Sport fishing

With its numerous bodies of water, Karlovac County is one of the most attractive destinations for fishing tourism in Croatia. The richness of its clean waters is rewarded with a great variety of fish species. Whatever type of fishing you enjoy, there’s something for everyone, available all year round. Additionally, staying by the shores or on the water is both relaxing and calming. Fishing here is a perfect blend of the joy of the sport and the beauty of nature.

Some of the fishing societies in the area are among the oldest in Croatia. The Ogulin Sports Fishing Society was founded in 1921, the Karlovac Sports Fishing Club “Korana” in 1923, and the Dugoreški KŠR “Mrežnica” in 1934. Members also care for water protection and the fish population. You are invited to respect fishing seasons and protect endangered fish species. For example, at Šumbar, all caught carp and grass carp are released unharmed back into the water, following the “catch and release” principle.

Šumbar, near Karlovac, is a popular fishing spot, with its lakes home to carp, grass carp, pike, catfish, perch, zander, and various white fish. The largest river in Karlovac County, the Kupa, is teeming with these and other fish species in the wider area of the city. Anglers love fishing from boats because they can choose the best spots. The river is generally faster and shallower, making it ideal for catching white fish, with the most beautiful summer fishing locations found at the stunning waterfalls.

Fishing on the Mrežnica is an unforgettable adventure due to its numerous waterfalls, rapids, and islands, requiring both boat transport and wading through the emerald-colored water. Fishing on the Korana is equally delightful, as it, like the Mrežnica, is abundant with white fish (such as roach, chub, barbel) and pike. In the summer, fishing here is done using “grass,” or algae scraped from the waterfall dam and released downstream.

Around Karlovac, Draganić, and Ozalj, there are many ponds, gravel pits, and fish farms (the largest being Draganićki), home to various fish species. On Kordun, you can fish in the streams of Slunjčica, Glina, Utinja, and Radonja. In the Ogulin area, aside from the rivers Dobra and Zagorska Mrežnica, fishing is also popular at Sabljaci Lake, as well as in the fast and clear mountain streams, which are particularly abundant with trout. The county has many sellers of fishing permits and equipment, and you’ll find plenty of restaurants by the rivers, many serving fish dishes.