The cod is one of the most common fish in Bessaker. It exists in almost all sizes. It can be caught from a minimum size of 47cm up to more than 1.20m, although fish over a lengths of one metre are not usual. Most fish weigh between 3kg and 5kg.

To catch larger cod, look for schools of small pollock and fish among them. The most common baits are pilks and rubber fish. Cod are present off Bessaker all year round.

The coalfish is probably the most common fish in our area, especially smaller ones are present in large numbers. Fish up to one kg swim around in large schools and are the food base for the larger fish, which can be found among the schools.

The coalfish can grow up to 1.20m lengths in Bessaker! However, such fish are extremely rare, single fishes of one metre are caught every year, but are not found in large quantities. It can be caught very well with artificial lures such as pilks or rubber fish.

Fishing for fish in the 2kg to 6kg class is possible from mid-April, depending on the season, and can continue until middle of November.

The pollock is also a very common fish here. It has been caught in the Bessaker area in weights up to 12kg. But you can't be sure to catch such big specimen. Pollocks of more than 9kg are brought to the scales every year, but not too often.

Fish between 2.5kg and 5kg are the majority.

The bait can be anything from a pilk, rubber makk, rubber fish or natural bait. Pollock are mainly caught in the summer months, but can be caught as early as March and, depending on the weather and water temperature, as late as November.

Haddock is not as common in the Bessaker area as cod, pollock or saithe, but is caught in sufficient quantities. Often the schools are closer to the land and not so far out. Haddock can also be caught well with natural bait such as lugworm, shrimp or small pieces of fish.

Haddocks of more than 85 cm and 4.5 kg have been caught here, but such big fish are rare. Fish between 45 cm and 65 cm are normal. Haddock can be caught here all year round.

The whiting is a very tasty fish that does not grow too big. Also it is not available here in large numbers. Often it is a by-catch in haddock or hake fishing. It can be fished very well with natural bait, although the large whiting do not disdain a pilker.

Whiting up to 65 cm are caught from time to time. However, sizes between 35 cm and 50 cm are normal. It is caught here all year round.

Hake is one of the tastiest fish that Norway has to offer. However, this fish is rare. There are always a few caught throughout the year, but one cannot guarantee that this fish will be hooked. But when it does, the surprise is even bigger.

In autumn, especially in September and October, they migrate in schools to spawn off the coast. Then you can fish for them very well with natural baits. Once you've found the right spot, you can experience a real moment of glory. Fish up to 1.10 m are caught here every year, but the average size is between 60 cm and 80 cm.

The ling is a fish that can grow quite large. It can be caught here all year round. Although ling of more than 1.75 m and 30 kg have been caught off our coast, the fishing for large ling is special and tied to local spots and you should not expect to catch one of the big ones.

But ling up to one metre is always possible. It is a frequent by-catch when pilk fishing, but can be caught even better when fishing with natural bait. Fishing a little deeper and with bigger lures increases the chances of catching bigger fish.

The tusk is a common fish here. It reaches impressive sizes and has been caught up to 1 m and 10 kg. The normal size is between 50 cm and 70 cm. Unfortunately, the tusk has a bad reputation among fishermen, as it is often infested with parasites. However, by no means this is the case with all tusks. It also has a very good tasting, white, firm meat!

Tusk is caught on pilks and even better with natural bait. If you want to avoid catching tusk, you should fish a few metres above the bottom, as it is reluctant to leave the ground. Tusk can be caught here all year round.

This species of fish is often found here. There are two species, the small redfish that does not grow larger than 20 cm and the redfish that fishermen mostly desire that weighs between 1 kg and 1.5 kg. Specimens of 2 kg are also caught, but this is rare, fish of this size are very old.

Redfish can be caught with pilks and rubber makk, as well as with natural bait. Redfish can be caught off our coast from early Spring to late Autumn, while Autumn is by far the best time. The interesting thing about redfish is that it is a live-bearing fish.

The wolffish is not common in our area, but it does exist. Specimens up to 8 kg have been caught. The normal size is 1.5 kg to 3 kg. This fish is caught best with natural baits such as mussel meat or pieces of fish fillet, but it also goes for the pilker from time to time.

Most fish have their territories close to shore and rarely offshore. It can be caught from early Spring until June.

Anglerfish, also called monkfish, are not as rare in our country as we always think. Unfortunately, however, these fish can hardly be targeted, as they only lie on the bottom, lurking for prey and do not swim actively towards the bait. This means that the bait has to be put as close to the fish as possible, then the fish will usually snap at it.

Whether artificial or natural bait is not so important. However, the frequent lucky catches show that the monkfish population is good. Fish weighing more than 15 kg have been caught with a fishing rod, and professional fishermen have caught much larger ones. With luck, monkfish can be caught from April to October.

Just a few years ago, a halibut in a fish box was a rare thing in our country. That has changed somewhat in recent years. It is still far from commonplace to catch a halibut, but more and more are being put on the scales every year. Most specimens weigh up to 10 kg. Fish over 20 kg are also caught every year, but there are not too many of this weight.

There are also bigger ones, e.g. halibut up to 80 kg have been caught by our guests. Professional fishermen have also caught fish weighing over 180 kg. As bait you can use anything that fits into a halibut's mouth. Pilks, rubber lures or natural baits can be used, especially rubber lures are recommended when targeting halibut. Halibut can be caught here all year round.

Bessaker has a very good stock of flatfish, it is found close to the coast line. This is often the case when the wind makes it impossible to go out and fish specifically for flatfish. However, this fish is sometimes very moody. This means that one day the fish are biting quite well and the next day the place seems to be deserted.

Every year, specimen of around 60 cm and up to 3 kg are caught. However, fish between 35 cm and 50 cm are mostly common. Flatfish are caught almost exclusively with natural bait, lugworms, prawns or small pieces of fish fillet. Flatfish are caught all year round.

Everything written above about flatfish also applies to flounder. They are the same fishing grounds and the same baits.

The flounder does not get quite as big as the flatfish, but is caught up to 50 cm. The normal size is 25 cm to 40 cm. Flounder are also found here all year round.

The last flatfish species of interest to fishermen is the dab. Here, too, everything that has been written about flatfish and flounder applies to the dab. It is the smallest flatfish among the three species.

The dab rarely grows larger than 35 cm. The fishing season is all year round.

One of our summer guests is the mackerel. These beautiful fish can appear in very large schools off our coast. The mackerel is a popular food fish, but also makes an excellent bait fish. They are caught in weights up to 1.5 kg, but most are smaller.

Baits are mackerel paternosters with small pilkers or simply a sea trout flasher without by-catch. Depending on the water temperature, mackerel can be caught from end of May until October.

Herring are not often caught with fishing rods off Bessaker. Even when professional fishermen catch herring in Spring and Autumn, it is not in large quantities. But you will notice that there are herring when you see pollock or cod regurgitating these fish after catching them, or when you examine the contents of their stomachs.

Often it is young herring that are eaten by the larger fish. The only bait used is actually the herring paternoster. The herring is found here all year round.

The garfish is a fish that was not available here in the past, but for a few years now these fish have been regularly caught in the Autumn. You can see the schools robbing the water surface, this can easily be mistaken for a school of mackerel. They can be found in sizes of up to 80 cm. Mackerel or herring paternosters are used as bait, as well as sea trout spoons. Garfish are caught in August and September.

Salmon is a much desired food fish, but is not often caught. It can be caught during the Summer in the rivers (only with a licence), but also in the sea. On the banks off the coast, it is mostly accidental by-catch when bait is brought up or released.

However, it can also be caught close to shore. Sea trout lures or natural baits such as prawns, worms or pieces of fish on a float rig are suitable baits. The salmon is a very moody fish and one has to be prepared for everything. It can happen that one catches 3 in one hour and then nothing for days, even when fish are visible.

Salmon can be found here in weights of more than 10 kg, but most are smaller and weigh around 3 kg. It has been caught in early Spring as well as Autumn, but the best time is Summer. The same is true for the sea trout, but it remains smaller. It is caught from time to time in weights up to 3 kg.

This fellow is an occasional by-catch when shore fishing. The gurnard is a species of fish that remains quite small, but has been caught in sizes up to 50 cm.

Its meat tastes very good and is a delicacy in some countries. It is caught with natural baits such as lugworm, shrimp or small pieces of fish, but larger specimens sometimes take a pilk. It is regularly caught from Spring to Autumn.

Sea scorpions, are similar like the gurnard a small-sized fish species and hardly grow larger than 35 cm. This fish is also a rare by-catch in shore fishing and is caught on the same baits as the gurnard.

This spiny fish is not very interesting for the kitchen. It is occasionally caught from spring to autumn.

Wrasses are very beautiful fish, often shining in iridescent colours. They remain small and rarely exceed 40 cm of lengths. They are often used in salmon farms as cleaner fish, as they nibble parasites such as fish lice off the salmon.

They are not interesting for the kitchen. In Summer they are by-catch in shore fishing and are occasionally caught from July to September. The baits are the same as for gurnard and sea scorpion.