Updated: September 2025 — Text aligned with the new Law on Recreational and Sport Fishing.
Fishing regulations in Montenegro are essential for anyone planning to cast a line in the Adriatic – whether you’re a local angler, a recreational fisherman, or a tourist exploring the coast. This guide outlines the most important rules for 2025, including protected species, seasonal bans, allowed gear, and more.
📘 Legal Framework
Fishing at sea in Montenegro is governed by several key legal acts:
- Law on Marine Fisheries and Mariculture (Official Gazette of Montenegro, No. 69/2025)
- Rulebook on Sport-Recreational Fishing at Sea (Official Gazette of Montenegro, No. 45/2024)
- Order on Closed Seasons for Juvenile Fish and Marine Organisms (Official Gazette of Montenegro, No. 26/2015)
These laws apply to all recreational and sport fishing activities in Montenegrin coastal waters issued by the Ministry of Agriculture, Forestry and Water Management of Montenegro.
❌ Protected Species – Banned Year-Round
Several marine species are under strict protection and cannot be caught, kept, or traded at any time of the year:
- Red Coral (Corallium rubrum)
- Noble Pen Shell (Pinna nobilis)
- Seahorses (Hippocampus spp.)
- Sea Turtles (Caretta caretta, Chelonia mydas)
- Certain Sharks (e.g., Thresher shark, Great white shark)
- Hammerhead Sharks (Sphyrna spp.)
- Whales and Dolphins (Cetacea spp.)
If accidentally caught:
- Alive? Release immediately back to the sea.
- Dead? Must be reported and handed over to authorities.
These rules are mandatory – even for incidental catches.
🛑 Seasonal Bans – Closed Periods
According to the official Order on Closed Seasons, issued based on the Law on Marine Fisheries and Mariculture, catching of juvenile fish and certain marine organisms is prohibited during specific times of the year to ensure their reproduction and population recovery.
If you’re unsure whether a species is under protection or subject to seasonal bans, it’s advisable to release the catch and consult the official list or your local fishing club.
⚠️ Recording accidental catches of protected species is mandatory and must be entered into the fishing logbook, as prescribed by Montenegrin law.
⚙️ What Gear Is Allowed in Recreational Fishing?
Under the new law, recreational & sport fishing in Montenegro may be carried out with: handlines and trolling lines (without auto-hooks), handlines with squid hooks, rods, a speargun (without explosive charge), a handheld harpoon, a gig, and a pot/trap. The Ministry will specify the details (number of tools, technical specs and marking) in a dedicated bylaw.
Practically, until the new bylaw is published: clubs and inspectors typically apply the earlier technical limits (e.g., up to 2 rods with max 3 hooks each; up to 2 squid jigs used with a lamp/feral up to 400 candelas; one pot/trap of ~1 m).
Longlines (parangal) — all types — are not allowed in recreational fishing.
Persons under 18 may not practice spearfishing. Spearfishing is apnea-only (no scuba), prohibited at night, and there are strict bans on combining or transporting a speargun together with scuba gear.
Important: Spearfishing must be conducted only with a surface marker buoy, strictly without breathing apparatus. Read more in our dedicated article:
👉 Spearfishing in Montenegro – How to Get a Permit and Where to Apply
📏 Daily catch limit
Any license holder may take per day:
-
Up to 5 kg of fish and other marine organisms +
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One additional specimen over 5 kg
Competitions are exempt from this limit. Commercial sale of sport/recreational catch is not permitted.
Big game (tuna, swordfish and other large pelagic species)
A special daily big-game license is required; if fishing from a vessel, it must be equipped with AIS (Automatic Identification System). Landing must be notified to the Fisheries Monitoring Center (RMC) and your club at least 1 hour before landing; an electronic catch log is mandatory. There is no “big-game spearfishing” license under the new law.
👮♂️ Inspections and Penalties
Fishing inspectors routinely patrol the coast. Violations are punished under Article 68 of the Law on Marine Fisheries and Mariculture, including:
- Fines up to € 2,000
- Confiscation of fishing gear
- Temporary fishing bans
Want to know more about licenses and how to get them?
👉 Fishing in Montenegro – Licenses, Rules & Tips
📬 Stay Informed – Subscribe
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✅ Final Thoughts
Following fishing regulations in Montenegro is not only a legal obligation – it’s also a way to preserve marine life for future generations. Whether you’re fishing from the shore, a boat, or underwater, make sure you stay informed and fish responsibly.
