Fishing Licenses
How to get a permit, costs, and where to buy
Recreational Fishing License
All recreational sea fishing in Croatia requires a valid license issued by the Ministry of Agriculture. Licenses can be purchased online, at post offices, harbourmasters, and authorized agencies.
1 Day
8 EUR
Valid for 24 hours from purchase. Tourist-friendly option.
3 Days
20 EUR
Best for short vacations. Covers 3 consecutive days.
7 Days
40 EUR
Full week coverage. Popular with visiting anglers.
Annual
93 EUR
Full year. Best value for residents and frequent visitors.
Where to Buy
Online at ribarstvo.hr, Croatian post offices (HP), harbourmaster offices, tourist agencies, and some fishing shops. Carry your license and ID at all times while fishing.
What's Included
Standard recreational license allows rod and line fishing (up to 2 rods), handline, and basic tackle. Spearfishing, nets, and commercial gear require separate licenses or are prohibited for recreational use.
Minimum Size Limits
Searchable table of legal minimum sizes for Adriatic species
| Species | Croatian | Min Size | Notes |
|---|
Seasonal Bans & Closed Seasons
When fishing for certain species is prohibited
European Lobster (Jastog): Closed season October 1 – April 30. Minimum size 24 cm body length. Berried females must always be released.
Spiny Lobster (Hlap): Closed season October 1 – April 30. Minimum size varies — check local regulations. Protected in many areas.
Atlantic Bluefin Tuna: Strictly regulated with annual quotas. Recreational catch-and-release only in most cases. Season typically June – October with specific windows.
Spider Crab (Rakovica): Closed season during spawning. Female crabs with eggs must always be released year-round.
Sea Urchins: Collection banned June 1 – September 30 in most areas. Maximum 50 per person when allowed. Check local rules.
Sea Bass (Brancin): Daily bag limit of 2 fish per person. Catch-and-release encouraged during spawning (Jan – Mar).
Squid & Cuttlefish: No closed season, but daily limits apply. Maximum 5 kg per person per day.
Protected Species
Species that are fully or partially protected by law
The following species are either fully protected (no take allowed) or have significant restrictions. Penalties for violations can include heavy fines, confiscation of gear, and revocation of fishing licenses.
Dusky Grouper
Epinephelus marginatus
Great White Shark
Carcharodon carcharias
Loggerhead Turtle
Caretta caretta
Bottlenose Dolphin
Tursiops truncatus
Brown Meagre
Sciaena umbra
Mediterranean Monk Seal
Monachus monachus
Noble Pen Shell
Pinna nobilis
Basking Shark
Cetorhinus maximus
Short-snouted Seahorse
Hippocampus hippocampus
Red Coral
Corallium rubrum
Common Guitarfish
Rhinobatos rhinobatos
Common Dentex
Dentex dentex
Spearfishing Rules
Specific regulations for underwater hunting
Separate license required: Standard recreational fishing license does NOT cover spearfishing. You need a specific spearfishing permit (dozvola za podvodni ribolov).
Freediving only: Use of SCUBA gear for spearfishing is strictly prohibited. Breath-hold diving only.
Daytime only: Spearfishing is prohibited between sunset and sunrise. No night spearfishing.
Distance from shore: Must stay at least 50m from occupied beaches and swimming areas. Dive flag (Alpha flag) is mandatory.
No artificial light: Use of underwater lights or torches for hunting is prohibited.
Protected zones: Spearfishing banned in national parks, nature reserves, and designated no-take zones. Check local charts.
Same size limits: All minimum size limits apply equally to spearfishing. Undersized fish must not be taken.
Daily bag limit: Maximum 5 kg of fish per day for spearfishing, or 1 fish if that fish exceeds 5 kg.
Gear Restrictions
What tackle and methods are allowed
Rod & line: Maximum 2 rods per person with up to 3 hooks each. Total maximum 6 hooks.
Nets prohibited: All forms of net fishing are prohibited for recreational anglers. Gill nets, cast nets, trammel nets — all forbidden.
Explosives & poisons: Use of explosives, electric currents, or any poisonous substances is a criminal offence with severe penalties.
Squid jigs (Egi): Allowed up to 3 per line. No restriction on jig size. Eging is fully legal with standard license.
Longlines: Prohibited for recreational fishing. Reserved for licensed commercial fishermen only.
Traps: Recreational use of lobster traps and fish traps requires a separate permit. Maximum 3 traps per license holder.
Artificial light: Using lights to attract fish (lampara) is prohibited for recreational fishers. Only licensed commercial vessels may use lights.
Daily Catch Limits
How much you can take home per day
General daily limit: Maximum 5 kg of fish per person per day, or 1 fish if that individual fish exceeds 5 kg.
Sea Bass (Brancin): Maximum 2 fish per person per day. This applies in addition to the weight limit.
Cephalopods: Maximum 5 kg per day total (squid, cuttlefish, octopus combined).
Crustaceans: Subject to specific species limits. Lobsters typically 1–3 per day where permitted.
Shellfish: Sea urchins max 50 per person (when in season). Mussels and clams vary by area.
Spearfishing limit: 5 kg per day or 1 fish if larger. Applies separately from rod fishing catch.
Boat fishing: Same limits apply per person, not per boat. A boat with 4 licensed anglers = 4 × 5 kg = 20 kg total.