Autumn fishing – one of the best times of the season

Why is autumn so unique, and why do many anglers believe that this is one of the very best periods for sea fishing along the Norwegian coast?

For me, the answer is about much more than just the opportunity for big fish. Autumn offers a combination of cooler seas, more concentrated prey, less traffic at the fishing grounds and a nature that changes character from day to day. The light becomes softer, the air clearer, and the entire coast takes on a calm that is difficult to find in the middle of the high season.

I will try to explain this from my own perspective and based on the experiences I have made over the past 20 years.

During this time, I have fished in many different conditions, seen how the seasons affect both the fish and the fishermen, and learned that autumn often rewards those who keep an eye on the weather, currents and where the prey fish are moving.

For many of us tourists, the preferred travel time is the months with a lot of daylight and the best chance of good weather – that is, spring and summer. It is easy to understand. Who doesn’t want sun, pleasant temperatures and long days on their long-awaited fishing holiday? Summer makes planning easier, and you can stay out for a long time without thinking about early darkness. Worrying about dark nights

In the middle of summer, the sun’s rays are strong, and the water in shallow fjords and coastal areas can become significantly warmer.

At the same time, periods of algae growth and less favorable conditions in the upper water layers can occur. Many fish species then migrate to colder and more stable water masses. The fish can be much deeper than earlier in the season, sometimes around 100 meters or even deeper, depending on the area, temperature and availability of food. That is why you often hear that fishing can be more difficult in July and August, or that the long-awaited cod has suddenly disappeared. It is not necessarily far away, but it may have moved from the usual shallows to deep channels, steep edges or areas with better current. The same often applies to Pollock and Coalfish, which also follow their prey fish and seek water layers where the temperature and oxygen conditions are better suited.

As September approaches, a gradual change occurs.

The nights are getting colder, the days are shorter and the surface water is cooling down. The first strong low pressure creates more movement in the sea and helps the water layers to mix. This can bring nutrient-rich water to the coast and fjords. The result is often more activity throughout the food chain – from small organisms and small fish to large predatory fish.

Sandeel fish move to the shallow sandy areas, while herring moves from the open sea closer to the coast. At the same time, large schools of small mackerel can gather in coastal areas before their further migration south. Such schools are easily accessible food for cod, saithe, pollack, halibut and other predators. If you see active birds, small fish splashing on the surface or the echo sounder filling with dense recordings, it is often a clear sign that predatory fish are not far away.

All of this can create very good fishing conditions along the coast. The fish eat actively to build up reserves before winter, and several species can be seen as both strong and in good condition. The quality of the catch can also be better than in warm summer periods, especially when the fish have switched to a varied and nutritious diet. For the angler, this means hard hits, heavy pulls and fish that really put the equipment to the test. It is precisely this combination of activity and quality that makes autumn fishing so exciting.

From the end of September and into autumn, halibut fishing can be at its most exciting.

The halibut can enter shallow water to hunt where herring, sandeel and other small fish gather. On some days, you can even see activity right at the surface. The fish spend the autumn eating their fill before later moving towards deeper water and spawning areas. This makes sandy bays, shallow grounds an transitions between shallow and deep water particularly interesting. Drift fishing with natural bait, large rubber jigs or slow trolling can be effective.

The same pattern applies to cod, coalfish and pollock.

When herring and other small fish migrate into the fjords for the winter, predatory fish follow. Cod can stay along the bottom on edges and in channels, while saithe often hunts more actively in the open water. Pollock stays near kelp, rocks and edges to the deepwater where the current carries the food past. Therefore, it pays to vary your fishing. Try both near the bottom and higher in the water, and don’t be afraid to move if the echo sounder and birdlife shows activity elsewhere.

At this time of year, there is a lot of life at sea.

Seabirds, fish and whales take advantage of the food supply before the long winter. For those sitting in a small boat, the experience itself can be as strong as the catch: seagulls gathering over a shoal, porpoises breaking the water surface, mountains with the first streaks of snow and a low autumn light that changes colors along the coast. The silence between the naps becomes part of the trip, not just the waiting time.

Autumn is not just a good choice because of the fishing.

Prices for houses, boats and flights can be lower than during the summer holidays, and sometimes good last-minute or last-minute deals appear. It is often quieter at the fishing camp, less anglers at the fishing grounds and fewer boats at the most known spots.

Areas that have been visited every day throughout the summer get less pressure. This gives both more space and a more personal experience. Hosts and guides often have more time to share local advice, explain weather conditions and help guests find fishing that suits their experience and equipment.

An autumn holiday can therefore be quieter and more individual. You can enjoy the day at sea, come back to a warm house, cook a good meal from the day’s catch and maybe see the northern lights while sitting in the jacuzzi. At the same time, the season demands respect.

A question I often get is whether you have to go far out to sea to find fish in autumn.

The answer is often no. Places that were safe in the summer can seem almost empty in autumn, while the fish instead gather closer to land. They are not necessarily on the usual plateaus or shallow grounds, because they primarily follow the food. Predatory fish can hide in deep holes, or edges to the deepwater hunt in the currents or push the small fish all the way to the shore. That is why it is more important to read nature than to stick to old positions. Look for birds, currents, tidal divides, temperature differences and activity on the echo sounder. Start in a protected strait or a fjord arm and work systematically through different depths. Sometimes the best fishing of the autumn is just a few minutes from the camp.

A simple piece of advice is to plan flexibly.

Have both light and heavy rods ready, bring jigs, jigs and natural bait, and adapt your technique to what you see. In shallow water, light equipment can provide fantastic experiences, while deep channels require more weight and better control. Follow the tide, because many places come to life when the current starts to flow. If there is little activity, a shift of a few hundred meters or a few meters of depth can be enough.

When current, light and food availability fall into place at the same time, the fishing can change in a matter of minutes. A quiet fjord can suddenly be teeming with small fish, and an area that seemed empty can be filled with coalfish, cod or halibut. These are moments that you remember long after your holiday is over.

For me, autumn is therefore one of the most complete periods for sea fishing in Norway. It offers good opportunities for more species, less crowds, exciting weather and a nature that shows itself from a completely different side than in summer. It requires a little more planning, better clothing and greater respect for the conditions, but the reward can be great: strong fish, beautiful experiences and the feeling of having the coast almost to yourself. If you have never tried a fishing trip in September, October or November, it may be time to give autumn a chance.

You may discover that the real high season begins just when most others angler have gone home.

tight lines