Elitist Sport Vegetarians need not necessarily navigate away if you have per chance landed on this page. Angling is an eco-tourism endeavor, which means you wait and wait and wait for the fish; once caught, get a proud close-up snap clicked with it, record its weight, measure its length and kiss it goodbye (not mandatory), as you release it into the waters again. No party harmed. Often called an elitist sport, Angling and Fishing is an Indian favorite, and professional anglers from across the world rate India one of their best. More so, because of the Fisheries mushrooming with special hatcheries that breed local and exotic fish for re-stocking the rivers.

Major rivers like the Ganga and its tributaries, the Yamuna, the Brahmaputra, the Mahanadi, the Krishna and the Kaveri refuge a wide spectrum of fish that includes famous names like mahseer, rohu, katli and trout. The coastal waters of peninsular India are home to the finest of marine sportfish such as mackerel, marlin and sea bass. The most popular angling breed is the mahseer or the ‘tiger fish’.


Angling zones in India North India: Kashmir is the undisputed paradise for the angler. Mahseers, as large as 220 kg are recorded here. The mahseer craze, at times overshadows the other breeds here like trout, rohu, katla, alwan, chhiruh, kalbose, murrel and catfish. Corbett National Park at the Himalayan foothills, is veined with river ways like - Ramganga (with its mahseer fish, mugger crocodiles, turtles, kingfishers, fish-eagles), Kosi (with its mahseer, migratory avain visitors, gorals grazing on the cliffs on its bank), Mandal and Palain (with their mahseer population) and so on. Jim Corbett has quoted a very interesting mahseer fishing account in his ‘Man eaters of Kumoan’. In case, you haven’t read it yet, you can carry the book along and read it during the trip. The Ganga is replete with mahseer. Combine your angling with a white-water rafting at Rishikesh.

Himachal Pradesh with its complimenting sylvan hill-stations is coming up as a veritable angler zone. The Larji Valley in the Kullu Manali area and the Tirthan Valley are networked with trout rich waterways.


North East India: The mighty Bharmaputra - that arises at India’s easternmost border with China and meets the sea at the Sunderbans in West Bengal - weaves the entire North-East with plush waterways. Its perpetual local fish-stock, like the katli (or bokar) and the jhungha and the Mahseer, draw anglers from across the globe. Arunachal Pradesh’s Tezu, Bhalukpong, Pasighat and Assam’s Manas river, where mahseer hunting can be blended with tiger-trekking - are a fad with anglers.

Down South: Peninsular India’s Mahanadi, Kaveri, Krishna and Godavari with their high-backed mahseer, the purree, the khudchee and the white carp - are open to angling activities except for the monsoons. The Nilgiri biosphere too is a famous angler haunt. Trout fishing is done in the Peermund stream, Kalkundi stream, Portimund stream, Mekod river, the Chembar stream and the Mukurthi Lake. Kerala Elephant lake has good trouts. Don’t miss out the elephant safari after you are done with angling. Karnataka’s Kaveri river gets a huge tourist influx because of its treasure of mahseer.

The 3000 km Coastline: India’s long coastline netting places like Mumbai, Kandla, Nhava Sheva, Marmagao, Kochi, Kolkatta/Haldia, Paradip, Vishakhapatnam, Chennai and Tuticorin - is popular and populous fishing track with species like snapper, perch, sea bass, shark, jacks, mackerel, marlin, tuna, tripletail, sailfish and snook.


Angling Info Best time to go: During winters, fishing in the Himalayan rivers are a strict ‘No-No’. Monsoon is the breeding season, so the best option is to come between October to November and mid-February to mid-May.

Permits: Angling licenses are a must. They are obtained from the respective zonal Angling offices. We can arrange them for you.

Essentials: Except for the fish bring whatever you want, right from your Dan Brown novel to your waterproof boots. The angling kit (rods, lines, hooks etc.) can be arranged from the zonal offices, clubs and of course by us. If, not Dan Brown, some exciting novel is a must, for when it comes to this sport, you need phenomenal patience.


‘Its raining fish’ in India and with so many options, you must be befuddled where to head. Our trip-advisors will feel godsent in that case! Send us a quick query!