Fishing at Troll Havn: Your Questions Answered

Practically on your doorstep. Troll Havn sits on the shore of Rystraumen at Brokskarvegen 267 in Vikran, across the water from Tromsø. The halibut grounds begin about 100 metres from the camp. Most other spots lie 5 to 25 minutes away by boat. In short, you spend your day fishing, not commuting.

On day one we point out the best spots and walk you through how to drive the boat and use the fish finder.

Of course. Children adore the whole adventure, from the boat ride to that first sharp tug on the line. Everyone on board wears a life jacket or flotation suit. We lend life jackets free of charge, and there are children’s sizes too. There is no minimum age: it depends on how calmly your child sits in the boat. Family fishing is exactly what this place does well.

Yes. Vikran is well sheltered from the wind, better than many camps along the coast. That is why we head out all year. There is only one catch: during the polar night, from late November to mid January, daylight limits fishing to 3 to 4 hours around midday.

Russian, Norwegian and English. Ask in whichever language suits you best.

Cod bites all year. Everything else keeps its own calendar.

Big enough to make your arms ache for days. Our heaviest landed halibut weighed 90 kg. Guests have hooked even larger ones, over two metres long and around 100 kg. Under Norwegian law, such giants go straight back into the sea.

Halibut arrive in March and stay in the area until the end of October. Because their grounds begin right by the camp, you do not need to burn half your fuel getting there.

Always. Before your first trip we show you the most productive spots, so you will not waste a morning looking for them.

Two sturdy, seaworthy boats built for sea fishing.

Both handle the water well. The Sting is light, roomy and very stable. The aluminium Kaasbøll is a touch longer and a little quicker. Either one is comfortable for four anglers.

Probably. Both engines are more powerful than 25 hp. Under Norwegian rules, anyone born on or after 1 January 1980 needs a boating licence (båtførerbevis) to drive them. Norway also accepts foreign licences, such as the ICC, so bring yours along. Born before 1980? Then you do not need a licence. Still, whoever takes the helm should understand safety on the water. Only the person who signed the rental agreement may drive, so the agreement goes in the name of the licence holder.

Everyone on board must wear a life jacket or a flotation suit. We lend life jackets free of charge. Before your first trip you get a full technical and safety briefing. We strongly recommend the flotation suit, though: the sea up here stays cold even in July, and a suit keeps you warm as well as afloat.

No. Each boat leaves the jetty clean, with two fuel tanks on board. You pay for the fuel by the litre. The price per litre follows current market fuel prices. How much you use depends on how far you go. The fishing spots are close, and most groups use 100 to 200 litres over their whole stay.

Return it clean and you pay nothing extra. Otherwise, a final boat cleaning costs 600 NOK.

The boat is yours for the whole stay, so add it as soon as you book your apartment. The fishing fee covers catch registration and GPS tracking of the boat for the whole stay.

Bring a photo ID and, if you need one, your boating licence. You sign a short rental agreement and leave a deposit of 300 euro. Before handing over the keys, we photograph the boat and engine with you, so nobody argues later about a scratch that was already there.

Only the person who signed the rental agreement. So if someone in your group holds a licence, put the agreement in their name.

Short and sensible:

• No alcohol or drugs at the helm. Zero means zero.
• Everyone stays seated while the boat is moving.
• Keep the GPS switched on at all times.
• Do not tow or push other boats or objects without our written permission.
• Land only at our own jetty, not on other shores along the way.
• Drive with care and give other boats plenty of room.

Boats stay in when the wind goes above 10 metres per second. If the forecast looks bad, we may cancel a trip. Arctic weather changes fast, and no fish is worth that risk.

Tell us your route and roughly when you will be back. If you are late, we will know where to look.

Yes. In summer you can fish under the midnight sun, and we are always reachable by phone.

During the rental, you are responsible for damage to the boat, engine and equipment. That covers collisions, careless use, fire, flooding, vandalism and theft. The one exception is damage caused by a fault in the boat or engine itself. Your share of the cost is capped at a fixed amount:

One more warning. If you break the rules above, the insurance does not cover the damage.

Yes, so leave the rod tubes at home. You can hire everything you need from us. A rod comes with a reel. Lures and pilkers are not part of the rental, but you can buy them on site.

It depends on the spot: the fishing is not only in Rystraumen itself. In some places a jig head works better, in others a pilker. Bring pilkers of 300 grams and up.

Yes. We sell pilkers of different weights and other consumables.

Bring layers that you can adjust to the weather, and something waterproof. You can hire a flotation suit from us.

It happens to everyone. The seabed around here has quietly collected a fortune in jigs. Lost or broken rental gear is charged as follows:

No. Sea fishing with a rod or handline is free for tourists in Norway. However, you may only use handheld gear. Nets, pots, traps and longlines are all off limits. Selling your catch is not allowed either.

Yes. Any fish below the minimum size goes back into the water straight away. Halibut over two metres must always be released, whatever the gear or season. You also need to keep at least 100 metres away from fish farms. We run through the current limits during your safety briefing.

Registered fishing camps report their guests’ catches every day. This covers cod, halibut, coalfish, redfish and wolffish, including any you release. All you need to do is tell us what you landed.

In 2026 each guest aged 12 or older may export up to 15 kg of fish or fish products. You can use that quota twice per calendar year. It applies only to fish caught through a registered fishing camp, and you will need an export document at the border. Trophy fish count towards the 15 kg, so that halibut fillet eats into your allowance. Every traveller has their own quota, so you cannot carry a friend’s share.

Yes. Troll Havn is a registered fishing camp, and we issue the export document in line with all the requirements.

In our fish house. You can prepare your fish at a dedicated spot outdoors or indoors, and store it in our freezers. There is also a vacuum sealer, but you need to bring your own bags for it.

Yes, if it lies in the freezer for at least a day.

Yes. From 1 January 2027 the export quota drops to 10 kg per person, still twice a year. Planning a trip next season? Keep that in mind when you pack your cool boxes.

In one of five apartments with their own kitchen. Four of them sleep four people each: two bedrooms, a living room and a bathroom. The Havl studio sleeps two. Every apartment opens onto a shared terrace looking over the sea towards Tromsø. Each of the four larger apartments has a private kitchen with a cooktop, fridge, microwave and dishwasher, so you can cook your cod the same evening. Note that the kitchens have no oven.

Check-in runs from 17:00, and your keys wait inside the apartment, so a late arrival is no problem, which is handy after an evening flight. Check-out is before 11:00. The minimum stay is two nights.

Yes. Pets are welcome, and the cleaning fee is 1 500 NOK per stay.

There is a laundry room with a washing machine, 300 NOK per wash. Wi-Fi and parking are free.

No. You can order breakfast separately at the Elf Café.

Plenty. From September to April, watch for northern lights from the terrace. Tromsø sits just across the water, with its museums, cafés and cable car. Divers will find good sites across the Troms region too.

We arrange transfers for groups of 1 to 16 people. If there are up to four of you, add the transfer when you book your stay. If your group is larger, contact us. Either way, we will meet you at Tromsø airport.

Keep us posted on WhatsApp at +47 451 03 752. Send us a message three times: the day before you fly, just before you board, and once you have landed. Our driver waits at the petrol station about 200 metres from the arrivals exit. When you tell us you have got your luggage, the driver pulls into the car park, usually about 45 minutes after landing.

Message us the moment anything holds you up: a delayed flight, a long queue at passport control, customs checks or a slow baggage belt. If we hear nothing, the driver leaves 1 hour 15 minutes after your scheduled arrival time, and a new transfer is then charged separately. One quick text saves you that cost.

Yes. Every transfer includes one shopping stop of up to 30 minutes. Need longer? Each extra 10 minutes costs 200 NOK.

Happily. Send us your list and we will have the groceries waiting.

The groceries themselves are paid in cash when you arrive. Our colleagues buy them with their own money, so cash keeps things simple. Prefer to pay by card? We can charge it through our company card, plus 10%.

Book your apartment online and add the boat, rods and meals right away. A group of up to four can add the airport transfer at the same time, and a larger group should contact us. You can book a stay online from 1 May to 30 September. From October to April, write to us at info@trollhavn.no or call +47 456 91 588, and we will arrange your trip.

Pay 100% when you book, or pay a 30% deposit if you book more than 4 months before arrival. You can pay the balance online by a link that arrives a month before arrival, or on site by card or cash. Confirmation and invoice arrive by e-mail.

If you cancel more than 4 months before arrival, we refund the deposit in full, minus bank transfer costs.