Sea Fishing on the Atlantic Road: Bridges, Seasons, Species and Rules
For most visitors the Atlantic Road (Atlanterhavsveien) is a drive and a photograph. For anyone with a rod in the boot, it is also one of the easiest places in Norway to fish the open sea: the road was built with two purpose-built fishing bridges so that anglers can cast into the tidal current safely, well clear of traffic. You do not need a licence, you rarely need to walk far, and on a calm day you may be sharing the water with seals and the odd whale.
This guide covers where to stand, what you can catch and when, exactly what gear to bring (nothing is rented at the bridges), the current rules and export quota, the guided trips and boat-hire base nearby, and where to eat what you land.
📝 Do I need a fishing licence for the Atlantic Road?
No. Sea fishing in Norway — whether from the shore or from a boat on the open sea — is free and requires no licence or permit, including for visitors. The rules that do apply are simple: use handheld tackle only, respect minimum sizes and protected species, and never sell your catch. Anyone planning to take fish home should also read the export quota below.
🎣 Where to Fish: the Myrbærholmen Fishing Bridges
The two fishing bridges stand on Myrbærholmen, at the eastern end of the Atlantic Road. They were opened in 2010 and were designed specifically so that anglers could fish the strong tidal current without standing on the carriageway. They were designed by the architects Beate Hølmebakk and Per Tamsen (Manthey Kula) and paid for by the area's municipalities together with the Norwegian Public Roads Administration. The National Tourist Routes describes the water around them as holding cod, pollock, mackerel and coalfish.
| Feature | Detail |
|---|---|
| Bridges | Two purpose-built fishing bridges on Myrbærholmen, on the Atlantic Road |
| Opened | 2010 |
| Lengths | Approximately 80 m and 100 m |
| How each one ends | One ends in a circular bench platform; the other in steps down to the rocks |
| Designed by | Beate Hølmebakk & Per Tamsen (Manthey Kula) |
| Funded by | The area's municipalities and the Norwegian Public Roads Administration |
| Gear for hire | None — there is no tackle rental at the bridges, so bring everything you need |
Because the bridges exist to keep anglers off the roadway, they are the safest place to fish from the road itself. If you prefer to fish from the shore or the rocks, remember the sea here is the same water that makes the road itself dramatic — see our sights guide for the surrounding coastline.
🐟 What You Can Catch — and When
This stretch of the Møre og Romsdal coast is a mixed cold-water fishery. The species most often reported around the Atlantic Road are cod, coalfish (also called saithe or pollock), mackerel and trout, with seals and even whales possible on calm days. National guidance for sea fishing in Norway lists the following general patterns for this coast; exact runs vary year to year with water temperature and weather, so treat the seasons as a guide rather than a promise.
| Species | Norwegian name | When it is generally present |
|---|---|---|
| Cod | Torsk | Present year-round; a staple of the tidal current at Myrbærholmen |
| Coalfish / saithe / pollock | Sei | Present most of the year; a reliable catch from the bridges and from boats |
| Mackerel | Makrell | A summer species — most likely from late spring into autumn when the shoals move in |
| Haddock | Hyse | Found along the Western Norway coast, more a boat catch than a bridge catch |
| Halibut | Kveite | Late May into June is the window most often mentioned; a boat-trip fish |
Because seasons shift, the practical advice is to ask locally on the day — the guided-trip operators below run through spring, summer, autumn and winter and know what is currently showing.
🎒 What to Bring
This is the one thing that catches visitors out: there is no fishing-gear rental at the Myrbærholmen bridges. If you want to fish from the road, you must arrive with your own equipment. A compact, travel-friendly kit is enough:
- A rod and reel suited to light sea fishing — a spinning rod is the usual choice for the bridges.
- Handheld tackle only. This is a legal requirement, not just good manners: no long-lines or fixed nets. Hand lines are permitted.
- Lures, weights and spare traces — mackerel feathers and metal lures work well in the current; bottom rigs suit cod and coalfish.
- Warm, windproof clothing. The whole point of the Atlantic Road is the exposed coastal weather; even a summer evening on the bridge can be cold and breezy.
- A landing net and a cloth or gloves for handling fish — handy both for your catch and for releasing undersized fish carefully.
- A measure and, if you plan to take fish home, a way to document them (see the quota section below).
If you would rather travel light and have the gear supplied, book a guided trip instead — the operators provide rods and tackle.
🚤 Guided Fishing Trips and Boat Hire
If you want to fish deeper water, chase halibut, or simply have someone else find the marks, a guided boat trip is the straightforward option. The best-established operator on the road is Strømsholmen Sea Sports Center, which has been running trips here since 1981.
| Operator | Trip | Duration & departure | Typical catch | Group size | Booking |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Strømsholmen Sea Sports Center | Deep-sea and fjord fishing, on the Atlantic Road | 3 hours — departs 12:00, returns 15:00 | Cod, saithe (coalfish), halibut | Minimum 4 adults, maximum 12 | Phone +47 71 29 81 74 |
The Strømsholmen trip includes rods, life jackets and flotation suits, and runs across spring, summer, autumn and winter (operator's own listing). Prices are on request — the operator does not publish them, so confirm the current-season rate, departure and availability by phone when you book. This is the same operator that our sights page lists among the region's maritime activities.
If you would rather hire a boat and go it alone, Bud Camping is the established boat-hire base for this stretch of coast. Bud lies about 20 km from the Atlantic Road and 40 km from Molde; the site rents boats and cottages, and its guest season runs mainly April to September. On a rough day the sheltered fjord is the calm-water fallback when the open sea off the bridges is too exposed.
⚖️ Rules, Minimum Sizes and the Export Quota
Norway's sea fishery is lightly regulated for recreational anglers, but a few rules are enforced and worth knowing before you cast.
⚠️ Taking fish home: the export quota
If you want to take fish or fish products out of Norway, the quota is 15 kg per person, and it can be taken at most twice per calendar year. It applies only to tourists aged 12 and over who have fished through a registered fishing camp, and it must be supported by individual documentation. The quota drops to 10 kg from 1 January 2027. Trophy fish may not be taken on top of the quota, and freshwater species are excluded from it.
- No licence or permit is needed for sea fishing (deep sea or shore) — but only handheld tackle may be used, and you must not sell your catch.
- Minimum sizes apply to everyone. Undersized fish must be released carefully back into the sea.
- Protected species must be released and not kept. The list includes spiny dogfish, basking shark, porbeagle, blue ling, lobster, bluefin tuna and eel, among others.
- Keep more than 100 m from fish farms when fishing.
- In boats, a life jacket is mandatory in boats under 8 m, and a boating licence is required for boats of 8–15 m or over 25 hp if you were born in 1980 or later.
Full details and the current figures are published by the Norwegian Directorate of Fisheries in English (fiskeridir.no, "Sea angling in Norway"). Check the export-quota page before you plan to fly home with fish — the reduction from 15 kg to 10 kg from 1 January 2027 is the change most visitors will want to note.
🌊 Safety: Wind, Tidal Current and Life Jackets
Fishing here means fishing an exposed coast. The tidal current that makes the bridges productive is also powerful, and the weather can change quickly.
💡 Before you set off
- Check the road first. The Atlantic Road can be closed in storms. Live traffic information is at vegvesen.no/trafikk, or by phone on 175.
- Mind the current and the swell at the bridge ends and the rock steps — never turn your back on the sea, and keep children well back from the edges.
- Wear a life jacket on any boat. It is mandatory in boats under 8 m (see the licence rule above for larger boats).
- In an emergency, call 112.
Our dedicated Atlantic Road safety guide covers the road's own weather and driving hazards in more detail if you are combining fishing with the drive.
🍽️ Where to Eat Your Catch
Fresh cod and coalfish are superb straight from the water, and the Atlantic Road region is built on that heritage — klippfisk (dried cod) and bacalao are the local specialities. If you would rather someone else did the cooking, the region's seafood restaurants are close by. Our Atlantic Road restaurants guide covers everything from the klippfisk specialists of Kristiansund — including the much-praised Smia Fish Restaurant — to options in Molde, while the food-tourism guide explains the klippfisk and bacalao tradition from the drying racks to the plate. On Averøy, our island guide lists harbour-side dining and fishing-charter options.
❓ Frequently Asked Questions
Can I fish from the Atlantic Road itself?
Yes — that is exactly what the two Myrbærholmen fishing bridges are for. They let you fish the tidal current safely and clear of the traffic. Fishing from the carriageway or its edges is not safe and not the point of the design.
Do I need a licence to fish in Norway?
No. Sea fishing from the shore or from a boat on the open sea is free and needs no licence or permit, including for visitors. Freshwater fishing is different and does require a local permit.
Can I rent a rod at the bridges?
No. There is no tackle rental at the Myrbærholmen bridges — bring your own gear, or book a guided trip where rods are included.
What is the best time of year to fish the Atlantic Road?
There is no single best month: cod and coalfish are present most of the year, mackerel arrive with the warmer water in summer, and halibut are usually mentioned for late May into June. Guided operators run all year. The main constraint is the weather and, in winter, the road itself.
How much fish can I take home?
For tourists 12 and over who have fished through a registered fishing camp, the export quota is 15 kg per person, up to twice per calendar year, dropping to 10 kg from 1 January 2027, with individual documentation required. Trophy fish do not count on top of the quota, and freshwater species are excluded.
Do I need my own boat to catch halibut?
Realistically, yes — halibut is a deeper-water, boat-trip fish. The Strømsholmen guided trip lists halibut among its catch, and Bud Camping hires boats for those who prefer to go independently.
Fishing from the Atlantic Road is one of the few things here you can do entirely on your own, with no booking and no fee — bring a rod, watch the weather, and the current at Myrbærholmen does the rest.