of the locations where you can arrange a day fishing at sea include,
Real Bulgarian Property Ltd. are aware of a few dedicated travel services concentrating on providing high quality fishing vacations throughout Bulgaria, for information on these please contact us and we will forward the details to you directly.
We are proud to offer for sale a number of properties in and around Bulgaria’s fishing areas. We have land, houses and villas available, please use the search facility on our home page www.realbulgarianproperty.com to find the property for you. Alternatively you can contact us at office@realbulgarianproperty.com for assistance in you search for Bulgarian property within specific areas of fishing.
Black Sea / salt water fishes - (Mesogobis), (Mugil cephalus), (Liza aurata), blue fish (Pomatomus saltrix), tunny (Palamis sarda), turbot (Psetta maxima maeotica), (Trachurus mediterraneus ponticus) and small dog-sharks (Squalidae). Harpooning allowed the whole year. There is no dangerous fish in Black Sea. Also the only kind of shark, the dog-shark is small (15 kg. Max.) and never attacks people. The only way to see and catch such a shark is to go with a boot 4-5 km from the shore and to fish them in deep water. http://get.info.bg/visit/Dir.asp?d=0-5-Fishing_in_Bulgaria
Fishing Places in Bulgaria
http://fishing-in-bulgaria.mysite.wanadoo-members.co.uk/
Offers for Fishing
Thousands of years, Bulgarian fishing’s magic is a peace of a paradise for experts and beginners in the fishing. A paradise inborn with a beauty Nature is typical for the lands of Bulgaria.
We offer you our programmes: Freshwater Fishing - in rivers and lakes (natural and artificial ) and Sea Fishing – the Black Sea
High Mountains Fishing
On request you could get our programmes for:
- Fishing of TROUT ( rainbow trout, brook trout, wild brown trout, grayling ) in rivers and lakes in the mountains on an altitude of 2000 m. - from May 01 to September 30
- Fishing in artificial lakes of wels, carp, trout, perch, zander, rudd, etc.on an altitude 300 –500 m. above the sea level. - from June 15 to September 30
Accommodation:
- In forest reserves in luxurious lodges – situated in the heart of the forests – excellent service and traditional cuisine, personalized reception (from 5 to 12 rooms)
- In tent-camps in the mountains in most of the areas to reach the camp you need between 2 and 4 hours by horse or walking. It is recommended to be in good physical condition.
Necessary equipment: a sleeping bag, rucksack, warm clothes and raincoates, hiking shoes and gumboots.
From 4 to 6 days fishing programmes.
Rivers
- The Danube river – September / October
- Other rivers – from April 01 to 15 and From June 15 to September 30 on wels, pike, chub, bream, carp, rudd, barbel, etc.
Accommodation: In the tent camps, on full board catering.
From 4 to 7 days fishing.
Necessary equipment: a sleeping bag, gumboots, warm clothes and raincoates.
Sea–fishing
On the Black Sea from 5 to 7 days fishing.
- In April – May: turbot, Danube herring, scad, goby;
- From June to November: goby, belted bonito, blue – fish, scad, small sharks, hausen (without garantie ).
Accommodation: In small comfortable hotels in fisher villages (1000 – 3000 habitants); personalized reception; good service and cuisine. On request: full fishing equipment.
Methods used (freshwater fishes - according to water and fish): Seting up, Casting, Pole fishing, Legering, Deadbaiting, Lure – fishing, and other
Methods used by sea–fishing: Shore casting, Shore fishing, Float fishing, Boat fishing
Ice–fishing
We offer you a wonderful, high emotional fishing experience in Bulgaria. It will take place in natural and artificial lakes for the following fishes: trout, perch, zander, pike and others.
Our ice–fishing programme includes 4 fishing days – 5 days stay in the fishing area – on full board basis accommodation; transfers Sofia airport – the fishing area and back; fishing licences, interpreter; the specially equipment used in the ice-fishing methods. You will need only adequate warm cloths.
Temperatures in winter: from - 1o C to - 20o C.
Our Fishing School
Our company gives you a chance to find out the beauty of the fishing! For a week you will be experienced in the basics of the fishment including the free practice in the hearth of the nature. You will get idea about the species, the adequate periods for fishing, the methods used in freshwaters and in the sea, the tackles and the baits, the necessary equipment… Our fishing – school is appropriate as well for a family holiday. The accommodation is in luxuriously forest lodges, which provide an excellent service and cuisine.
http://www.fortunecity.com/oasis/pipeline/626//fishing.htm
1. Angling saltwater in Black Sea near Sozopol town (30km from port Burgas and 65km from "Sunny Beach" resort). In Sozopol is our base for angling with boat in Black Sea. Solid sea boat (for 8 persons) with experienced captain. Minimal group for starting a 1day trip is 4 persons and maximal 7 persons. For sweet water fishing trips to "Karaach" and "Veleka" rivers. From our Sozopol base we cover the resorts "Sunny Beach", "Duny", towns: Nesebar, Burgas, Pomorie, Chrnomoretz vilage, Primorsko, Kiten, Tzarevo. Negotiable other destinations also.
2. Angling sweet water Sofia -("Iskar" dam lake, "Belmeken"(2000m altitude) / "Chaira" lakes ), Troyan town (160 km from Sofia)- ("Sopot" lake, "Malinovo" lake, "Cherni Osam" and "Ogosta" rivers). Transportation, sleeping accommodations and food foreseen, concerning to the fishing conditions. The offer is valid for 2-4 persons for a cruise group. Limit of groups for the same time is 2.
Routes 1. and 2. are for ANGLERS especially.
3.Underwater Photography, Fishing/Spear fishing and/or Scuba Diving/Skin-Diving courses: with duration 1, 3, 7 days or 14 days in Sozopol (Very old and nice Hellenic (old name Apolonia)) town at Black Sea. For 1 day practice near Sozopol where is our equipment (for scuba diving) base and instructors (diving from coast is also possible). Diving from sea boat with captain. Minimal group for starting a 1day trip is 4 persons and maximal 7 persons.
Skilled certified instructors. Available air-compressors and bottles (200 ATM.), belts with balance led loads. Possible accommodations in the diving base. Spear fishing in sweet-waters in Bulgaria is forbidden.
4. Negotiable routes or other conditions depend on customer's wish.
For all routes: Available solid sea boot for 8 persons or "Zodiac" boot for 4 persons/8PS engine.
Equipment: All angler's and diving equipment, which is not taken from the customer, can be buyed in Bulgaria in shops in Sofia or Burgas (port) towns, everything available on normal prices (lower than in EC). For underwater fishing, the neoprene suits, masks, fins, and harpoons are available at the same shops. For skin-diving the exhausters automates are also there. Neoprene suits (old) can be rented.
Other interesting dam lakes, negotiable as fishing destinations for the cruises: "Pyasachnik", "Topolniza", "Koprinka", "Batak", "Kardjali", "Struma" river. Any other historical or ethnographical object can be negotiated for visit if it's near or suitable to the fishing objects or directions.
http://www.guidez.net/place=156/topic=13/sight=0/article=4786
