Char Fishing in Greenland

Photo by: Bigstockphoto
Photo by: Bigstockphoto

Greenland is the world’s largest Non-continental Island. It is also the world’s least populated. Greenland sits between the North Atlantic and the Arctic oceans. Thanks to its remoteness, Greenland boasts of unspoiled natural landscapes and untamed wilderness.  Because the climate is extremely cold and icy, tourism is relatively young in the region. As far as tourism goes, kayaking and salmon fishing are the two most popular activities in the region. And in today’s post, we are sharing information about salmon fishing in Greenland.

Why Salmon Fishing?

June triggers the migration of salmon up in the rivers of Greenland by the thousands to reproduce! Anglers from all over the world come to Greenland to witness this annual event and hook a salmon (or ten) while at it. During the fishing season, the climate is surprisingly clear but cold. In addition, the river water is so clear that you can see the massive salmon swimming underneath!

The salmon-fishing season in Greenland is intense but short. Any angler worth his salt goes to Greenland just to score the biggest arctic char. The arctic char is a sizable salmon with a red belly and powerful body. A single char is big enough to drag an angler around! A fully-grown char is about 7 to 10 pounds. Apart from char fishing, you can also opt for fly-fishing or spinner fishing in these rivers.

Where to Go Fishing in Greenland

The West

Dozens of rivers all over Greenland are teeming with arctic char. In the west, rivers in the towns of Sisimiut, Maniitsoq and Kangerlussuaq feature several rivers with a concentrated number of Atlantic salmon.

Do note that some of the rivers in the west are not accessible by foot because of the harsh weather and slippery terrain. These fishing spots are only accessible by boat or helicopter. But for a true blue angler, getting access to any of these char spots is worth the extra effort! In addition, there are dozens of operators with extensive knowledge of fishing spots in the region that are more than happy to provide transportation to eager anglers.

You can travel straight to the river, set up camp and even meet several anglers who are just as passionate about char fishing as you are.

The South

The south of Greenland is fairly populated and offer lots of fishing spots too. A great place to start salmon or fly-fishing is the rivers of Tunulliarfik, also known as Erics fiord. Here, the climate is ideal for fishing from mid-July to September!

The Ilua River in the Ipiutaq valley is also a popular char spot and is ideal for spinner fishing and fly-fishing. The clear waters of the Ilua River flow directly from the ice cap. It is the first river in Greenland to be included in a fishing concession from the government. Because Ilua River is accessible, you can hire a day tour that will take you to the river for char fishing.

Apart from its rich waters, Ilua River is also one of the most scenic in Greenland! You do bits of sight-seeing before or after fishing.