The Fish in the Norwegian Fjords

Deepwater fish and gorgeous natural surroundings make fishing in Norwegian's fjords a splash for voyagers. Whether you're spending six nights or two weeks out on the waters of a Norwegian cruise, test your knowledge about what kinds of fish are swimming beneath the boat before casting a line.

You will likely find cod, coalfish and pollack in the fjords. To give you a better idea of the waters' fish abundance, the North-East Arctic cod stock is the largest cod stock in the world, boding well for eager anglers. What's more, the coalfish, a member of the cod family, can reach a length of 51 inches and 55 pounds.

Norway also has a long tradition of excellent salmon fishing. All in all, roughly 600,000 Atlantic salmon enter Norwegian fjords every year. Though the salmon fishing season is short, lasting from June to September, anglers bring in large numbers of fish during this time, many of them quite hefty catches. Fishing statistics show that each year, thousands of anglers catch a salmon weighing more than 20 pounds and hundreds more surpass the 30-pound mark. The Mecca of salmon fishing spots is Alta River, where salmon weighing more than 50 pounds continue to make angler headlines.

To catch coalfish, it's crucial to know that the lure has to be moving at all times. The pros will tell you that you should have no trouble catching small coalfish with a sabiki rig, and the best anglers even use these small coalfish as bait for bigger fish like cod and halibut. Sometimes a line counter reel can come in handy too.

A perk: Thanks to its calmer waters, fjord fishing is a great alternative for people who can't tolerate the turbulence of deep-sea fishing. With that being said, winds can pick up and create rather choppy surfaces even in fjords. Be sure to be aware of that when you are crossing over areas where you might, for a brief period, be exposed to the open sea. 

On land or boat

Same as fishing in other parts of the world, there are two main forms of fjord fishing: land or boat. In Norway fjords, you can hire a boat with a guide to explore the waters' hungry inhabitants. There are dozens of operators throughout the country that offer fjord fishing excursions. Otherwise, stand on shore to cast a line.

Furthermore, despite being in the fjords, it's possible to go deep-water fishing. If this interests you, consider extending your Norwegian cruise vacation extension to sail the 900-feet-deep Skånevik Fjordresidensen in Sunnhordland.

Along the Atlantic road - which is one of the National Tourist Routes - there are Norway's only fishing bridges, built as a result of the keen game fisherman and boat traffic. If you don't want to leave land in order to cast a line, head to these two 262-foot- and 328-foot-long bridges on the Myrbærholmen bridge, which has become an attraction in itself.