herring

The island of Rügen, Germany's largest Baltic Sea island, is a paradise for anglers – especially during herring season. Between March and May, countless amateur and professional anglers flock to the coast to pursue the "silver of the sea." The herring migrate in huge shoals into the Bodden waters, offering excellent fishing opportunities. Here you'll find everything you need to know about herring fishing on Rügen.

The main herring season on ruegen begins in spring, typically in March, and usually lasts until the end of April or beginning of May. The exact timing also depends on the water temperature – as soon as it reaches about 7 to 10 °C, the herring begin their spawning run.

But you can also catch herring in autumn (September to October). While autumn herring aren't as numerous, they are often larger and fattier. Autumn herring are usually found in deeper waters and are frequently located near piers, harbors, or shipping lanes. The chances of catching herring are also significantly better at dusk in autumn.

Some of the top spots for herring fishing on Rügen are:

• Sassnitz Pier: Very popular with shore anglers. Good infrastructure and usually plenty of herring during the season.

• Strelasund: Especially popular with boat anglers, but also good for fishing from bridges or jetties. Caution! Fishing from the Rügen Bridge is no longer permitted.

• Vaschvitz & Wittow Ferry: Here you can wade almost to the edge of the shipping channel and cast into deeper water from there.

• Glewitzer Wiek and Zudar: Less crowded, but often quieter and more relaxed.

Attention! When fishing in the Rassower Strom and the Strelasund, you may only fish from a boat while anchored or using a drift sock. When anchoring, the anchor ball must be deployed. The drift sock must have a diameter of at least 60 cm.

You don't need high-end equipment for herring fishing. Here's an overview:

• Rod: Light to medium spinning rod (2.40–3.00 m)

• Reel: 2500–4000 size spinning reel

• Line: Monofilament (0.20 mm - 0.25 mm) to prevent the hook from pulling out of the herring's soft mouth.

If the fish are further out, braided line is recommended to increase casting distance.

• Herring rig: The classic rig with several small hooks and fish skin. It's recommended to buy pre-tied herring rigs. In Mecklenburg-Western Pomerania, you are allowed a maximum of 5 hooks per rig.

• Lead: Depending on the current and depth, 20–80g to get the rig down to the desired depth or to allow it to sink more slowly, making it easier to locate fish. You can use classic herring weights or spinners that tend to drift towards the bottom.

• Wire landing net: This is recommended for properly scaling the fish after catching them.

To fish on Rügen, you will need:

- A valid fishing license

- The coastal waters fishing permit for Mecklenburg-Vorpommern

(Day, week, or annual permit)

- You can obtain both permits here:

Purchase a fishing license & fishing permit

There are no closed seasons for herring, as it is a schooling fish with a short lifespan. Nevertheless, it is advisable to check local regulations.

Please be careful not to catch more herring than you can use. The fish is highly perishable – so it's better to catch small amounts more often than to waste large catches. Please do not leave trash, line remnants, hooks, or entrails by the water; dispose of them properly.

Herring fishing on Rügen is not only effective but also a social experience. Whether alone, with friends, or family – fishing for the "silver of the sea" is one of the highlights of the fishing season. Good preparation, respect for nature, and the right technique will make your fishing trip a success.