Fishing with children in Lower Saxony: license, age & rules
Fishing with children in Lower Saxony: license, age & rules
From the rugged North Sea coast and the Weser river to the countless club ponds and rivers inland – Lower Saxony is a vast, diverse fishing destination, and that is precisely what makes it so exciting for families. Here, your child can wait for roach at a quiet village pond in the morning and smell the salty breeze at the dike a few weeks later. One thing in advance, so you don't encounter any nasty surprises: Lower Saxony ticks a little differently than most federal states when it comes to children and fishing. Don't worry – we will take you by the hand and explain everything in such a way that you will understand it immediately, even without any fishing experience of your own.
We explain exactly what the fishing license (Fischereischein), youth fishing license, and permit (Erlaubnisschein) mean on our overview page Fishing with children in Germany.
The most important rules in Lower Saxony for children
Here are the facts, compact and easy to understand:
- There is NO youth fishing license. This is the major special feature in Lower Saxony. Unlike in many other federal states, there is no separate youth or tourist license here. There is only one single fishing license – and it is valid for life.
- Fishing alone? No. "A fishing permit may only be issued to a minor under 14 years of age for the purpose of preparing for the fishing examination and only for fishing under the supervision of suitable persons" (§ 15 Nds. FischG). Strictly speaking, this regulation is aimed at the person issuing the permit. The law does not define what a "suitable person" is – the Lower Saxony Angling Association considers this to be an adult person who has passed the fishing examination and holds a valid fishing permit. This is the association's interpretation, not a legal norm, but it is a sensible standard.
- License at 14 – and a reason to wait with the exam: The fishing license is issued when a person has "reached the age of fourteen" (§ 59 para. 1 no. 1 Nds. FischG). The Lower Saxony Angling Association allows people to take the exam from the age of 12 – this age limit is in the association's examination regulations, not the law. The association advises against taking the exam before the 14th birthday: It interprets § 15 Nds. FischG to mean that a fishing permit may only be issued to those under 14 "for the purpose of preparing for the fishing examination" – once the exam is passed, this purpose would no longer apply. This is the association's interpretation, not explicitly regulated law, and § 57 para. 2 no. 1 Nds. FischG permits fishing in the presence of the authorized person without a permit anyway. In case of doubt, ask your club and your local municipality before your child takes the exam at 13.
- Very young children: The law does not state a fixed minimum age – but little ones are only allowed to be at the water under supervision. Please leave animal welfare-related tasks, such as stunning and killing the fish, to the adult; this follows from the federal Animal Welfare Act, not from Lower Saxony's fishing law. Your child does not need their own permit as long as the authorized person or a representative is present (§ 57 para. 2 no. 1 Nds. FischG).
- Permit/fishing card: You need this in addition. § 57 para. 1 Nds. FischG requires "carrying a fishing license or an identity card as well as a certificate of authorization issued by the rights holder (fishing permit)." The "or" only refers to the identification document – the fishing permit comes on top of that. No permit is necessary if the authorized person or a representative is present (§ 57 para. 2 no. 1).
Special features in Lower Saxony
Lower Saxony clearly distinguishes between inland waters and the coast – and this makes a practical difference for you, because different rules apply at the seaside than at your local club pond. Furthermore: Because there is no youth fishing license, the entry point here is entirely through "practicing under supervision." The exact conditions can also differ from club to club and from water to water. A quick call to your local fishing club is therefore always worth it.
How to get off to a good start
Keep the first excursion short and relaxed – an hour by the water is perfectly enough to start, it's better to go more often than for too long. Find a suitable supervisor (an adult with an exam and a permit), because without one, nothing works for children in Lower Saxony. Focus on coarse fish like roach or bream (coarse fish = fish that feed on plants and small animals, not predatory fish), as they bite more frequently and provide a sense of achievement. We show you clearly which rod, reel, and hook are suitable for which age at Fishing equipment for children by age.
To ensure your offspring are warm, dry, and in the right spirit by the water, you can find the right fishing clothing for children and teenagers with us – robust, comfortable, and with a fish motif that will make any little fishing heart beat faster.
Children & Teenager Angler T-Shirts
Robust, comfortable, and with the fish motif that little anglers love.
Where can you get a fishing license in Lower Saxony?
Lower Saxony does not have a youth fishing license – children under 14 only fish under the supervision of a license holder (for the purpose of preparing for the fishing examination). You can obtain the fishing license (valid indefinitely) from the municipal, joint municipal, or city administration of your place of residence, usually at the citizens' office. Bring: application form, a biometric-capable photograph (45 × 35 mm), ID card, and – for the regular license – the fishing examination certificate. The license is often issued directly on-site; many things can be prepared via service.niedersachsen.de.
Children & Teenager Angler Hoodies
Robust, comfortable, and with the fish motif that little anglers love.
Always additional: the rules of your water body
Very important, regardless of where you fish: beyond the general rules described here, the specific regulations of the actual water body always apply. Every lake, river, and coastal section has its own body-of-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 the use of keepnets, the permitted catch, or restricted bank areas. These water-specific rules are usually found directly on the fishing permit (the fishing card) or from the issuing authority (fishing club, water manager, authority). Check and observe them before every fishing day – in case of doubt, the rules of the respective water body take precedence over the general information on this page.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)
Is there a youth fishing license in Lower Saxony?
No. Lower Saxony does not have a youth or tourist fishing license. There is only one single fishing license, and it is valid for life. Children start here by practicing under supervision.
At what age can my child fish in Lower Saxony?
There is no fixed minimum age. Children under 14 may only fish to prepare for the fishing examination and only under the supervision of a suitable person. Suitable means: of legal age, having passed the fishing examination, and holding a valid fishing permit.
Should my child take the fishing exam at 13?
Better not. While the exam is possible from age 12, the fishing license is only issued from age 14. Anyone who passes at 13 is then not allowed to fish at all – not even under supervision – because they are no longer in preparation but do not yet receive the license. The association therefore recommends taking the exam only at 14.
Is my child allowed to fish alone in Lower Saxony?
No. Children under 14 may only fish under the supervision of a suitable person and only to practice for the fishing examination. Your child is not even allowed to stun or kill the fish themselves – these animal-welfare-relevant actions must be performed by the supervisor.
Do I need different papers on the coast than inland?
Yes. In inland waters, the fishing license or the written permission of the rights holder is sufficient. For the coast and the open sea, the fishing license is necessary. Lower Saxony clearly distinguishes here – if in doubt, ask your local club.
We strive to inform you accurately and update these pages regularly. The information is provided without guarantee. Please point out any discrepancies to us so that we can update the information.
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Status: September 2026