Icelandic fishing

[Steve-O]

It a long shot but has anybody ever fish Iceland? My wife somehow convince me to drive around Iceland for a week. I would love to book a trip with a sponsor but I don’t think there any on nj fishing. Shore fishing would ideal since I have two little girls with me. I prefer a boat for Cod, haddock, whiting etc. all the fish that use to be plentiful around NJ in the past. Though, I heard these species can be caught from shore. Some guy named Steve mason runs some fishing outfit but I have not been able to get in contact with them. We’re going mid April so it will be a little early for sweetwater. Any chance to wet a line on vacation would be awesome. As well as good advice and recommendations.

[frugalfisherman]

Google "Iceland fishing trips". Go down a few and Trip Advisor has some reviews of some boats.

[Byte Me]

Iceland is awesome! Do your research as water rights are not the same as in the USA. If you bring your own gear it has to be decontaminated by Iceland authorities and I'm sure it'll cost you plenty. Guides are available to fish freshwater, google them, not sure of any boats go out in the salt like we do.

There is a whale watching trip at the end where you fish an hour for cod & its grilled for you when you return. It's in Dalvik, north Iceland just off the ring road.

[june181901]

There is decent Arctic char fishing within 2 hours of the capitol. The U.S. Navy had a base there once and I did 2 weeks duty there. Nothing is cheap in Iceland, 10 years ago a small beer in a bar (off base) WAS $8.50.

[frugalfisherman]

Originally Posted by june181901

There is decent Arctic char fishing within 2 hours of the capitol. The U.S. Navy had a base there once and I did 2 weeks duty there. Nothing is cheap in Iceland, 10 years ago a small beer in a bar (off base) WAS $8.50.

That's worse than Yankee Stadium!

[Capt. Debbie]

I would think being the extreme north Atlantic the sea conditions this time of year would be lean pickins on good days to take newbies out in the ocean unless inside? You're north of the Titanic wreck. lol

Originally Posted by Steve-O

It a long shot but has anybody ever fish Iceland? My wife somehow convince me to drive around Iceland for a week. I would love to book a trip with a sponsor but I don’t think there any on nj fishing. Shore fishing would ideal since I have two little girls with me. I prefer a boat for Cod, haddock, whiting etc. all the fish that use to be plentiful around NJ in the past. Though, I heard these species can be caught from shore. Some guy named Steve mason runs some fishing outfit but I have not been able to get in contact with them. We’re going mid April so it will be a little early for sweetwater. Any chance to wet a line on vacation would be awesome. As well as good advice and recommendations.

[Finprof]

Originally Posted by june181901

There is decent Arctic char fishing within 2 hours of the capitol. The U.S. Navy had a base there once and I did 2 weeks duty there. Nothing is cheap in Iceland, 10 years ago a small beer in a bar (off base) WAS $8.50.

Now a beer is only $10. The financial crisis of 2008-09 hit Iceland hard and there was a shortage of foreign currency for a while. McDonalds had to shut down because they could not buy hamburger or buns. The financial situation has become much better now and prices have returned to their upward spiral.
The reason prices are so high is because of a 25%VAT that goes to providing government services like a national healthcare system. Everybody who buys anything pays for it.
Recently the economy has improved because Iceland has become a favorite tourist attraction. MY wife and I are doing a 9 day escorted tour at the end of July-beginning of August. The price is not outrageous.
Iceland is famous for its salmon fishing which is priced for the people who are at Davos right now. Less well known known is the outstanding brown trout fishing up in the rivers that is affordable to mere mortals. I don't know much about the saltwater fishing but my guess would be that it would be highly dependent on the season and I don't know the best times for saltwater. I know some folks in Iceland and am trying to get a couple of days of trout fishing in but that will require getting a "beat" - a private stretch of water for those days.

[Capt Joe]

Originally Posted by Steve-O

It a long shot but has anybody ever fish Iceland? My wife somehow convince me to drive around Iceland for a week. I would love to book a trip with a sponsor but I don’t think there any on nj fishing. Shore fishing would ideal since I have two little girls with me. I prefer a boat for Cod, haddock, whiting etc. all the fish that use to be plentiful around NJ in the past. Though, I heard these species can be caught from shore. Some guy named Steve mason runs some fishing outfit but I have not been able to get in contact with them. We’re going mid April so it will be a little early for sweetwater. Any chance to wet a line on vacation would be awesome. As well as good advice and recommendations.

Shame you cant move the date forward a bit, mid April is not exactly the time to rent a car and drive around the "Island". June- September would be better Stay between the northwest coast and the Westman Island area forget the rest. Arrange a day trp to the Westmans, pray for good weather, great day trip. Will see if relatives can find you a couple of names for fishing but it may be too early.
You can catch small Cod almost anywhere along the shore if you can find a place along the "shore" to throw a line in...and a piece of meat to put on a hook. Bring a couple of lite breakdown spinning rods and some small jiggin stuff(007's, etc). Find a place and toss it in.

[RichS]

I was there for a couple days on a stop over and spent a night at a do it yourself salmon cabin (caught char). Also did the whale/ cod trip. 3-5lb cod like you were fishing sunnies with worms. This was just off the beach. If I went back, I'd definitely book with a boat that targets (big) cod.

The nightlife in Reykjavik is reason enough alone for you single people to go.

[Legacy]

I was in Reykjavik for several days and had a 40 foot boat chartered in the main harbor for cod. It blew so hard for 3 straight days that they put us on a 60 foot whale watch boat instead. Like the other guys mentioned, we jigged 3-5 pound cod as fast as your lures hit the bottom. We only fished 2-3 miles from the harbor because we were in 6-8 foot seas. Just about 2/3rds of the boat got sick so we headed in after only 3 hours. They cooked the cod fresh on a huge Stainless Steel BBQ on the front deck on the way in. I would have much rather have gone on the 20 mile trip I had planned for jumbo cod but the weather was super windy every day. That was in late May of 2014. Google the fishing options and pray for the winds to be light. It blew 20-40 knots the 12 days I toured Iceland. You are in for a treat if you are single and party in Rejkjavik. The women there are gorgeous and not afraid to dance with the Americans.