On a privately owned body of water, which is not designated as public use, fishing is permitted only with the permission of the owner of the immovable with one simple hand line and up to three line fishing gear.
Recreational fishing is a hobby activity and for many it is the best holiday and a pleasant entertainment, but rules arising from the law must be followed.
It is important to know where, when and with which fishing gear a recreational fisherman can fish. It should also be kept in mind that it is not allowed to sell or purchase the catches received during recreational fishing. The fish caught is intended only for the use by the catcher himself or herself only.
Recreational fishing is generally for a fee.
Fish by line
Everyone may fish, free of charge and without having applied for the right to fish, with one simple hand line on a public water body and a water body designated for public use. Closed periods and locations for fishing and restrictions on fish species must be taken into account.
A simple hand line consists of a rod, a fishing line of up to 1.5 rods, a single hook, a weight and a float. Only natural bait is used for fishing.
Recreational fishing with up to three line fishing gear
Recreational fishing rights can be purchased on the website kalaluba.ee.
When paying for recreational fishing rights, everyone has the right to fish with line fishing on a water body in public use. Closed periods and locations for fishing, and restrictions on fish species must be taken into account.
Line fishing gear: a spinning reel, a trolling line, a pulling device, a fly hook, a bottom line (krunda, bottom line), an unanchored trimmer, a hand line and more than one simple hand line, a harpoon gun and a harpoon and a hook. Descriptions of fishing gear are available in the Fishing Rules.
When do I need a fishing card (fishing licence)?
A fishing card is required if:
- An entangling net, a longline consisting of up to 100 hooks, a trap net, a hoopnet, a dip-net and trap and a dragnet are used as fishing gear.
- A spinning reel and a fly kook are used for fishing on the trout rivers of Central Estonia or on the salmon and salmon trout rivers of Northern Estonia.
- Fishing takes place in Endla Nature Reserve, Matsalu National Park or Silma Nature Reserve.
- For catching grayfish.
The number of fishing cards is limited in case of fishing with an entangling net, a longline, in case of catching crayfish, in Matsalu National Park and Silma Nature Reserve.
Recreational fishing rights can be purchased on the website kalaluba.ee,
Read about applying for a fishing card on our website.
Last updated: 05.05.2026
