BOAT FISHING IN NORTHERN NORWAY - JULY 2009            


What a fantastic fishing holiday in Norway!  We were well within the Arctic Circle on the island of Skjervoy in Northern Norway.

Skjervoy Island in Northern Norway
(to the left of the picture)

July 2009

The whole package, flights, venue, accommodation and a one year old Arvor 215 boat, was arranged through Angler's World.  It was every bit as as good as they said it would be.  The scenery, weather and fishing was out of this world too!  Cod, Halibut, Coalfish, Wolffish, Ling, Haddock, Torsk and Redfish, Oh! and one lonely Whiting!

24 hour daylight at this time of year was also a real bonus as it meant we could fish for as long as our bodies would allow us - sleep deprivation is to be expected when the fishing is this good!

If I were to offer any advice to anglers contemplating a trip to Skjervoy, firstly you need to be aware that it's a very remote location and therefore travelling from the UK can take up to 18 hours.  Also, don't get there expecting HUGE fish, although it's very likely that you will hit into something big.

Lastly, top up your case to the max weight allowance with light-weight food, especially chocolate bars and packet soups, as everything is considerably more expensive than in the UK.  For example, a hotdog and coffee was £8.40!   Please take a flask each, you'll really appreciate hot coffee and soup on the boat, the temperatures can still be on the chilly side even in mid-summer!

We all had lots of Cod between 10 - 20 lbs, however my mate Nigel Foord, who is the Fish Recorder for Torbay & Babbacombe ASA, plucked the biggest one of 21lb off an isolated pinnacle mark.

Nigel Foord, Fish Recorder for
Torbay & Babbacombe ASA
proudly holds his Cod 21 lbs
caught from off the coast of
Skjervoy Island in Northern Norway
Kevin Rouse, (SFCC),
proudly holds his Cod 20 lbs
caught from off the coast of
Skjervoy Island in Northern Norway
Lee Pearson, (SFCC),
proudly holds his Cod 18 lbs
caught from off the coast of
Skjervoy Island in Northern Norway

Sean Ashwell, (SFCC), had the best Wolffish, an ugly 18 lb'er.

Sean Ashwell proudly holds his
his Wolffish 18 lbs
caught from off the coast of
Skjervoy Island in Northern Norway

Lee Pearson, (SFCC), landed the best Coalfish.

Lee Pearson caught the best Coalfish
of the week from off the coast of
Skjervoy Island in Northern Norway

I had the biggest Halibut of 24lbs. Unfortunately I also lost a bigger one near the surface, a 5 footer that shot up from the crystal clear depths of 270 feet to take my red "Fishtek" lure, which I fished on a 300g leadhead!  Definitely a worthy 'one that got away' tale!

Kevin Rouse, (SFCC)
proudly holds his Halibut 24 lbs
caught from off the coast of
Skjervoy Island in Northern Norway

If you dig your own bait, there were Lug casts to die for.

Lugworm casts on the fore-shore of
Skjervoy Island in Northern Norway

Lastly, you would love the fleet of pristine self-drive Arvor boats, which you can see moored on the pontoon.

Self-drive Arvor 215 angling boats
with a purpose built filleting shed
in the background on Skjervoy Island
in Northern Norway

They even have a purpose built filleting shed, which you can see in the in the background.  They've got it all!

Hope you all enjoy the photos.  Needless to say we will be going back! - Kevin Rouse.