Fishing with children in Germany: Rules in all 16 federal states
Fishing with children in Germany: Rules in all 16 federal states
In Germany, fishing is not a lawless pastime by the water, but is regulated by statute – for good reason, as it involves animal welfare and the protection of our waters. For families, this is initially confusing: each of the 16 federal states has its own fisheries act. What applies in Lower Saxony may look completely different in Bavaria.
This page brings order to the chaos. We first explain the most important terms in simple words and then give you an overview for all 16 states.
Important note: The following information is current as of September 2026 and is provided without guarantee. Especially in recent months, a striking number of states have reformed their fishing laws – Rhineland-Palatinate (February 2026), Saxony-Anhalt (March 2026), Brandenburg (April 2026), and North Rhine-Westphalia (July 2026). Many authority and association websites have not yet caught up. Before your first cast, please always check what is currently applicable with the State Fisheries Association or the fisheries authority of your federal state.
The most important terms – explained simply
- Fishing License (Fischereischein): The official "fishing driver's license." Anyone wanting to obtain one must pass a fishing exam in most states. Only with this license are you allowed to fish independently.
- Youth Fishing License: A kind of "learner's permit" for children and teenagers. It allows them to fish before taking the exam – usually when accompanied by an adult who holds a fishing license. Whether it exists and the age from which it is available varies from state to state.
- Fishing Exam: The test in which you demonstrate knowledge about fish, bodies of water, equipment, law, and animal welfare. Depending on the state, the minimum age for this is between 10 and 14 years.
- Permit / Fishing Card: The permission to fish in a specific body of water. You need this in addition to your fishing license – almost everywhere in Germany. It is issued by the owner or tenant of the water (often an angling club).
- Coarse Fish / Game Fish: Coarse fish (e.g., roach, crucian carp) eat plants and small organisms. Game fish (e.g., pike, zander) hunt other fish. Some federal states treat fishing for coarse fish more leniently.
If you are still missing the basic principle, first read our beginner's guide to fishing with children.
Three things that are almost the same everywhere
Despite all the differences, there are a few points you must observe nationwide:
- Permit is additionally required. Regardless of whether it's a child or an adult: the fishing license alone is not enough. You almost always need a fishing card for the specific water. These can be obtained at regional tackle shops or via the Hejfish app. An exception usually only applies if the child is fishing under the papers of a supervising adult.
- Supervision for children. In almost all states, children may only fish when accompanied by a legal-age holder of a fishing license. Independent fishing is usually only possible after passing the fishing exam.
- Animal welfare comes first. The Animal Welfare Act applies nationwide. Unhooking live fish as well as professional stunning and killing are prohibited for very young children everywhere – this is handled by the competent adult supervisor. Also, closed seasons (periods during which certain fish may not be caught) and minimum sizes (minimum lengths from which you are allowed to keep a fish) apply regardless of age.
Choose your federal state
Because the most important search questions are "Can my child fish in Bavaria?" or "Which license is valid in NRW?", we have created a separate, detailed page for each federal state with all the specifics. Click directly to your state:
- Fishing with children in Baden-Württemberg
- Fishing with children in Bavaria
- Fishing with children in Berlin
- Fishing with children in Brandenburg
- Fishing with children in Bremen
- Fishing with children in Hamburg
- Fishing with children in Hesse
- Fishing with children in Mecklenburg-Western Pomerania
- Fishing with children in Lower Saxony
- Fishing with children in North Rhine-Westphalia
- Fishing with children in Rhineland-Palatinate
- Fishing with children in Saarland
- Fishing with children in Saxony
- Fishing with children in Saxony-Anhalt
- Fishing with children in Schleswig-Holstein
- Fishing with children in Thuringia
Overview: Rules for children in the 16 federal states
The table summarizes the rules specific to children and teenagers. "Accompanied only" means: accompanied by a legal-age holder of a fishing license. For details, click on your federal state.
| Federal State | Youth Fishing License | Fish alone? | Fishing Exam from | Special Feature |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Baden-Württemberg | age 7 to the end of the year they turn 16 | Accompanied/Supervised only | from age 10 | Entry age lowered from 10 to 7 in 2024 |
| Bavaria | abolished (since 1/1/2025) | 7–17 accompanied only | exam from 12, license from 14 | No fee/levy without own license; fee applies if licensed |
| Berlin | 12–18 years (no exam) | Accompanied only, coarse fish angling only | from age 14 | Under 12 only via individual regulation under supervision |
| Brandenburg | age 8 to 18 (mainly for fishing in other states) | Coarse fishing also possible independently | only needed for game fishing | Coarse fishing without exam for everyone |
| Bremen | no specific youth license | Under 14 accompanied only | from age 14 | – |
| Hamburg | no specific youth license | Under 15 without license, hand rod only, adult supervision | License from 12, for life | Fishery levy also for children fishing without a license |
| Hesse | abolished (since 11/29/2022) | 10 to under 16 license-free, hand rod, adult supervision | License from 14; exam no minimum age | Children under 10 as "helpers" only; levy €3.50/year |
| Mecklenburg-Western Pomerania | not necessary (no license required under 14) | Under 14 without license, but with own fishing permit | from age 14 | Tourist fishing license (28 days, no exam) |
| Lower Saxony | no youth or tourist license | Under 14 under supervision only (for exam prep) | License from 14; exam eligibility from 12 via association | Association advises taking the exam at 14 |
| North Rhine-Westphalia | abolished (since 7/1/2026) | from 12 independently with exam; younger accompanied only | Exam/License from 12 | Digital fishing license; lifetime license possible |
| Rhineland-Palatinate | abolished (since 2/19/2026) | 7 to under 18 license-free, adult accompaniment with duty to assist | License from 13 | Under 10: no unhooking/stunning/killing; levy also for children |
| Saarland | up to 16 years | Accompanied only | from age 14 | – |
| Saxony | 9 to under 16 (no exam) | Accompanied only – exception: ≥ 1 year club member | regularly from 14 | Exception for supervised club events |
| Saxony-Anhalt | abolished (since 3/31/2026); new: coarse fish license from 8 | No statutory supervision required with coarse fish license | Coarse fish exam from 8, regular from 12 | Old youth licenses and exams remain valid |
| Schleswig-Holstein | no classic youth license; own license from 12 | Under 12 under supervision only | License from 12, mandatory from 14 | Tourist fishing license (28 days); digital + practice day since 10/2025 |
| Thuringia | 8–14 years | Accompanied only – exception: exam passed | from age 14 | Exemption from supervision after passing the exam |
Because rules change and can be complicated in detail (e.g., exact minimum age, coarse fish restrictions), the rule is: This table is your first overview – the binding information is provided by your state association. Click on your federal state for the detailed page. We strive to keep this information up to date. If you find an error, please let us know via the contact form.
Special cases you should know
Coarse fishing without an exam: Brandenburg & Mecklenburg-Western Pomerania
In Brandenburg, anyone – even without an exam and fishing license – is allowed to fish for coarse fish. In Mecklenburg-Western Pomerania, children under 14 are not subject to the fishing license requirement at all. These two states are therefore particularly popular for an uncomplicated introduction for families. A water-specific fishing permit is still required.
Holiday and Tourist Licenses: MV & Schleswig-Holstein
Those vacationing in the north can often get started without an exam: Mecklenburg-Western Pomerania offers a tourist fishing license (valid for 28 days), and Schleswig-Holstein offers a vacationer's fishing license (28 days, renewable once a year). In Schleswig-Holstein, the application process has been digital-only since October 2025. Such licenses are a great way to introduce the family to fishing.
The 2025/2026 Reform Wave
In Bavaria, the youth fishing license was abolished on January 1, 2025, and the minimum age was lowered to 7 years – children and teenagers from 7 to 17 fish under responsible supervision. Baden-Württemberg also lowered the entry age to 7 years in 2024.
In 2026, a whole wave followed: Rhineland-Palatinate abolished the youth fishing license on February 19 – everyone from 7 to under 18 now fishes there without their own license under adult supervision. Saxony-Anhalt replaced it on March 31 with the coarse fish license from age 8. Brandenburg added accompanied fishing for children under 8 to the law on April 24 and exempted children under 14 from the fishery levy. And North Rhine-Westphalia scrapped the youth fishing license on July 1 and lowered the exam and license age to 12.
The trend is clear: Getting started is becoming easier for families – but the states are taking very different paths to achieve this.
And the right equipment?
Once the legal side is clarified, it's time for the practical side. Which rod, which reel, and which clothing fit your child's age can be read in Fishing equipment for children by age. Robust shirts and hoodies for little anglers can be found in our fishing clothing for children and teenagers – so that the next generation also looks like a real angler by the water.
Children & Teenager Angler T-Shirts
Robust, comfortable, and with the fish motif that little anglers love.
Where can you get a youth fishing license?
In most federal states, the (youth) fishing license is issued by the municipal or city administration of your primary place of residence – depending on the location, this is either the citizens' office or the public order office. Generally, you need to bring your ID, a current passport photo, and – for minors – a declaration of consent from your parents; for the standard license, you also need the certificate of having passed the fishing examination.
Important deviations: In Saxony-Anhalt, the district (lower fisheries authority) is responsible, in Berlin the fisheries office (not the citizens' office), in Bremen the Citizens' Service Center, and in Hamburg the BUKEA, among others, for licenses for individuals without a German residence. Some states have abolished the youth fishing license or never had one (Bavaria since 2025, Hesse since 2022, Rhineland-Palatinate since February 2026, Saxony-Anhalt since March 2026, North Rhine-Westphalia since July 2026, plus Lower Saxony, Bremen, Hamburg, Schleswig-Holstein, and Mecklenburg-Western Pomerania). Exactly where you can get the license in your state is stated on the respective state page – simply click on your state above. Fees and documents are often set by the local municipality; in case of doubt, ask your local authority briefly.
Kids & Teen Angler Hoodies
Robust, comfortable, and with the fish motif that little anglers love.
Always additional: the rules of your water body
Very important, no matter where you fish: Beyond the general rules described here, the specific provisions of the concrete water body always apply. Every lake, river, and coastal section has its own fishing regulations with its own requirements – for example, regarding permitted fishing methods and bait, the number of rods, closed seasons and minimum sizes, night fishing and the use of keepnets, catch quotas, or restricted bank areas. These water-specific rules are usually printed directly on the permit (the fishing card) or available from the issuing authority (fishing club, water manager, agency). Check and observe them before every day of fishing – in case of doubt, the rules of the respective water body take precedence over the general information on this page.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)
At what age can my child fish in Germany?
This is determined by the federal states. In some states (e.g., Baden-Württemberg, Bavaria, Rhineland-Palatinate) the entry age is 7, in others it is 8, 9, or 10; in Mecklenburg-Western Pomerania and Hamburg, children do not need a license at all. Children are usually only allowed to fish independently after passing the fishing exam – depending on the state, from age 8 (Saxony-Anhalt, coarse fish) up to 14 years. Until then, the rule almost everywhere is: only accompanied by a fishing license holder, usually an adult.
Does my child need a youth fishing license?
This is changing rapidly. It still exists in Baden-Württemberg, Berlin, Brandenburg, Saxony, Thuringia, and Saarland. It has been abolished in Bavaria (2025), Hesse (2022), Rhineland-Palatinate (February 2026), Saxony-Anhalt (March 2026, replaced by the coarse fish license), and North Rhine-Westphalia (July 2026). It never existed in Bremen, Hamburg, Lower Saxony, and Schleswig-Holstein, and in Mecklenburg-Western Pomerania, children under 14 do not need a license anyway. Check the rule for your federal state in the table above.
Is my child allowed to go fishing alone?
As a rule, no. Almost everywhere, supervision by an adult holder of a fishing license is required. Only after passing the fishing exam is the younger generation allowed to fish independently in most states. Some states have exceptions (e.g., Saxony after one year of club membership, Thuringia after passing the exam).
Where can you fish with children without an exam?
It is particularly uncomplicated in Brandenburg (coarse fishing without an exam), in Mecklenburg-Western Pomerania (no license required under 14, plus tourist fishing license), and in Schleswig-Holstein (tourist fishing license). However, you need a fishing card for the specific water everywhere.
Is my child allowed to kill the caught fish themselves?
No. The professional stunning and killing of fish is a matter of animal welfare and is for adults. Very young children should also not unhook live bait fish. These tasks are performed by the competent accompanying adult.
Do closed seasons and minimum sizes also apply to children?
Yes. Closed seasons and minimum sizes apply regardless of age and are regulated in the fisheries ordinance of the respective federal state. They protect fish stocks and are mandatory for everyone.
We strive to provide you with accurate information and update these pages regularly. The information is provided without guarantee. Please point out any inconsistencies to us so that we can update the information.
Tight Lines – your Fin-Buddies team 🎣
Status: September 2026