Africa
Fishing in
Namibia 2026.
Fishing License & Permit · Fishing Times · Waters & Fish Species · Cost Overview
🌙Fishing Times 2026Best fishing times
·Namibia-22.96°, 18.49°
01
Fishing License & Permit
- License required?
- Yes
- Where to apply?
- At the Ministry of Fisheries and Marine Resources or on the coast at local authorities.
- Cost
- Coastal fishing permit: From 50 NAD (~3 USD). Freshwater: Organized at lodges/camps.
- Validity
- Day or annual tickets
- Available online?
- No
Namibia is famous for shark fishing and surf fishing on the Skeleton Coast. The licenses are cheap and simple. Freshwater: The Kunene and Okavango offer exotic species like the Tigerfish.
Book fishing tours in Namibia
Guided tours with local experts — recommended by locals
02
Rules & Regulations
- Closed seasons
- No general closed seasons. Observe individually protected coastal sections.
- Catch limits
- Shark: Catch-and-Release increasingly standard. Cod: Daily limits. Tigerfish: C&R recommended.
- Prohibited methods
- Nets prohibited for sport anglers. Dynamite prohibited.
- Catch & Release
- Standard for shark and Tigerfish. Increasingly for all species.
The Skeleton Coast is one of the few places where you can catch copper shark, bronze shark and even great white shark from the beach!
03
Waters & Fish Species
Top waters
- —Henties Bay (Brandungsangeln-Hotspot für Silber-Kob)
- —Skeleton Coast (Kupferhai and Steenbras-Reviere)
- —Zambezi River (Tigerfish and Nembwe-Barsche)
- —Walvis Bay (Bootstouren auf Speisefische and Haie)
- —Hardap Dam (Freshwaterangeln auf Karpfen and Barben)
Target fish
Freshwater
Caprivi Strip with Okavango and Kunene: Tigerfish, Bream and exotic African species.
Saltwater
The cold Benguela Current brings nutrient-rich water. Shore-based shark fishing is legendary!
Starting from200 USD / day
Best season: Coast: Year-round, November-April optimal. Freshwater: August-November (Tigerfish).
04
Practical Information
- Equipment
- Heavy surf rods for shark fishing (4-5m). Tigerfish: Medium spinning rods. Limited availability on site.
- Fishing guides
- Shark fishing guides: 100-200 USD/day. Tigerfish lodges in the Caprivi: 200-400 USD/day.
- Transport
- Flight to Windhoek. Rental car (4x4 for Skeleton Coast!). Long distances.
- Safety
- Desert! Water and sun protection are vital. Snakes and scorpions. Malaria area in the Caprivi.
- Customs & taking fish home
- Fishing equipment allowed. Observe CITES for protected shark species.
05
Cost Overview
License fees
Coast: Approx. 3 USD/day. Freshwater: Included in lodge price.
Guide prices
Coast: 100-200 USD/day. Caprivi Lodge: 200-400 USD/day.
Daily budget
Budget: 50-100 USD (camping, own equipment). Comfort: 200-400 USD/day (lodge).
Read blog article →
Detailed guide: Fishing in Namibia
Equipment
Recommended fishing equipment
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