Main points
- In the spring, fish are vulnerable due to spawning, and even waves from a boat can destroy millions of eggs.
- Fishing bans are imposed for different periods in different regions to protect fish populations.
Fishing in the spring / Photo by Pexels
The warming period is the time when fish are most vulnerable and weakened after winter. At the same time, spawning begins and human intervention can be devastating for entire populations.
Why can't you go fishing in the spring?
The terms of the ban are discussed in the EUROFEST material.
After winter, when the weather warms up, fish begin to spawn, or reproduce. It is important not to cause additional harm during this period, because after winter, fish are already weakened.
Note! Even a boat sailing by and creating waves is very dangerous. The waves can wash away millions of eggs, which will affect the population.
Actually, this is why restrictions are in place. It's not just about protecting specific species, but the entire food pyramid of water bodies in general.
Climate change is a particular threat to fish. Warmer winters are pushing back spawning times by 10 to 15 days, making fish more vulnerable to flooding.
Please note! In 2025, pike spawning in the Dnieper basin began 2 weeks earlier than normal.
The Ministry of Agrarian Policy approves the fishing regime with relevant documents.
What are the terms of the ban in different regions?
It is precisely according to the fishing regime that restrictions are set for a specific basin.
For example, for the Dnipro (in Kyiv and Poltava) there is a ban:
- from April 1 to May 20 – for rivers and tributaries;
- from April 1 to June 10 – for reservoirs and lakes;
- from April 1 to May 31 – for canals and ponds.
If we are talking about the Black Sea with fishing spots in Odessa and Kherson:
- from April 1 to May 31 – for rivers and tributaries;
- from April 1 to June 20 – for reservoirs and lakes;
- from April 1 to June 10 – for canals and ponds.
Restrictions for fishing from the Sea of Azov in Zaporizhia:
- from April 1 to May 31 – for rivers and tributaries;
- from April 1 to June 10 – for reservoirs and lakes;
- from April 1 to May 31 – for canals and ponds.
When it comes to the Dniester and fishing in Chernivtsi, Ternopil, the ban will be as follows:
- from April 1 to May 20 – for rivers and tributaries;
- from April 1 to June 10 – for reservoirs and lakes;
- from April 1 to May 31 – for canals and ponds.
Lakes of Rivne and Volyn:
- from April 1 to May 31 – for rivers and tributaries;
- from April 1 to June 10 – for reservoirs and lakes.
What happens if you break the ban?
At the same time, the Rules of Amateur Fishing stipulate catch norms and rules that are allowed even during spring fishing.
However, if they are violated, you will have to pay a fine for each illegally caught individual. In particular, there are separate restrictions for certain species of fish, taking into account their spawning characteristics.
For example, for illegal fishing of pike during the ban period, you will have to pay 3,468 hryvnias, and additional sanctions are also possible.
What else do you need to know about spring fishing?
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Fishing in the spring is allowed only from the shore and with one fishing rod with two hooks. The limit per person is 3 kilograms of fish. And the fine for 1 specimen of an illegally caught species reaches 5 thousand hryvnias.
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In particular, there are species of fish that can be caught without restrictions. This is due to the fact that the fish are “pests” and destroy other species, or their populations in nature are very large. So there will be no significant harm from catching.