Fishing opportunities
The Stockholm area offers excellent fishing opportunities in waters rich in fish. The right of public access to fishing with handheld gear applies in Lake Mälaren, Stockholm Ström and Saltsjön. This means that anyone may fish with a spinning rod, ice fishing rod or simple rod and line in these waters.
Net fishing, trolling, rod trolling, and ice fishing with tip-ups require permission from the fishing rights holder. The last three methods are included in the TDA fishing permit. A fishing permit is required for TDA fishing and for fishing in the inland lakes.
Fish in Lake Mälaren and the Baltic Sea
Species-Rich Fishing Waters
Fishing opportunities in the Stockholm area are abundant. The nutrient-rich waters and the meeting point of Lake Mälaren and the Baltic Sea in Stockholm create ideal conditions for a diverse fish community. Around 30 fish species inhabit the area, making it one of the most species-rich fishing destinations in central Sweden. The large size of Lake Mälaren also contributes to its exceptional diversity of fish species.
In Lake Mälaren, the main fish species are zander, eel, vendace, pike and perch. In the Baltic Sea, these freshwater species are found alongside marine species such as herring, salmon, sea trout, whitefish, cod and flatfish.
The Stream – a spawning ground for many species
In Stockholm's waterways, these bodies of water meet, making the Strömmen unusually rich in fish species. Many fish come to the Strömmen at certain times of the year to spawn, such as smelt and Baltic herring in spring. Others, including zander and perch, pass through on their way to spawning grounds in Lake Mälaren. During the smelt spawning season, sea trout and other predatory fish are attracted to the area to feed.
During the summer, bream and other coarse fish are the most common species in the Strömmen. Zander, perch and the occasional salmon migrating to spawn can also be found here.
Sea trout fishing in the Strömmen is supported by the annual release of two-year-old smolts – young sea trout that are ready to begin life at sea.
Fish in the inland lakes
Fish populations in the smaller inland lakes are often dominated by roach and other carp species, collectively known as coarse fish. The larger lakes, such as Magelungen and Drevviken, are part of a connected lake system and support a greater variety of species. In contrast, the small lake Kyrksjölöten in Bromma is home only to crucian carp, the only species to survive repeated oxygen depletion caused by high nutrient levels and poor water circulation.
A balanced population of predatory fish and roach is important for a healthy lake. Large populations of roach and other carp species stir up nutrients from the lake bed, which can lead to excessive plant growth and cloudy water.
A strong population of predatory fish, together with a greater diversity of fish species, helps keep the lake ecosystem stable and supports the recreational and nature values that people enjoy.
Cray fishing
Today, there are fishable populations of signal crayfish in many lakes, as well as in Lake Mälaren. Native noble crayfish are still found in Lake Mälaren, in lakes on the archipelago islands, and in the northern and southern parts of Stockholm County.
Crayfish plague spreads rapidly if disease-carrying signal crayfish are introduced into waters with noble crayfish. For this reason, a permit from the County Administrative Board is required before crayfish may be released into the wild.
A fishing permit is always required for crayfish fishing, including in Lake Mälaren.
Fishing opportunities throughout the region
There are plenty of opportunities to fish throughout Stockholm County – in the archipelago, in Lake Mälaren, or in one of the many inland lakes.