Recreational fishing is done using hooks without barbs, anglers may only take the fish they can eat on the trip, and all living catches must be released again.
When the arctic char arrive in the fiords of Greenland in June, the anglers have long since planned their trip, prepared fly rods and packed their fishing gear. We know that because they knock impatiently on the door in July, ready to go, as soon as the fish migrate up the rivers in large numbers to reproduce.
Soon begins a short, intense season, when the char, desperate to escape the fish hook, turns and twist its body in a powerful torque, and drags the angler around in a duel that challenges both parties, quite reminiscent of the struggle that the Atlantic salmon can dish up.
Soon begins a short, intense season, when the char, desperate to escape the fish hook, turns and twist its body in a powerful torque, and drags the angler around in a duel that challenges both parties
RIVERS WITH ARCTIC CHAR IN WESTERN GREENLAND
In West Greenland fishing is concentrated, in particular, around the towns of Sisimiut, Maniitsoq and Kangerlussuaq, where there are two dozen rivers with strong angler profiles along the west coast.
Fishing destinations are wilderness experiences that can only be reached by boat or helicopter, and every river usually has no more than six to twelve fishermen at a time – so this small group of ‘geeks’ gets access to exclusive char experiences that you would have to search far and wide for in northern Europe and the U.S.
Local operators with extensive knowledge of the countryside and fishing provide camps and transportation in cooperation with professional fishing guides. Fly fishing and spin fishing are both available in July and August.