North Cape Barents Sea fishing forecast
North Cape Barents Sea is a saltwater fishing spot in Finnmark, Norway. Anglers here target Atlantic Cod, Haddock, Greenland Halibut. The most productive months are typically March, April, May, June, July.
Today’s verdict
Ranks #142 of 409 spots FishRadar scored worldwide today
Trending up — 21 points above this spot’s 7-day average
Score confidence ±4 points, from 8 live signals
The statistical model disagrees with the physics model here today — treat this score with extra caution.
Current conditions
| Sea surface temp | 9.0 °C |
|---|---|
| Wind | 27 km/h from S |
| Wave height | 1.0 m at 8 s |
| Current | 0.32 m/s toward ESE |
| Pressure | 1015 hPa |
| Depth | 59 m |
| Cloud cover | 100% |
| Chlorophyll | 0.32 mg/m³ |
| Salinity | 34.5 PSU |
| Mixed-layer depth | 21 m |
| UV index | 0 |
| Wind sea | 0.5 m at 3 s |
| Ground swell | 0.8 m at 8 s from W |
| Current shear (surface vs 50 m) | 0.32 → 0.07 m/s |
The water here is 5.2 °C warmer than the October average of 3.8 °C. Warmer-than-normal water pushes cool-water species deeper and brings warm-water species in earlier than the calendar suggests. The water is mixed to about 65.0 m, so surface temperature carries well down the water column.
Updated 1 h ago.
What the score means at North Cape Barents Sea
North Cape Barents Sea currently scores 81 out of 100 (Good). Water temperature is 9.0 °C. 8 forecast signals are active in this score.
- Water temperature +25.0
- how close the water is to this species mix’s comfort band
- Chlorophyll +18.0
- plankton density — the base of the food chain
- Current +18.0
- moving water concentrates bait
- Waves +9.0
- swell energy stirring the water column
- Eddy energy +5.0
- mesoscale eddies trap nutrients and bait
- Wind +3.6
- surface chop, oxygen and bait drift
What’s biting now
The model expects today: greenland-halibut, atlantic-cod, haddock, polar-cod, atlantic-salmon, pollock, atlantic-herring, saithe
[object Object] — Protected here — release immediately
Bite windows
Best months for North Cape Barents Sea:
Score history at this spot
30 days tracked at this exact location
Best recent day: 2026-10-23, 81/100
2 day(s) at 70+ in the tracked period
+23 points vs the same day last week
About this spot
Open coastal saltwater — conditions and safety depend heavily on the live wind, wave, and tide forecast, so check them before you head out.
Approximate bottom depth: 59 m
Access & shore
Fishable from shore · offshore ground
What you can catch
-
Gadus morhua
-
Melanogrammus aeglefinus
-
Reinhardtius hippoglossoides
Best months by species at North Cape Barents Sea
| Atlantic CodGadus morhua | ||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| HaddockMelanogrammus aeglefinus | ||||||||||||
| Greenland HalibutReinhardtius hippoglossoides |
Typical months; local seasons and closures apply.
Local regulations
| Species | Bag limit | Min size | Open season |
|---|---|---|---|
| Atlantic CodHøstingsforskriften (FOR-2021-12-23-3910) kapittel 10 (minstemål); § 40a (torsk i Oslofjorden) | — | min 55 cm | May 1 – Dec 31; Jan 1 – Dec 31 |
| MINIMUM SIZE IS ZONE-DEPENDENT: north of 62°N it is 44 cm outside 4 nautical miles from the baselines and 55 cm inside 4 nm; south of 62°N it is 40 cm. FishRadar shows the strictest of the three (55 cm) because we cannot resolve which zone you are in. OSLOFJORD: cod fishing is banned all year, including while diving, in the whole sea area inside the baseline from Telemark to the Swedish border; bottom-set gillnets are banned there too. SPAWNING AREAS: inside 14 defined spawning areas from Lindesnes along the Skagerrak coast, in the Oslofjord and to the Swedish border, ALL fishing is banned 1 January – 30 April (spearfishing excepted, being fully selective). No daily count limit is published for recreational cod. Verify the zone on the Fiskeridirektoratet map before fishing. | |||
Licensing:
- saltwater-recreational — residents No licence required for recreational sea fishing with rod and line. Handheld tackle only for tourists; minimum sizes and closed areas apply., non-residents No licence required for sea fishing with rod and line. Only tourists aged 12 or older fishing through a REGISTERED fishing camp may export fish: 15 kg of fish or fish products, usable twice per calendar year (reduced to 10 kg from 1 January 2027). Trophy fish may not be exported on top of the quota.
- freshwater-recreational — residents Anadromous salmon, sea trout and sea char are managed by Miljødirektoratet, not Fiskeridirektoratet. A national fishing fee plus a local river card is required for river fishing; the county Statsforvalter and the municipality set local rules., non-residents Same as residents. Check the Statsforvalter for the county you intend to fish before travelling — rivers are closed and reopened at short notice.
Some rules may have changed since our last verification — always confirm with the authority before you fish.
FishRadar regulations are summaries for informational purposes only. Norwegian rules vary by fjord, river, and season, and several closures are drawn on maps rather than described in text. Always verify with Fiskeridirektoratet at fiskeridir.no before fishing.
Check North Cape Barents Sea before you go
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Nearby spots
Explore 10 more fishing spots within 1106 km of North Cape Barents Sea.
-
Alta River
Tromso Fjord
Andøya Canyon
Vesteralen Islands
Lofoten
Leknes Lofoten Inshore
Bodo Nordland
Namsen River Norway
Trondheim Fjord
Orkla River Norway
Frequently asked questions
What fish can you catch at North Cape Barents Sea?
Anglers at North Cape Barents Sea target Atlantic Cod, Haddock and Greenland Halibut.
When is the best time to fish North Cape Barents Sea?
The most productive months at North Cape Barents Sea are typically March, April, May, June, July.
What is the fishing forecast for North Cape Barents Sea right now?
North Cape Barents Sea currently scores 81 out of 100, based on live ocean and weather conditions — see the full breakdown on this page.
Is the thermocline set up at North Cape Barents Sea right now?
Not strongly right now — the water column is fairly mixed, so fish are less depth-locked.
How deep is the water at North Cape Barents Sea?
The scored point sits over roughly 59 m of water. Depth shapes which species hold here and how the thermocline forms.
Fishing guides for this spot
- How to Catch Haddock: The Groundfishing Staple of the North AtlanticHow to Catch Pacific Halibut: The Barn Door of the North PacificHow to Read Tides for Fishing
Forecasts, not guarantees — check local rules before you fish.