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Covering 114 hectares in Lower Saxony, Harkortsee is one of Germany's notable public lakes. The water holds Carp, Pike, Perch, Zander, Bream, Tench — carp fishing is a key draw, with catch-and-release encouraged on many German club waters.
Night fishing is not permitted at Harkortsee. Plan for daytime sessions.
At 147 miles from Hook of Holland, Harkortsee is within easy reach for UK anglers — the Harwich–Hook of Holland overnight ferry makes Germany a realistic long-weekend destination.
Fischereischein — all anglers in Germany require a state fishing licence, obtained by passing the Fischerprüfung exam in the relevant Bundesland. Check current requirements with the Lower Saxony fishing authority before your trip.
Angelkarte / Gastkarte — in addition to the Fischereischein, a separate permit for Harkortsee is required, issued by the managing Fischereiverein. Available from local tackle shops or directly from the Fischereiverein.
Fishing companion rule — some German club waters require visiting anglers without a Fischereischein to be accompanied by a licensed German angler (Angelbegleitpflicht). This is most common on Angelverein club waters, particularly in Bavaria. Confirm whether this applies at Harkortsee when purchasing your Gastkarte.
Harkortsee holds carp, pike, perch, zander, bream, tench. Carp are a key target species. Many German fishing clubs ask anglers to practice catch-and-release for carp — check your gastkarte for specific rules.
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Harkortsee holds carp among other species (carp, pike, perch, zander, bream, tench). The carp fishing at Harkortsee draws both local and visiting anglers. Obtain the correct venue permit before your session.
Year-round
All anglers require a valid Fischereischein before fishing in Lower Saxony. Ensure you have this arranged before your trip. A gastkarte (day or week permit) for Harkortsee must also be purchased from the local Fischereiverein or tackle shop to guarantee access.
Harkortsee is 147 miles from Hook of Holland — reachable via the Stena Line Harwich–Hook of Holland overnight ferry (~6.5 hours), then approximately 3 hours by car into Lower Saxony.
UK anglers most commonly travel to Germany by driving via the Channel Tunnel (Folkestone–Calais, ~35 min) then east through Belgium and into Germany, or by taking the Stena Line overnight ferry (Harwich–Hook of Holland, ~6.5 hours) which drops you into the Netherlands for a straightforward drive east.
You must hold a valid Fischereischein (German state fishing licence) before fishing. A Gastkarte for the specific water is also required — buy in advance where possible via hejfish.de or from the local Fischereiverein.
Germany's coarse fishing season runs year-round for carp, pike and perch on most stillwaters. Trout and salmonid rivers are typically closed from late autumn through March in most states. Carp fishing peaks from May through September, with warm June and July nights producing the best sessions on larger lakes. Zander and pike fishing is at its best in autumn and winter (October–February) when the water cools and fish feed more actively. Bavaria's alpine lakes and the Bavarian lakes district are particularly productive in early summer.
Browse all venues in Lower Saxony on PiscaMaps — lakes, rivers and canals with licensing info and gastkarte links where available.