In the heart of Copenhagen, Denmark, many anglers are starting to see the potential in fishing for saltwater species that swim into the canals of Copenhagen. Cod, seatrout, flatfish and even mackerels in the summer swims past the big opera house located at the edge of the water. One species that are always there is the cod. Due to the tide, there is always a fresh current going through the canals, which makes it one of the cleanest waterways in Europe located in a capital.

But it is not only Copenhagen that offers a great urban fishing scene. Hamburg, Amsterdam, Stockholm and even Paris is known for great street fishing opportunities.

Pedal to the metal
Copenhagen is known for being a bike city and the infrastructure is perfectly made for the iron horse. It is fast to get around town, cross the canals on bike bridges and through parks. You can park the bike pretty much anywhere and it is fast and easy to change location. 

Travel light

Most often you must search for the fish, just like in any other fishing situation. With a small bag, like the Boat & Bank Bag, with room for tackle, food and water, you are set for a good day or evening of fishing. Being next to the wild coastline or being in the inner city of capital, there is always a risk that the weather gods starts to show their teeth. A waterproof bag is therefore a good idea if you want to protect your gear. A shoulder strap bag or a backpack are the best options, when jumping from spot to spot.

Get down

The cod are mainly cruising close to the bottom, so it is all about getting down to the fish. Therefore, it is also best to fish with thin lines, so you will have a straight connection to the lures. Savage Gear 8D Silencer braid in 0,09 or 0,12mm is perfect for this type of fishing, since it is very round. This makes it very durable. Jigs and shads have a magical attracting power when it comes to cod fishing. The soft body of the softlure makes it an almost irresistible to the fish. The best lure to fish close to the weeds is the 3D TPE Minnow. This lure has a weedless hook, which make you get around the weeds often lying on the bottom. The Cannibal shad or curl tail are also good fished close to the bottom jigging or by linear retrieve. 

Into the dark

Cod are actively feeding 24/7, but during the late hours of the day, when the sun kisses the horizon, the cod starts gathering in the shallows. The canals of Copenhagen are not that deep, and the cod are abundant during the golden hour. This does not mean that you cannot fish during the day, but just before closing time and wrapping up, it can be very rewarding to take a few casts after the sunset.

One step ahead

Many harbours and canals have been made with big concrete walls to keep the water from flooding the city streets. This means that there are many places with 2-3 meter of distance between the surface and where you are standing. Most fish are small and can be lifted in the line, but fish exceeding the 2 kg mark will be much harder to lift. A long net is therefore the best option to land fish safely. The Savage Gear Full Frame Oval Landing Net is perfect for this type of fishing. It is easy to transport, since the handle slides into the frame and the full frame is very durable and can lift bigger fish.

Be prepared

Cod are mostly staying quite close to the bottom, but sometimes they can be hunting prey at the surface. This happens often, when many cod are close by. They break the surface like small tuna, to catch stickle backs, sandeels or small herring. Always have lures like the Line Thru Sandeel, Line Thru Stickle Blade or Seeker ISP in your box. This a fun fishing and amazing to experience, surrounded by an urban environment.

Downsize

One thing is to travel light, but another is to have fun while catching the fish. As in any other fishing situation there are always a chance to catch a good fish, but the fact of the matter is that most of the fish in the harbour of Copenhagen are smaller cod between 1-2 kg. A rod between 7-9 foot with a casting weight up to 15 or 20 grams makes the smaller fish much more fun to catch. XLNT3 rod is perfect for this. You can either get the travel version or the 2-piece version. Either will be fun to catch smaller fish on.

Fun with friends

This fishing is fun, social and easy to get to. Christian Wieneke and Eric Müller are here meeting for a few hours of fishing action and laughs. It can be done all year, so there is no excuse why you should not go and have some streetfishing fun.