Fishing & Angling in Tuscany, Italy

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Fishing & Angling in Tuscany, Italy

Fishing (pesca sportiva) in Italy is practiced chiefly as a competitive and recreational activity. From information on the number of licences issued, there are around 2,000,000 anglers in Italy. About 30,000 are members of the Italian Fishing Federation (FIPSAS). The number of sea fishermen is estimated at 1,500,000.

Fishing Permits

Sea fishing is unlicensed although regulations such as respecting fishing periods and minimum size of the fish must be followed.

Freshwater fishing is not permitted without a licence:

• Category A permit allows professional fishing
• Category B permit allows recreational fishing

The city, the province, the state or any authority may decide to assign a specific area as a fishing reserve (riserva di pesca) in which case the fisherman must comply with specific rules and/or make a specific request to fish there.

It is considered illegal to fish without adhering to the protected areas, catch fish that do not meet the minimum size standards or fish during a forbidden period. A person found doing so may be liable for a fine or have their licence revoked.

A person fishing on a daily (short-term) basis should check the regulations with the local police or provincial council.

Note: a person caught lake or river fishing without a permit will be fined.

Applying for a permit in Tuscany

It is no longer necessary to apply for a fishing licence at the fishing and hunting department of the provincial administration office (Amministrazione Provinciale). New legislation allows individuals to make a payment at any post office to the Tuscany Administrative Office or Regione Toscana. On payment the name and date of birth of the licencee is recorded. The receipt of this payment and a valid form of identification constitutes the fishing permit. Permits are valid for 10 days or a year.

• For more information on the application process: Click here (in Italian)

Applicants must be over 18, although permits can be issued to 14 to 18 year olds as long as a licensed adult accompanies them at all times.

Further Information

• FIPSAS Federazione Italiana Pesca e Attività Subacquee (Italian Fishing Federation)
  At: Viale Tiziano 70, 00196 Rome
  Tel: 06 368 58260
  Fax: 06 368 58109
  e-mail 
  Website (in Italian)
• FIPSAS Regione Toscana
  At: Via L. Gordigiani 14, 50127 Florence (FI)
  Tel: 055 354 768
  Fax: 055 363 705
  e-mail
  Website (in Italian)
• L'Ora della Pesca (in Italian)
• Blufishing.com (in Italian)
• Hobby Pesca (in Italian with English auto-translate)
• Pescarenet (in Italian)
• Pescare Online (in Italian)
• Fishing in Italy (in Italian)
• Salmo Club Siena (in Italian)