Lake Balaton is the biggest lake in Central Europe (600 km2), but the average water-barely exceeds 3 meters. This is why it is such an excellent place for a holiday. However, Balaton is not simply a giant 'beach pool' but rather a living expanse of water. Its fish fall to the broad nets of the fisher folk in their small boats and to the rods of locals and visitors waiting patiently on piers or built-up sections of the shore. This wealth of fish is also, incidentally, provided for 'artificially'. Baby fish are released into the lake every year.

Angling tourism is normally recommended in the early and late parts of the season.

The main fish species in the lake are: carp (ponty), wels catfish (harcsa), pikeperch (süllő), Volga-pikeperch (kősüllő), aspe (balin), pike (csuka), eel (angolna), grass carp (amur), silvercarp (fehér busa), breams and the razor fish (garda). There are also European chubs (domolykó) and tenches (compó) and in Kis-Balaton you will find European mudminnows (lápi póc).

It is possible to fish almost everywhere, but a fishing permit is necessary. This can be obtained in any angling shop and in tourist offices. You can fish from the shore, fishing stands (these are usually privately owned), piers or boats, but the integrity of reed beds must be respected.

Restrictions

Catch-and-release only:

• Volga-pikeperch smaller than 20 cm
• Brown trout and rainbow trout smaller than 22 cm
• Pikeperch, carp and largemouth bass (pisztrángsügér) smaller than 30 cm
• Aspe, grass carp, pike and common barbel (márna) smaller than 40 cm
• Wels smaller than 50 cm
  

The length of the fish is measured from the tip of the snout to the end of the hypural bone or posterior end of the last vertebra (length without tail fin=standard length).

Daily Bag limits (the number of fish harvested from midnight to the following midnight)

Adult anglers possessing a regional fishing permit may catch 3 fish/species but a maximum of five fish concerned by length restrictions. For other species the limit is 10kgs per day. Anglers may keep a harvested species exceeding 10 kgs but then the daily limit becomes that fish.

(Equipment: 2 fishing poles)

Juvenile anglers possessing a regional fishing permit may catch 2 fish/species but a maximum of three fish concerned by length restrictions. Other restrictions coincide with those for adults.

(Equipment: 1 fishing pole)

Child anglers possessing a regional fishing permit may catch one in total of the fish concerned by length restrictions and 5 kgs of other species. Children may keep a harvested species exceeding 5 kgs but then the daily limit becomes that fish.

(Equipment: 1 angler with a bob and a hook)

Seasonal restrictions:

Close season

Brown trout (Sebes pisztráng) 1 October - 31 December
Pike (Csuka)                             15 February - 31 March
Aspe (Balin)                              1 March - 30 April
Pikeperch (Fogassüllő)             1 March - 30 April
Volga-pikeperch (Kősüllő)         1 March -30 June
Carp (Ponty)                             2 May -15 June
Common barbel (Márna)           2 May -15 June
Wels (Harcsa) (under 10 kg)     2 May - 15 June

Fishing fees in 2010 range from 600 HUF to 3300 HUF daily and from 5500 HUF to 54900 HUF yearly, depending on the age of the angler and the region covered. There are 1 day, 3 day and 10 day permits available, as well as yearly permits. For more information, check with www.balatonihalgazdalkodas.hu/index_elemei/Page1199.htm.