Turkey is primarily known for its all-inclusive vacations, an abundance of alcohol, ancient ruins, and laid-back beach relaxation. However, there are excursions that cannot be strictly classified as either active or lazy – for example, fishing in Kemer or Antalya (there isn’t much difference here since the cities are not very far apart and tourists travel from both Kemer and Antalya to the same locations). So, Turkey and fishing… Let’s dive in!
General Information
In a country where most of the coastline is enjoyed by those who prefer relaxation, fishing is hardly pursued. Especially since sea fishing has long been considered one of the primary means of obtaining food in Kemer. Tourists are offered two types of fishing:
- Sea fishing in Antalya (Kemer).
- Fishing for freshwater species.
Enthusiasts also include shore fishing in their repertoire, but such options are not available in the portfolio of local tour agencies, so we will only touch on it briefly without going into too much detail.
Freshwater Fishing
When you arrive in Turkey, particularly in Kemer, you’ll notice that the excursions offered aren’t exactly enticing – if you look closely, they’re essentially all the same, differing only in price (in 2025, the price was $2 higher, and in 2019 it was $3 more expensive). The same goes for fishing; below we will explain how and where to purchase an excursion.
Thus, freshwater fishing usually involves trout fishing in the areas around Kemer. You may also find lake fishing, but that isn’t as popular compared to the aforementioned option.
Trout fishing, by Turkish standards, takes place in a genuine mountain river in the Ulupinar gorge (located near Mount Tahtalı). The excursion is quite simple, but it serves as a refreshing change from the typical lazy beach vacation and can provide plenty of excitement when approached correctly (more on that below).
The excursion is planned as a full-day trip and includes a paid lunch. Nevertheless, we recommend bringing some cash in the local currency. And if you’re not very strong in resisting those souvenir temptations – which often cost several times more than their actual price – it’s wise to bring extra money.
At the appointed time, tourists are picked up from their hotels by a transfer service and taken to the fishing spot. Upon arrival, there is a brief orientation, the distribution of bait and tackle, and then the fishing begins. Here’s the first trick – the lengthy briefing. We’re not sure why, but several vacationers we spoke with who had been on this excursion noted that the fish stop biting after 10 a.m. (by the way, you’re brought to the spot before 10 a.m. and receive an overly long briefing, so you find yourself by the water with a fishing rod around 9:50–9:55). We don’t know if there’s truly a secret or if it’s simply a characteristic of trout (as the Turks claim), but the fact remains.
The second trick is the bait. In our opinion, this is the most crucial tip, and it appears that the organizers provide bait that has been soaked in a solution which does not attract the fish. Otherwise, how else can one explain the trout’s seemingly numb behavior, as they swim around the bait in schools without any reaction?
If you want to get under the guide’s skin a bit, bring your own bait. That’s when things really heat up! We assure you, you’ll enjoy the fishing – though the organizers might not (but that’s not guaranteed)!
After a while, a specially assigned photographer appears on site with a large bucket of freshly caught trout and invites everyone to take a photo with “The Catch.” Naturally, you get your picture taken with his camera – because he will soon reappear, but in a slightly different role.
So, after the photos are taken and the fish is caught (or not, in reality), it’s time to relax. Tourists settle at tables (some having reserved their spots in advance) and lunch is served. By the way, lunch starts being prepared as soon as the group begins fishing. Usually, drinks are also included in the price, but it’s best to confirm in advance to avoid any surprises later.
The fish you manage to catch will be taken away and grilled for you. But even if you don’t catch anything, you won’t leave hungry – after all, the photographer always seems to have a fish on hand, so don’t forget that.
After everyone has had their fill from the hearty lunch (and some from the alcohol), the photographer returns – this time not alone, but with assistants – and offers to sell the prepared photos, magnets, and souvenirs. You can bargain over everything; it’s Turkey, after all. Whether you want any of this is up to you, but our opinion is that only the photos deserve your attention, and that too only if you didn’t manage to catch anything yourself.
In the end, everyone is loaded back onto a bus and returned to their hotels. The price varies depending on where you purchase the excursion and the season. The excursion outlined below is recommended by “Reasonable Tourism”!
Sea Fishing
If freshwater isn’t your cup of tea and you simply can’t live without the sea, you can book a sea fishing trip on a boat (yacht). As we mentioned earlier, sea fishing in Antalya and Kemer is essentially the same – except that in one case the vessel might have a pirate theme, while in the other it is a typical sightseeing yacht.
Sea fishing is a somewhat different type of leisure activity that not only includes sitting with a fishing rod by the boat’s side but, depending on the excursion program, also features swimming in the open sea, active recreation on the yacht, and everything else that goes with it.
The sea is home to an enormous variety of fish, but that doesn’t mean that every spot guarantees a good bite. You need to know the right locations. The Turks are well aware of these spots, so there’s no need to worry about the catch – the excursion group is taken to areas where schools of fish are present. The yacht’s owner uses special equipment to locate and detect fish, and the tourist only experiences the final stage, being brought to the “fishing spot.”
Fishing is carried out using a standard spinning rod or a short fishing rod with a fixed line. On board, video is continuously recorded and photos are taken. The idea is the same as with fishing in a lake or mountain river – the recorded material is later sold.
Can you catch a shark or something larger? Theoretically yes, but that would require much more serious bait – not the kind provided to tourists. In the sea, you can catch almost anything, not only fish – squids, octopuses, etc.
The bite usually lasts for 5–7 minutes after the vessel is set for fishing, and then the school of fish moves on. All the fish you catch are immediately prepared for you. What could be more delicious than enjoying your own catch grilled without ever going ashore?
You can also bring your children. If they find a mountain river boring, they should enjoy the sea fishing experience. Naturally, it is not advisable to take very young children, as it might test your nerves.
At the end, there is the standard sale of souvenirs and the pre-recorded video (or photos). If you have extra money, consider buying them for your family archive – but that’s entirely a matter of personal taste.
Shore Fishing
If you’d rather not travel far, you can organize fishing on your own from the shore. The catch you land on your own will, of course, be different from what is guaranteed on an official excursion, but it’s perfectly suitable for fun.
The main rule is to go fishing as early as possible before the area fills with other vacationers and the fish are scared away. We haven’t tried it ourselves, but according to reviews, you can catch something near the shore – albeit only a little.
Pieces of squid, shrimp, or even just some bread work well as bait – after all, you’re not planning to fish on an industrial scale, right?
The Mediterranean fishing world is vast and you might encounter venomous species that at first glance seem harmless. For example, the pipefish – an unassuming little fish with plate-like teeth – can easily injure your finger when you try to remove the hook. It is advisable to do so using special tools. Moreover, the slime it secretes contains toxins which, if they come into contact with a cut, can lead to poisoning.
Of course, this is mostly for scare tactics; but as the saying goes – forewarned is forearmed.
Where to Buy an Excursion
A few words about purchasing excursions. There are three options for buying a fishing trip:
- Hotel guide
- Street tour
- Online purchase
Purchasing a tour from a hotel guide is, by default, the safest option (according to the guides themselves), but it is also the most expensive. The reason is that the price of an excursion does not depend on the tourist’s insurance or the safety class of the tour bus that will take you on the trip, but on the audacity of the guide. Yes, that’s right – it all comes down to that. The process is simple: the guide goes to a local agency (the very one you are advised not to visit), buys a spot for 1–2–3 people (depending on the number of interested individuals), and resells it to you with his markup. Essentially, you are paying for the convenience of not having to find a tourist bureau on your own.
Naturally, this procedure doesn’t happen daily; different tour operators have varying terms of cooperation and all agreements are made in advance. But the fact remains: you are buying from the same place where the same package could cost 2 or even 3 times less if purchased independently.
A street tour, as you might have gathered, is not as dangerous as it is portrayed in the hotel. Just think about it – a modern country, a civilized society; what sensible official would allow unlicensed individuals to sell excursions to random people? None, considering that tourism is a major revenue source for the Turkish budget.
And the simplest option of all is to purchase an excursion program online through the website of a particular company. There are practically no markups; you pay only for the service and spare yourself the hassle of wandering around the city looking for a cheaper deal.
So, fishing in Kemer as well as in Antalya can compete with some of the excursion programs offered in these cities. However, if fishing is as out of place as a mountain deer in the sea, we recommend choosing another leisure activity – for instance, a trip to Mount Tahtalı!
