{
  "destination": "croatia",
  "name": "Croatia",
  "question": "Do I need a fishing licence on a yacht charter in Croatia?",
  "answer": "Yes: every guest who fishes from a charter yacht in Croatia needs their own recreational sea fishing licence, which costs €10 for 1 day, €25 for 3 days or €45 for 7 days; buy it online before boarding, because the skipper's or the boat's licence does not cover guests. You may keep 5 kg per person a day plus one extra fish, at most 1 grouper and no sharks or rays, and bluefin tuna is catch and release only, under the separate big-game add-on.",
  "canonical_url": "https://catamaranindex.com/fishing/croatia/",
  "markdown_url": "https://catamaranindex.com/fishing/croatia.md",
  "destination_url": "https://catamaranindex.com/croatia/",
  "best_time_url": "https://catamaranindex.com/best-time/croatia/",
  "api_url": "https://catamaranindex.com/api/fishing/croatia.json",
  "book_url": "https://catamaranindex.com/go/samboat?dest=croatia&pos=api",
  "checked": "2026-10-28",
  "licence": {
    "needed": "yes",
    "summary": "Yes, every angler",
    "cost_summary": "€10 for 1 day, €25 for 3 days, €45 for 7 days",
    "issuer": "Ministry of Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries (Uprava ribarstva); sold online and by authorised resellers",
    "price": {
      "text": "Recreational sea licence: 1 day €10; 3 days €25; 7 days €45; 150 days €99.54; annual €66.36 (annual sold 1 Dec–1 Mar only). Big-game add-on: 1 day €15.93, 3 days €39.82, 7 days €79.63.",
      "status": "official"
    },
    "validity": {
      "text": "1 / 3 / 7 / 150 days or calendar year",
      "status": "official"
    },
    "notes": [
      {
        "text": "Rules: Pravilnik o sportskom i rekreacijskom ribolovu na moru, NN 48/2026 (8 May 2026).",
        "status": "official"
      },
      {
        "text": "Licence is personal.",
        "status": "official"
      },
      {
        "text": "Catch reporting in the mRecFish app: dolphinfish from 15 Aug 2026; short-term licence holders from 1 Jan 2027.",
        "status": "official"
      },
      {
        "text": "National parks and nature parks need a separate park permit.",
        "status": "official"
      },
      {
        "text": "The Kornati prices (€20 for 1 day, €40 for 3 days) are not verified because np-kornati.hr returned 403.",
        "status": "not_verified"
      }
    ],
    "source": {
      "id": "fish_croatia_1",
      "name": "Croatian Ministry of Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries (Uprava ribarstva)",
      "title": "Uprava ribarstva – recreational licence info",
      "url": "https://ribarstvo.mps.hr/default.aspx?id=5010",
      "checked": "2026-10-28",
      "note": "Official source.",
      "tier": "official"
    }
  },
  "catch_limits_summary": "5 kg per person a day plus 1 fish; 1 grouper",
  "limits": [
    {
      "text": "Daily catch: 5 kg per person plus one extra fish if it takes you over 5 kg (one 'trophy' fish); stop fishing once you reach it",
      "status": "official"
    },
    {
      "text": "Groupers: max 1 per day; elasmobranchs (sharks/rays): 0",
      "status": "official"
    },
    {
      "text": "Kept fish must be tail-marked",
      "status": "official"
    },
    {
      "text": "Gear (recreational licence): max 2 of each type (rods, handlines, trolling lines, cephalopod lines), each with up to 3 hooks",
      "status": "official"
    },
    {
      "text": "Big-game add-on: circle hooks required, max 3 rods with 1 hook/lure each (secondary source: sub.hr)",
      "status": "secondary"
    },
    {
      "text": "Banned for recreational licence holders: bluefin tuna (catch & release only under big-game rules), swordfish, albacore, Mediterranean spearfish, crustaceans (lobster etc.)",
      "status": "official"
    },
    {
      "text": "Minimum sizes (secondary source sub.hr, reseller): dentex 30 cm, amberjack 45 cm, bonito 45 cm, brown meagre 30 cm, sea bass 25 cm, gilthead 20 cm, groupers (Epinephelus) 45 cm, wreckfish 45 cm, octopus 1 kg",
      "status": "secondary"
    }
  ],
  "spearfishing": [
    {
      "text": "Spearfishing needs a separate sport licence (club/federation, e.g. SUB.hr).",
      "status": "official"
    }
  ],
  "protected_areas": [
    {
      "text": "Kornati National Park (separate park fishing permit)",
      "status": "official"
    },
    {
      "text": "Brijuni National Park",
      "status": "official"
    },
    {
      "text": "Mljet National Park",
      "status": "official"
    },
    {
      "text": "Krka National Park",
      "status": "official"
    },
    {
      "text": "Telašćica Nature Park",
      "status": "official"
    },
    {
      "text": "Lastovo Islands Nature Park (Lastovsko otočje)",
      "status": "official"
    }
  ],
  "protected_areas_note": {
    "text": "Park list is from the NN 48/2026 scope (national parks, special reserves, nature parks). The park-by-park fishing zones are not verified.",
    "status": "not_verified"
  },
  "species": [
    {
      "common_name": "Common dentex",
      "scientific_name": "Dentex dentex",
      "method": "jigging, live-bait bottom fishing, trolling",
      "best_months": "May–Jun and autumn",
      "best_months_status": "secondary",
      "best_months_source": {
        "id": "fish_croatia_9",
        "name": "Vito Nautika (charter company)",
        "title": "Vito Nautika fishing calendar",
        "url": "https://www.vitonautika.com/en/croatia-yacht-charter-prices-catamaran-charter-croatia-croatia-fishing-calendar-the-best-time-to-fish-in-the-adriatic/",
        "checked": "2026-10-28",
        "note": "Secondary source (not official).",
        "tier": "secondary"
      },
      "iucn_status": {
        "code": "VU",
        "category": "Vulnerable",
        "assessed": "17 August 2009",
        "scope": "global, IUCN Red List 2025-2, as shown on FishBase"
      },
      "endemic": false,
      "local_rule": null,
      "source": {
        "id": "fishbase_dentex_dentex",
        "name": "FishBase",
        "title": "Dentex dentex species summary",
        "url": "https://www.fishbase.se/summary/Dentex-dentex.html",
        "checked": "2026-10-28",
        "note": "Reference database (FishBase species summary; IUCN status as FishBase shows it, Red List 2025-2 global).",
        "tier": "reference"
      }
    },
    {
      "common_name": "Greater amberjack",
      "scientific_name": "Seriola dumerili",
      "method": "jigging, live bait",
      "best_months": "May–Oct",
      "best_months_status": "secondary",
      "best_months_source": {
        "id": "fish_croatia_9",
        "name": "Vito Nautika (charter company)",
        "title": "Vito Nautika fishing calendar",
        "url": "https://www.vitonautika.com/en/croatia-yacht-charter-prices-catamaran-charter-croatia-croatia-fishing-calendar-the-best-time-to-fish-in-the-adriatic/",
        "checked": "2026-10-28",
        "note": "Secondary source (not official).",
        "tier": "secondary"
      },
      "iucn_status": {
        "code": "LC",
        "category": "Least Concern",
        "assessed": "07 November 2013",
        "scope": "global, IUCN Red List 2025-2, as shown on FishBase"
      },
      "endemic": false,
      "local_rule": null,
      "source": {
        "id": "fishbase_seriola_dumerili",
        "name": "FishBase",
        "title": "Seriola dumerili species summary",
        "url": "https://www.fishbase.se/summary/Seriola-dumerili.html",
        "checked": "2026-10-28",
        "note": "Reference database (FishBase species summary; IUCN status as FishBase shows it, Red List 2025-2 global).",
        "tier": "reference"
      }
    },
    {
      "common_name": "Atlantic bluefin tuna",
      "scientific_name": "Thunnus thynnus",
      "method": "big-game trolling/chumming — catch & release only",
      "best_months": "Jun–Nov (peak Sep–Oct)",
      "best_months_status": "secondary",
      "best_months_source": {
        "id": "fish_croatia_9",
        "name": "Vito Nautika (charter company)",
        "title": "Vito Nautika fishing calendar",
        "url": "https://www.vitonautika.com/en/croatia-yacht-charter-prices-catamaran-charter-croatia-croatia-fishing-calendar-the-best-time-to-fish-in-the-adriatic/",
        "checked": "2026-10-28",
        "note": "Secondary source (not official).",
        "tier": "secondary"
      },
      "iucn_status": {
        "code": "LC",
        "category": "Least Concern",
        "assessed": "15 January 2021",
        "scope": "global, IUCN Red List 2025-2, as shown on FishBase"
      },
      "endemic": false,
      "local_rule": "Croatia: recreational retention banned",
      "source": {
        "id": "fishbase_thunnus_thynnus",
        "name": "FishBase",
        "title": "Thunnus thynnus species summary",
        "url": "https://www.fishbase.se/summary/Thunnus-thynnus.html",
        "checked": "2026-10-28",
        "note": "Reference database (FishBase species summary; IUCN status as FishBase shows it, Red List 2025-2 global).",
        "tier": "reference"
      }
    },
    {
      "common_name": "Atlantic bonito",
      "scientific_name": "Sarda sarda",
      "method": "trolling",
      "best_months": null,
      "best_months_status": "not_verified",
      "best_months_source": null,
      "iucn_status": {
        "code": "LC",
        "category": "Least Concern",
        "assessed": "15 November 2021",
        "scope": "global, IUCN Red List 2025-2, as shown on FishBase"
      },
      "endemic": false,
      "local_rule": null,
      "source": {
        "id": "fishbase_sarda_sarda",
        "name": "FishBase",
        "title": "Sarda sarda species summary",
        "url": "https://www.fishbase.se/summary/Sarda-sarda.html",
        "checked": "2026-10-28",
        "note": "Reference database (FishBase species summary; IUCN status as FishBase shows it, Red List 2025-2 global).",
        "tier": "reference"
      }
    },
    {
      "common_name": "Dusky grouper",
      "scientific_name": "Epinephelus marginatus",
      "method": "bottom fishing; spearfishing",
      "best_months": null,
      "best_months_status": "not_verified",
      "best_months_source": null,
      "iucn_status": null,
      "endemic": false,
      "local_rule": "Croatia: max 1 grouper per day",
      "source": {
        "id": "fishbase_epinephelus_marginatus",
        "name": "FishBase",
        "title": "Epinephelus marginatus species summary",
        "url": "https://www.fishbase.se/summary/Epinephelus-marginatus.html",
        "checked": "2026-10-28",
        "note": "Reference database (FishBase species summary; IUCN status as FishBase shows it, Red List 2025-2 global).",
        "tier": "reference"
      }
    },
    {
      "common_name": "Gilthead seabream",
      "scientific_name": "Sparus aurata",
      "method": "bottom fishing",
      "best_months": null,
      "best_months_status": "not_verified",
      "best_months_source": null,
      "iucn_status": {
        "code": "LC",
        "category": "Least Concern",
        "assessed": "19 August 2009",
        "scope": "global, IUCN Red List 2025-2, as shown on FishBase"
      },
      "endemic": false,
      "local_rule": null,
      "source": {
        "id": "fishbase_sparus_aurata",
        "name": "FishBase",
        "title": "Sparus aurata species summary",
        "url": "https://www.fishbase.se/summary/Sparus-aurata.html",
        "checked": "2026-10-28",
        "note": "Reference database (FishBase species summary; IUCN status as FishBase shows it, Red List 2025-2 global).",
        "tier": "reference"
      }
    },
    {
      "common_name": "European sea bass",
      "scientific_name": "Dicentrarchus labrax",
      "method": "spinning, trolling",
      "best_months": null,
      "best_months_status": "not_verified",
      "best_months_source": null,
      "iucn_status": {
        "code": "NT",
        "category": "Near Threatened",
        "assessed": "03 March 2022",
        "scope": "global, IUCN Red List 2025-2, as shown on FishBase"
      },
      "endemic": false,
      "local_rule": null,
      "source": {
        "id": "fishbase_dicentrarchus_labrax",
        "name": "FishBase",
        "title": "Dicentrarchus labrax species summary",
        "url": "https://www.fishbase.se/summary/Dicentrarchus-labrax.html",
        "checked": "2026-10-28",
        "note": "Reference database (FishBase species summary; IUCN status as FishBase shows it, Red List 2025-2 global).",
        "tier": "reference"
      }
    },
    {
      "common_name": "Brown meagre",
      "scientific_name": "Sciaena umbra",
      "method": "spearfishing, bottom fishing",
      "best_months": null,
      "best_months_status": "not_verified",
      "best_months_source": null,
      "iucn_status": {
        "code": "NT",
        "category": "Near Threatened",
        "assessed": "03 March 2020",
        "scope": "global, IUCN Red List 2025-2, as shown on FishBase"
      },
      "endemic": false,
      "local_rule": null,
      "source": {
        "id": "fishbase_sciaena_umbra",
        "name": "FishBase",
        "title": "Sciaena umbra species summary",
        "url": "https://www.fishbase.se/summary/Sciaena-umbra.html",
        "checked": "2026-10-28",
        "note": "Reference database (FishBase species summary; IUCN status as FishBase shows it, Red List 2025-2 global).",
        "tier": "reference"
      }
    },
    {
      "common_name": "Mediterranean spearfish",
      "scientific_name": "Tetrapturus belone",
      "method": "big game (retention banned)",
      "best_months": null,
      "best_months_status": "not_verified",
      "best_months_source": null,
      "iucn_status": {
        "code": "LC",
        "category": "Least Concern",
        "assessed": "15 November 2021",
        "scope": "global, IUCN Red List 2025-2, as shown on FishBase"
      },
      "endemic": true,
      "local_rule": "FishBase: Mediterranean, abundant around Italy, no adults east of the Ionian. Retention banned in Croatia.",
      "source": {
        "id": "fishbase_tetrapturus_belone",
        "name": "FishBase",
        "title": "Tetrapturus belone species summary",
        "url": "https://www.fishbase.se/summary/Tetrapturus-belone.html",
        "checked": "2026-10-28",
        "note": "Reference database (FishBase species summary; IUCN status as FishBase shows it, Red List 2025-2 global).",
        "tier": "reference"
      }
    }
  ],
  "spots": [
    {
      "name": "Vis & Biševo",
      "why": "tuna and amberjack on drop-offs",
      "source": "secondary search summary (fishinglicensecroatia.com, mega-tour.org, vitonautika.com)",
      "status": "secondary"
    },
    {
      "name": "Lastovo",
      "why": "dentex and amberjack; nature park, so check the park rules",
      "source": "secondary",
      "status": "secondary"
    },
    {
      "name": "Palagruža",
      "why": "open-water pelagics",
      "source": "secondary",
      "status": "secondary"
    },
    {
      "name": "Outside Kornati NP boundary",
      "why": "fishing inside needs a park permit",
      "source": "secondary",
      "status": "secondary"
    }
  ],
  "charter_guest_rules": "Every guest who fishes needs their own licence. Buy it online before boarding. The skipper's or boat's licence does not cover guests. Anything not listed is not verified.",
  "not_verified": [
    "The Kornati prices (€20 for 1 day, €40 for 3 days) are not verified because np-kornati.hr returned 403.",
    "Park list is from the NN 48/2026 scope (national parks, special reserves, nature parks). The park-by-park fishing zones are not verified.",
    "Best months for Atlantic bonito, Dusky grouper, Gilthead seabream, European sea bass, Brown meagre, Mediterranean spearfish"
  ],
  "status_legend": {
    "official": "Read in an official source (government, statutory body or the legal text).",
    "secondary": "From a non-government source (guide, club, operator or news); not official.",
    "unconfirmed": "An official rule we could only read in a search summary, because we could not open the official text.",
    "not_verified": "We could not confirm it.",
    "note": "status is our reading of the dataset's own wording: \"secondary\" = non-government source; \"unconfirmed\" = official rule read only in a search summary; \"not_verified\" = a gap."
  },
  "caveat": "Rules change. Check with the authority or the charter company before fishing. Our summaries (answer, summary, cost_summary, catch_limits_summary) are written from the labelled facts.",
  "sources": [
    {
      "id": "fish_croatia_1",
      "name": "Croatian Ministry of Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries (Uprava ribarstva)",
      "title": "Uprava ribarstva – recreational licence info",
      "url": "https://ribarstvo.mps.hr/default.aspx?id=5010",
      "checked": "2026-10-28",
      "note": "Official source.",
      "tier": "official"
    },
    {
      "id": "fish_croatia_2",
      "name": "Croatian Ministry of Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries (Uprava ribarstva)",
      "title": "Uprava ribarstva",
      "url": "https://ribarstvo.mps.hr/default.aspx?id=4010",
      "checked": "2026-10-28",
      "note": "Official source.",
      "tier": "official"
    },
    {
      "id": "fish_croatia_3",
      "name": "gov.hr (Croatian government portal)",
      "title": "gov.hr – Marine recreational and sport fisheries",
      "url": "https://gov.hr/en/marine-recreational-and-sport-fisheries/1542",
      "checked": "2026-10-28",
      "note": "Official source.",
      "tier": "official"
    },
    {
      "id": "fish_croatia_4",
      "name": "zakon.hr (legal database)",
      "title": "NN 48/2026 Pravilnik (zakon.hr)",
      "url": "https://www.zakon.hr/c/podzakonski-propis/956909/nn-48-2026-%288.5.2026.%29%2C-pravilnik-o-sportskom-i-rekreacijskom-ribolovu-na-moru",
      "checked": "2026-10-28",
      "note": "Official text hosted by a third party.",
      "tier": "official-copy"
    },
    {
      "id": "fish_croatia_5",
      "name": "HSSRM (Croatian sport sea fishing federation)",
      "title": "Pravilnik PDF (HSSRM)",
      "url": "https://hssrm.hr/admin/dokumenti/uploads/files/2026-05-18-09-15-20-Pravilnik%20o%20sportskom%20i%20rekreacijskom%20ribolovu%20na%20moru.pdf",
      "checked": "2026-10-28",
      "note": "Official text hosted by a third party.",
      "tier": "official-copy"
    },
    {
      "id": "fish_croatia_6",
      "name": "Morski.hr (news)",
      "title": "morski.hr news on 2026 rules",
      "url": "https://www.morski.hr/nova-pravila-za-ribolov-na-moru-dozvole-drasticno-poskupjele-uvode-se-stroga-ogranicenja-za-hobotnice-i-kirnje-nema-kupnje-na-moru-u-trenutku-kontrole/",
      "checked": "2026-10-28",
      "note": "Secondary source (not official).",
      "tier": "secondary"
    },
    {
      "id": "fish_croatia_7",
      "name": "SUB.hr (licence reseller)",
      "title": "SUB.hr fishing rules",
      "url": "https://sub.hr/en/fishing-rules/",
      "checked": "2026-10-28",
      "note": "Secondary source (not official).",
      "tier": "secondary"
    },
    {
      "id": "fish_croatia_8",
      "name": "Kornati National Park",
      "title": "NP Kornati",
      "url": "https://www.np-kornati.hr/index.php?id=455&lang=hr&option=com_content&view=article",
      "checked": "2026-10-28",
      "note": "Official source. We could not read this page (403, not read); facts from it are marked as not verified.",
      "tier": "official"
    },
    {
      "id": "fish_croatia_9",
      "name": "Vito Nautika (charter company)",
      "title": "Vito Nautika fishing calendar",
      "url": "https://www.vitonautika.com/en/croatia-yacht-charter-prices-catamaran-charter-croatia-croatia-fishing-calendar-the-best-time-to-fish-in-the-adriatic/",
      "checked": "2026-10-28",
      "note": "Secondary source (not official).",
      "tier": "secondary"
    },
    {
      "id": "fish_croatia_10",
      "name": "European Commission",
      "title": "EU RecFishing Q&A",
      "url": "https://oceans-and-fisheries.ec.europa.eu/news/questions-and-answers-recfishing-2026-01-12_en",
      "checked": "2026-10-28",
      "note": "Official source.",
      "tier": "official"
    },
    {
      "id": "fishbase_dentex_dentex",
      "name": "FishBase",
      "title": "Dentex dentex species summary",
      "url": "https://www.fishbase.se/summary/Dentex-dentex.html",
      "checked": "2026-10-28",
      "note": "Reference database (FishBase species summary; IUCN status as FishBase shows it, Red List 2025-2 global).",
      "tier": "reference"
    },
    {
      "id": "fishbase_seriola_dumerili",
      "name": "FishBase",
      "title": "Seriola dumerili species summary",
      "url": "https://www.fishbase.se/summary/Seriola-dumerili.html",
      "checked": "2026-10-28",
      "note": "Reference database (FishBase species summary; IUCN status as FishBase shows it, Red List 2025-2 global).",
      "tier": "reference"
    },
    {
      "id": "fishbase_thunnus_thynnus",
      "name": "FishBase",
      "title": "Thunnus thynnus species summary",
      "url": "https://www.fishbase.se/summary/Thunnus-thynnus.html",
      "checked": "2026-10-28",
      "note": "Reference database (FishBase species summary; IUCN status as FishBase shows it, Red List 2025-2 global).",
      "tier": "reference"
    },
    {
      "id": "fishbase_sarda_sarda",
      "name": "FishBase",
      "title": "Sarda sarda species summary",
      "url": "https://www.fishbase.se/summary/Sarda-sarda.html",
      "checked": "2026-10-28",
      "note": "Reference database (FishBase species summary; IUCN status as FishBase shows it, Red List 2025-2 global).",
      "tier": "reference"
    },
    {
      "id": "fishbase_epinephelus_marginatus",
      "name": "FishBase",
      "title": "Epinephelus marginatus species summary",
      "url": "https://www.fishbase.se/summary/Epinephelus-marginatus.html",
      "checked": "2026-10-28",
      "note": "Reference database (FishBase species summary; IUCN status as FishBase shows it, Red List 2025-2 global).",
      "tier": "reference"
    },
    {
      "id": "fishbase_sparus_aurata",
      "name": "FishBase",
      "title": "Sparus aurata species summary",
      "url": "https://www.fishbase.se/summary/Sparus-aurata.html",
      "checked": "2026-10-28",
      "note": "Reference database (FishBase species summary; IUCN status as FishBase shows it, Red List 2025-2 global).",
      "tier": "reference"
    },
    {
      "id": "fishbase_dicentrarchus_labrax",
      "name": "FishBase",
      "title": "Dicentrarchus labrax species summary",
      "url": "https://www.fishbase.se/summary/Dicentrarchus-labrax.html",
      "checked": "2026-10-28",
      "note": "Reference database (FishBase species summary; IUCN status as FishBase shows it, Red List 2025-2 global).",
      "tier": "reference"
    },
    {
      "id": "fishbase_sciaena_umbra",
      "name": "FishBase",
      "title": "Sciaena umbra species summary",
      "url": "https://www.fishbase.se/summary/Sciaena-umbra.html",
      "checked": "2026-10-28",
      "note": "Reference database (FishBase species summary; IUCN status as FishBase shows it, Red List 2025-2 global).",
      "tier": "reference"
    },
    {
      "id": "fishbase_tetrapturus_belone",
      "name": "FishBase",
      "title": "Tetrapturus belone species summary",
      "url": "https://www.fishbase.se/summary/Tetrapturus-belone.html",
      "checked": "2026-10-28",
      "note": "Reference database (FishBase species summary; IUCN status as FishBase shows it, Red List 2025-2 global).",
      "tier": "reference"
    }
  ],
  "attribution": "Cite \"Catamaran Index\" with a link to the canonical_url of the page the figure comes from, and name the original source listed with it.",
  "affiliate_note": "book_url links go through /go/samboat, an affiliate link: Catamaran Index may earn a commission on bookings, at no extra cost to the traveller. It never changes the data."
}