Fishing with children in Bavaria: License, age & rules
Fishing with children in Bavaria: License, age & rules
Bavaria and fishing – they just go together. Crystal-clear Alpine lakes, rustic streams in Franconia, the mighty Main, plus countless club ponds: every family can find their own spot by the water here. And since the major reform at the beginning of 2025, getting started has become much easier for the next generation. If you have never held a rod in your hand yourself, that is no problem at all – we will explain to you step by step what applies in Bavaria, in a way that you will understand immediately.
We explain exactly what a fishing license (Fischereischein), youth fishing license (Jugendfischereischein), and permit (Erlaubnisschein) mean on our overview page Fishing with children in Germany.
The most important rules in Bavaria for children
A lot has changed in Bavaria in 2025. Here is what you need to know:
- No more youth fishing license: As of January 1, 2025, the youth fishing license in Bavaria was abolished – it no longer exists. Don’t worry, this actually makes getting started easier because one hurdle has been removed.
- Fishing from age 7 accompanied: Children and teenagers from 7 up to and including 17 years of age may fish themselves, but only under the "responsible supervision of an adult who holds a fishing license." In plain language: an adult with a valid fishing license must be present and take responsibility. Your child is then allowed to fish themselves.
- Fishing exam from age 12: Anyone who has reached the age of twelve can take the fishing exam (Art. 48 Sentence 2 BayFiG; likewise § 4 Para. 3 Sentence 2 AVBayFiG). Incidentally, every examinee must provide proof of a preparatory course of at least 30 hours – there is no minimum age for this (§ 6 Para. 1 AVBayFiG).
- Own license from age 14: Anyone who has reached the age of 14 and has passed the fishing exam will receive a lifetime fishing license (Art. 47 Para. 3 BayFiG). Between passing the exam at 12 or 13 and their 14th birthday, they do not yet have their own license.
- Fishing alone? Take a closer look here. The wording of the law (Art. 47 Para. 2 Sentence 1 BayFiG) requires responsible supervision for everyone from 7 to under 18 – without an explicit exception for teenagers with their own license. In contrast, the administrative regulation of the Ministry of Agriculture assumes that teenagers from 14 years of age may fish "alone and on their own responsibility" after passing the exam (VwVFiR No. 9.6, BayMBl. 2025 No. 89). However, an administrative regulation only binds the authorities; it is not a law. If your child wants to head out alone at 14, please check with the local district administration or the club beforehand.
- Very young children: The minimum age for fishing on their own is 7. It is not intended for children younger than that. The accompanying person must in any case be an adult and possess a fishing license.
- Permit/Fishing card: You still need this for the respective body of water – even for the accompanied child without their own license. Art. 26 Para. 3 No. 1 BayFiG only exempts minors from the official approval for issuance, not from the permit itself.
- What is actually waived for minors: Official application, administrative fees, and the fishing levy are waived for accompanied fishing without your own license. If, however, a 14 to 17-year-old applies for their own fishing license, the fee (35 euros, Tariff No. 6.I.2/1 KVz) and the fishing levy become due – the latter at least 50 percent reduced if paid for five consecutive years (§ 9 Para. 4 No. 1 AVBayFiG).
Specifics in Bavaria
Bavaria experienced a real wave of reform in 2025. With the "Second Modernization Act" (in force since Jan 1, 2025), the minimum age was lowered from 10 to 7 years, and the youth fishing license was simultaneously scrapped. Instead of a separate child's license, Bavaria now relies on the model of "child fishes under the responsible supervision of an adult license holder." This is uncomplicated and relieves families of a lot of bureaucracy – perfect for just heading out with the kids.
How to get started successfully
Keep the first trip nice and short; a good hour by the water is plenty to start with – better to go more often than too long in one go. Start with coarse fish (coarse fish = fish that eat plants and small animals, so no predators like pike), which bite more reliably and ensure a sense of achievement. And use light equipment that fits well in children's hands. You can find what equipment is suitable for which age clearly laid out at Fishing gear for children by age.
To ensure your child is warm, dry, and looking the part by the Bavarian water, take a look at our fishing apparel for children and teenagers – robust, comfortable, and with the fish motif that just puts you in a good mood.
Angler T-Shirts for Children & Teenagers
Robust, comfortable, and with the fish motif that little anglers love.
Where can you get the right license in Bavaria?
Since Jan 1, 2025, there has been no youth fishing license in Bavaria. Children from age 7 fish accompanied by an adult fishing license holder without their own license – but they do need the fishing card (permit) for the body of water. The fishing exam itself can be taken from the age of 12 (Art. 48 Sentence 2 BayFiG), and the lifetime fishing license is then issued from age 14 (Art. 47 Para. 3 BayFiG). You can get the license from your municipal or city administration; bring your ID, a passport photo, and the exam certificate. Parts of the application can be prepared via the BayernPortal.
Angler Hoodies for Children & Teenagers
Robust, comfortable, and with the fish motif that little anglers love.
Always additional: the rules of your body of water
Very important, no matter where you fish: beyond the general rules described here, the specific provisions of the actual body of water always apply. Every lake, river, and coastal section has its own water 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 keepnets, catch limits, or restricted shoreline areas. These water-specific rules are usually printed directly on the permit (the fishing card) or are available from the issuing authority (fishing club, water manager, administrative office). Check and observe them before every fishing day – in case of doubt, the rules of the respective body of water take precedence over the general information on this page.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)
At what age is my child allowed to fish in Bavaria?
Since the 2025 reform, children from age 7 are allowed to fish themselves – but only under the responsible supervision of an adult who holds a fishing license. For children under 7, fishing on their own is not provided for.
Does my child need a youth fishing license in Bavaria?
No. The youth fishing license has not existed in Bavaria since Jan 1, 2025 – it was abolished. Instead, your child from age 7 up to and including 17 may fish under the responsible supervision of an adult fishing license holder.
Is my child allowed to fish alone in Bavaria?
Not without their own fishing license – in that case, responsible supervision by an adult license holder applies. For teenagers from 14 who have passed the exam and have their own license, the situation is less clear than it sounds: the wording of the law (Art. 47 Para. 2 Sentence 1 BayFiG) mentions no exception, while the ministry's administrative regulation (VwVFiR No. 9.6) assumes independent fishing from age 14. You should double-check this with the local district administration before the first solo trip.
At what age can my child take the fishing exam in Bavaria?
From the age of 12 (Art. 48 Sentence 2 BayFiG). However, the individual lifetime fishing license is only available from age 14 (Art. 47 Para. 3 BayFiG). So anyone who passes at 12 waits for their own license until their 14th birthday.
Do I need an additional fishing card?
Yes, the permit (fishing card) for the respective body of water is still necessary – even for an accompanied child without their own license. As of 2025, the official application, administrative fee, and fishing levy are waived for minors, but only as long as they fish in company without their own fishing license. With their own license, the fee and (reduced) levy become due.
What changed in Bavaria in 2025?
With the "Second Modernization Act" (in force since Jan 1, 2025), the minimum age was lowered from 10 to 7 years, and the youth fishing license was abolished. Children now fish under the responsible supervision of an adult license holder, and several fees have been waived for minors.
We strive to provide accurate information and update these pages regularly. Information is subject to change. Please point out any inconsistencies so we can update the information.
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Status: September 2026