Commercial fish of the Barents Sea. Fishes and fisheries

114 species of fish belonging to 41 families are known for the Barents Sea. As you move east, within the Barents Sea, the species diversity of fish quickly decreases, and in the eastern part of the sea barely half of the indicated amount was found. IN in this case the main negative factor is a significant drop in temperature and mainly the harsh winter regime and floating ice.

Among all the fish of the Barents Sea, the following families are distinguished by the number of species: cod (12 species), flounder (11 species), eelpout (13 species), goby (10 species) and whitefish (7 species). Most families are represented by one or two species. Such single species are also important commercial targets - sea bass (Sebastes marinus) and herring (Clupea harengus).

A little more than 20 species can be classified as commercial fish of the Barents Sea, of which only about a dozen are of the most significant importance. In the first place in the fishery are cod (Gadus callarias), haddock (Gadus aeglefitius), sea bass and herring (Fig. 205).

Figure 205.

The importance of these fish in the fishery varies greatly from year to year (Table 50).

Table 50. Fluctuations in commercial fish production
YearsCodHaddockSea bassOthers
1923 74,0 22,0 0,6 3,4
1926 67,0 21,0 7,0 5,0
1930 47,5 20,7 24,2 7,6
1936 85,1 9,9 2,0 3,0
1938 56,7 37,0 3,5 2,8

Minor fisheries include several species of catfish (Anarrhichas), flounder (Pleuronectes platessa), ruffed flounder (Hippoglossoides platessoides), halibut (Hippoglossus hippoglossus), pollock (Gadus virens) and shark (Somniosus macrocephalus).

The discovery by N. Knipovich at the very beginning of this century of the possibility of large-scale development of the trawl fishery in the Barents Sea was not used for a long time in Tsarist Russia, and fishing on Murman was purely artisanal coastal in nature, longline fishing. Only attempts were made to organize a trawl fleet by private industrialists. IN Soviet time trawl fishing began to develop rapidly (Table 51).

In 1938, in the Barents Sea, the trawl fleet of the USSR, England and Germany produced about 6 million cwt. To this should be added at least 1 million quintals from coastal fishing.

Herring fishing in the Barents Sea is not yet regular, but in other years it provides our country with up to 1 million quintals.

There are also abundant fish in the Barents Sea that are very valuable from a nutritional point of view, which are still very little or not yet caught in the fishery, but represent very great opportunities in the future. These, by the way, include small pelagic fish: capelin (Mallotus villosus) and cod (Boreogadus saida), ruff flounder and some others (Fig. 206).

Figure 206.

This entire mass of commercial fish, estimated in millions of tons, requires significantly larger quantities of food organisms - plankton and benthos - for their nutrition. We defined total 200–240 million tons of each; In some part, this huge mass of organisms is used by commercial fish. The main fish species are distributed according to their diet mainly among different food groups of organisms - some feed on plankton (herring, sea bass), others on benthos (sea flounder, haddock), and others on fish (cod) and planktonic crustaceans.

Small mass pelagic fish are sometimes used by a wide variety of fish and other animals, as can be seen in the example of polar cod.

The main food of cod is small pelagic fish: herring, capelin, juvenile cod and haddock and arctic cod. Fish makes up at least 60% of cod's diet. In second place after fish are large planktonic crustaceans from amphipods, euphausiids and decapods. In the eastern part of the sea, a significant part of the diet consists of bottom animals - crab, hermit crab and various other larger representatives of amphipods, isopods and coumacea, and to a lesser extent worms and mollusks.

Haddock, in contrast to cod, feeds on benthos: mollusks, worms, crustaceans and echinoderms.

The main food of herring, as we indicated, is planktonic copepods.

It remains to say a few words about birds, since they are essential for marine organisms, mainly for planktonic crustaceans and small fish.

Large bird colonies are concentrated along the western coasts of Novaya Zemlya. The main form is the guillemot (Uria lomvia), the number of which on Novaya Zemlya is estimated at 4 million. The waters of the Barents Sea, teeming with life, provide abundant food for this entire mass of birds, which consume mainly capelin and cod from fish, and euphausiids from crustaceans.

BARENCEVO SEA

The sea is located within the continental shallows and is therefore relatively shallow. The average depth is 229 m, the maximum is 600 m. Depths over 400 m make up only 3% of the area, and shallow waters with depths up to 200 m make up 48%. The bottom has a very complex topography: hills and banks alternate with underwater valleys and depressions. The Barents Sea shelf is the widest in the world. It stretches from south to north for 700 miles.

The system of constant currents in the Barents Sea is influenced by many factors. The main ones are the constant influx of warm Atlantic waters, water exchange with neighboring seas and the complex bottom topography.

The heat content of the water masses of the Barents Sea is determined mainly by the influx of warm Atlantic waters, solar heating and heat loss in the autumn-winter period. It changes from year to year. This is due to pulsations of the North Cape Current and the degree of summer heating. When these processes weaken, the pressure of water masses from the north increases, which adversely affects the distribution and concentration of bottom fish in the shallow waters of the southern part of the Barents Sea.

Having many features of the Arctic seas, the Barents Sea is closely connected with the North Atlantic Ocean. The so-called Icelandic low and the Arctic high interact here. atmospheric pressure. The North Atlantic Current and its branches have a significant influence on the climate. This geographical position determined the complexity of the climate and hydrological regime of the Barents Sea.

The climate of the sea, in comparison with other Arctic seas, is characterized by mild winters, large amounts of precipitation and relatively high air temperatures in summer. In the coldest month of the year - February - the air temperature averages -25° in the north of the sea and -5° in the southwest. In August, the warmest month, the average air temperature is 0° in the north and +10° in the southwest.

In winter, northern winds with a force of 10–11 m/sec predominate; in summer, the direction of the winds is inconsistent, and their strength is approximately 2 times lower. In the Barents Sea there are frequent fogs, snow accumulations (even in June) and increased cloudiness.

Coastal waters are rich in various living organisms that serve as food for fish. There are significant thickets of green, red and especially brown algae, among which ascophyllum, a number of species of fucus and kelp stand out.

The ichthyofauna of the Barents Sea includes 114 species of fish: marine, migratory, and found only in desalinated areas of rivers. They are divided into Arctic, warm-water-Arctic and warm-water. Arctic species include: navaga, cod, blue and spotted catfish, black halibut; warm-water arctic - cod, haddock, striped catfish, halibut, flounder, ruffe, capelin; to warm-water ones - blue whiting, herring, pollock, flounder, ruffed fish, etc.

In terms of the number of species, the richest families are cod (19), flounder (9), salmon (7) and goby (12).

The Barents Sea is characterized by ebbs and flows, the height of which is 4 m. Thanks to them, there are strong currents in the narrow bays - lips. During high tide, whole schools of fish - cod, pollock, flounder, haddock and others - rush to the shore in search of food. This is the most favorable time for fishing with sports and amateur gear. Fishing at depths is not very accessible due to harsh conditions.

About some fish

Cod. Among the bottom fish of the Barents Sea, cod is the main view. It breeds off the northwestern coast of Norway and feeds in a wide area of ​​the southern part of the Barents Sea and the Medvezhinsko-Spitsbergen region.

The body of cod, like other cod, is more or less elongated, covered with small cycloid scales. Fins without spines, with segmented rays. The lateral line is white. The upper jaw protrudes strongly forward. The antennae on the chin are well developed. The color varies greatly from dark, ash-gray to greenish-gray and red with spots of dark, gray-brown, yellow and other colors.

The approach of cod to the spawning grounds usually begins in the second half of February and ends in early May. The largest and oldest cod appear on the spawning grounds first. The caviar is floating.

In the first years of life, cod makes only seasonal movements in feeding areas - coastal shallow waters. At the age of 3–4 years, cod gather in large schools, and at the age of 4–5 years they already move considerable distances.

In feeding areas and during migrations, cod stays not only near the bottom, but also in the water column.

In summer, cod lives on banks, adhering to a 200-meter isobath. In winter it usually slides to great depths.

In spring, large numbers of cod enter the southern Barents Sea from the west and move east as the water warms. Here, on the banks, it feeds intensively during the summer and, with the onset of winter cold, begins its return migrations to the west, to spawning grounds off the coast of Norway. Schools of immature cod remain in the Barents Sea for the winter. The paths of food migrations coincide mainly with the direction of currents. In spring and autumn, cod makes daily vertical migrations.

Cod grows quickly. The age limit for cod should be considered 22 years. Some cod may live longer. Thus, in July 1945, a cod was caught in the Barents Sea at the age of 24 years, 169 cm long, weighing 40 kg.

The basis of nutrition is capelin, polar cod, their own juveniles and juveniles of other fish, flounder, ruffed fish, lumpenus, gerbil and other fish. Important role Kapshak and shrimp play a major role in the diet.

Salmon. It breeds in the rivers of the Kola Peninsula, Karelia and the coast of the Arkhangelsk region, washed by the White and Barents seas. The female salmon digs nests in the pebbly soil of the river, lays eggs there, which are immediately fertilized by the males, and fills the nest with pebbles. After spawning, some of the spawned fish die, some overwinter in the river, and after the ice disintegrates and is carried out of the river, they roll into the sea. Some individuals, after feeding in the Barents, Norwegian and White Seas, return to their native rivers to spawn again.

After hatching from eggs and emerging from pebble nests, juvenile salmon grow and develop in the river for up to three or four years, after which they slide into the sea and go to feeding grounds located in the Barents and Norwegian Seas.

Salmon feeding at sea lasts from one to three or even more years. The size and weight of fish entering the rivers depends on the feeding time. After a year of feeding at sea, salmon (called tinda) weighs 2–2.5 kg, after two years - 3–3.6 kg. Fish that have fed in the sea for more than three years reach a weight of 9–12 kg, and some specimens even weigh 40 kg. But such giants are rare.

Sport fishing for salmon is allowed only on a few rivers flowing into the Barents and White Seas. These on the Kola Peninsula include the Titovka, Belousikha, Voronya, Kuzreka and Kanda rivers. Salmon fishing is carried out under licenses purchased for a fee from the Murmansk Regional Society of Hunters and Fishermen and from the Murman Fish Farm.

Brown trout. The closest relative of salmon is an equally interesting object of sport fishing. Its number in last years decreased noticeably. Brown trout have a residential lake form and a migratory form. At a certain age, the latter rolls into the sea and feeds there, like salmon, but unlike salmon, it does not go far and stays close to its native river. Resident lake trout reach a weight of 2 kg or more, while migratory trout gain even more weight.

There is no specialized sport marine fishery for trout, but it can be caught at the mouths of those rivers that are allocated for sport fishing for salmon under a license issued for salmon fishing.

Loach. In addition to salmon and brown trout, anadromous char, the most cold-loving form of salmon fish, can be an object of sport fishing in the Barents Sea basin. Char breeds in the rivers of the Kola Peninsula, the north of the Arkhangelsk region, Novaya Zemlya, flowing into the Barents and Kara seas, and fattens in the sea before coming to the rivers to spawn. Char reaches a weight of 2–3 kg. It is caught in the same way as salmon and brown trout, in the estuaries of rivers when moving from the sea to rivers for feeding.

From the book Sea Fishing Sports author Fetinov Nikolay Petrovich

BALTIC SEA The Baltic is the freshest of all the seas washing Soviet Union. To the north and northeast, the degree of salinity decreases, and in the Gulf of Riga, the Gulf of Finland and the Gulf of Bothnia it is only 2–3 ‰. Fresh water, brought to the Baltic Sea by many

From the book First Around the World author

BLACK SEA Our most popular sea is the Black Sea. The average depth is 1300 m, the maximum is 2258 m, and depths exceeding 2 km occupy 42% of the sea area. It is not surprising, therefore, that in most cases the depth near the coast increases quickly. Most shallow

From the book First Around the World [with illustrations] author Khojnovskaya-Liskevich Kristina

SEA OF AZOV Average depth - 8 m, maximum - 14 m. The seashores, as a rule, are shallow, slightly indented. Of the bays, the most extensive is Sivash (Rotten Sea) - very shallow (maximum depth barely exceeds 3 m), excessively salty - up to 150 ‰ and higher. Salinity increases with

From the book The ABCs of Spearfishing [For Beginners... and Not So Much] author Lagutin Andrey

CASPIAN SEA The northern part of the Caspian Sea is very shallow. Here, over a large area, the depth does not exceed 10 m. In the middle and especially in the southern parts of the sea (they are separated by a sandbank at the latitude of the Absheron Peninsula) there are significant depths - up to 1 km. Essential

From the book Guide to Spearfishing while holding your breath by Bardi Marco

ARAL SEA The Aral Sea, one of the largest continental bodies of water in our country, is located in the Turan Lowland. Currently, due to the regulation of the flow of the Amu Darya and Syr Darya, the area of ​​the sea is rapidly decreasing. It has decreased in recent years

From the book Homo aquaticus author Chernov Alexander Alekseevich

SEA OF JAPAN South Coast Far East Our country is washed by the waters of the Sea of ​​Japan. The movement of water within the sea is determined by two currents: the warm Tsushima current, washing the shores of Japan, and the cold Primorsky current, passing south along the shores of the Primorsky Territory. Here

From the book Ark for Robinson [All about the life of a sea nomad] author Newmeyer Kenneth

SEA OF OKHOTSK The average depth is 859 m, the maximum is 3846 m. ​​The shores are made of rocks, in some places they drop vertically to the water. Many bays and bays. The largest islands: Kuril, Sakhalin, Shantar. The climate is harsh. Ice covers the sea for 7–8 months of the year. Not uncommon in summer

From the author's book

THE WHITE SEA Gets its name from its ice cover. For more than half the year it fetters sea ​​waters this small semi-enclosed body of water near the Arctic Circle. By its nature, the White Sea is arctic, harsh and cold. The average depth is about 60 m, the greatest

From the author's book

From the author's book

In the Caribbean, or a week without sleep The first day of sailing went well. A fresh trade wind was blowing, the waves were moderate, and in the evening there was a communication session with Gdynia-Radio, which ended with a phone call home. I was finally able to talk to my husband. The audibility turned out to be

From the author's book

Black Sea Compared to the Mediterranean, and all other seas and oceans, the Black Sea is the least rich in life. After all, starting from a depth of 200 m, and in some places even less, almost nothing living is found here! In the Black Sea water at great depths, a large amount of

From the author's book

Mediterranean Sea Since time immemorial, gentle waters Mediterranean Sea Warships and merchant ships plied, people built cities and towns on its shores, and fishermen fished. Transparent Mediterranean water beckons you to look under its crystal waves! Not

From the author's book

Planning to go to sea It is important to emphasize once again that success in underwater hunting is achieved, first of all, with the help of numerous knowledge and experience, improving diving techniques, and not advanced equipment. The most fortunate have innate

From the author's book

Carnation in the sea In the winter of 1966/67, the aquanauts, not forgetting about preparing for the next expedition to the south, continued research on the Blue Lakes, near Leningrad. We studied the formation and development of ice cover, heat exchange between the surface of lakes and the atmosphere, transparency,

From the author's book

Grains of sand in the sea... The condition of the Chernomor did not inspire fear. Having healed the scratches and bruises received after another storm, he was preparing for a new voyage under water. It was the turn of the geologists. Today they have to go to the bottom of the Blue Bay. - Prepare for the dive! -

The Barents Sea is located on the continental shelf. The southwestern part of the sea does not freeze in winter due to the influence of the North Atlantic Current. The southeastern part of the sea is called the Pechora Sea. The Barents Sea has great importance for transport and fishing - large ports are located here - Murmansk and Vardø (Norway). Before World War II, Finland also had access to the Barents Sea: Petsamo was its only ice-free port. Radioactive pollution of the sea due to the activities of the Soviet/Russian nuclear fleet and Norwegian radioactive waste treatment plants is a serious problem. IN Lately The sea shelf of the Barents Sea towards Spitsbergen becomes the object of territorial disputes between the Russian Federation and Norway (as well as other states).

The Barents Sea is rich various types fish, plant and animal plankton and benthos. Seaweed is common along the southern coast. Of the 114 species of fish living in the Barents Sea, 20 species are the most commercially important: cod, haddock, herring, sea bass, catfish, flounder, halibut, etc. Mammals include: polar bear, ringed seal, harp seal, beluga whale, etc. There is a seal fishery. Bird colonies abound on the coasts (guillemots, guillemots, kittiwake gulls). In the 20th century it was introduced king crab, which was able to adapt to new conditions and begin to multiply intensively.

Since ancient times, Finno-Ugric tribes - the Sami (Lapps) - have lived along the shores of the Berents Sea. The first visits of non-autochonous Europeans (Vikings, then Novgorodians) probably began at the end of the 11th century, and then intensified. The Barents Sea was named in 1853 in honor of the Dutch navigator Willem Barents. The scientific study of the sea began with the expedition of F. P. Litke of 1821-1824, and the first complete and reliable hydrological characteristics of the sea were compiled by N. M. Knipovich at the beginning of the 20th century.

The Barents Sea is a marginal water area of ​​the Arctic Ocean on the border with the Atlantic Ocean, between the northern coast of Europe in the south and the Vaigach Islands, New Earth, Franz Josef Land in the east, Spitsbergen and Bear Island in the west.

In the west it borders with the Norwegian Sea basin, in the south with the White Sea, in the east with the Kara Sea, and in the north with the Arctic Ocean. The area of ​​the Barents Sea located east of Kolguev Island is called the Pechora Sea.

The shores of the Barents Sea are predominantly fjord, high, rocky, and heavily indented. The largest bays are: Porsanger Fjord, Varangian Bay (also known as Varanger Fjord), Motovsky Bay, Kola Bay, etc. East of the Kanin Nos Peninsula, the coastal topography changes dramatically - the shores are predominantly low and slightly indented. There are 3 large shallow bays: (Czechskaya Bay, Pechora Bay, Khaypudyrskaya Bay), as well as several small bays.

The largest rivers flowing into the Barents Sea are Pechora and Indiga.

Surface sea currents form a counterclockwise circulation. Along the southern and eastern periphery, the Atlantic waters of the warm North Cape Current (a branch of the Gulf Stream system) move east and north, the influence of which can be traced to the northern shores of Novaya Zemlya. The northern and western parts of the cycle are formed by local and Arctic waters coming from the Kara Sea and the Arctic Ocean. In the central part of the sea there is a system of intracircular currents. The circulation of sea waters changes under the influence of changes in winds and water exchange with adjacent seas. Tidal currents are of great importance, especially near the coast. The tides are semidiurnal, their greatest value is 6.1 m off the coast of the Kola Peninsula, in other places 0.6-4.7 m.

Water exchange with neighboring seas is of great importance in the water balance of the Barents Sea. During the year, about 76,000 km³ of water enters the sea through the straits (and the same amount leaves it), which is approximately 1/4 of the total volume of sea water. Largest quantity water (59,000 km³ per year) is carried by the warm North Cape Current, which exclusively exerts big influence on the hydrometeorological regime of the sea. The total river flow into the sea averages 200 km³ per year.

The salinity of the surface layer of water in the open sea throughout the year is 34.7-35.0 ppm in the southwest, 33.0-34.0 in the east, and 32.0-33.0 in the north. In the coastal strip of the sea in spring and summer, salinity drops to 30-32, and by the end of winter it increases to 34.0-34.5.

The Barents Sea occupies the Barents Sea plate of Proterozoic-Early Cambrian age; elevations of the bottom of the anteclise, depressions - syneclise. Among the smaller landforms are the remains of ancient coastlines, at a depth of about 200 and 70 m, glacial-denudation and glacial-accumulative forms and sand ridges formed by strong tidal currents.

The Barents Sea is located within the continental shallows, but, unlike other similar seas, most of it has a depth of 300-400 m, the average depth is 229 m and the maximum is 600 m. There are plains (Central Plateau), hills (Central, Perseus (minimum depth 63 m)], depressions (Central, maximum depth 386 m) and troughs (Western (maximum depth 600 m), Franz Victoria (430 m) and others). The southern part of the bottom has a depth of mostly less than 200 m and is characterized by a leveled relief.

The bottom sediment cover in the southern part of the Barents Sea is dominated by sand, and in some places by pebbles and crushed stone. At the heights of the central and northern parts of the sea - silty sand, sandy silt, in depressions - silt. An admixture of coarse clastic material is noticeable everywhere, which is associated with ice rafting and the wide distribution of relict glacial deposits. The thickness of sediments in the northern and middle parts is less than 0.5 m, as a result of which ancient glacial deposits are practically on the surface at some elevations. The slow rate of sedimentation (less than 30 mm per 1 thousand years) is explained by the insignificant supply of terrigenous material - due to the peculiarities of the coastal topography, not a single one flows into the Barents Sea. large river(except for Pechora, which leaves almost all of its alluvium within the Pechora estuary), and the shores of the land are composed mainly of durable crystalline rocks.

The climate of the Barents Sea is influenced by the warm Atlantic Ocean and the cold Arctic Ocean. Frequent intrusions of warm Atlantic cyclones and cold Arctic air determine great variability of weather conditions. In winter, southwestern ones prevail over the sea, in spring and summer - northeast winds. Storms are frequent. average temperature air in February varies from −25 °C in the north to −4 °C in the southwest. The average temperature in August is 0 °C, 1 °C in the north, 10 °C in the southwest. Cloudy weather prevails over the sea throughout the year. Annual precipitation ranges from 250 mm in the north to 500 mm in the southwest.

Severe climatic conditions in the north and east of the Barents Sea determine its high ice cover. In all seasons of the year, only the southwestern part of the sea remains ice-free. The ice cover reaches its greatest extent in April, when about 75% of the sea surface is occupied by floating ice. In exceptionally unfavorable years at the end of winter, floating ice comes directly to the shores of the Kola Peninsula. The least amount of ice occurs at the end of August. At this time, the ice boundary moves beyond 78° N. w. In the northwest and northeast of the sea, ice usually remains all year round, but in some favorable years the sea is completely free of ice.

The influx of warm Atlantic waters determines relatively high temperature and salinity in the southwestern part of the sea. Here in February - March the surface water temperature is 3 °C, 5 °C, in August it rises to 7 °C, 9 °C. North of 74° N. w. and in the southeastern part of the sea in winter the water temperature on the surface is below −1 °C, and in the summer in the north 4 °C, 0 °C, in the southeast 4 °C, 7 °C. In summer, in the coastal zone, the surface layer warm water 5-8 meters thick can warm up to 11-12 °C.

The sea is rich in various species of fish, plant and animal plankton and benthos, therefore the Barents Sea is of great economic importance as an area of ​​intensive fishing. In addition, the sea route connecting European part Russia (especially the European North) with ports of Western (since the 16th century) and Eastern countries (since the 19th century), as well as Siberia (since the 15th century). The main and largest port is the ice-free port of Murmansk - the capital of the Murmansk region. Other ports in Russian Federation- Teriberka, Indiga, Naryan-Mar (Russia); Vardø, Vadsø and Kirkenes (Norway).

The Barents Sea is a region where not only the commercial fleet, but also the Russian Navy, including nuclear submarines, are deployed.

Summer holidays are getting closer and closer in 2018. Russians enjoy spending this long-awaited time not only in the south of the country. Amateur fishermen appreciate any opportunity to go out into nature, where they immerse themselves in the familiar and exciting process of fishing.

A great opportunity to turn your wildest fishing fantasies into a real rich catch is summer fishing in the Barents Sea. It will require from each participant who gets to the northern outskirts of the country (“savage” or “organized” tourist) courage, foresight, good physical shape and careful preparation of equipment.

Features of national fishing in northern latitudes

Many people come to the Kola Peninsula not only for a wonderful catch, but also for the unique emotions that sea fishing gives. Local inhabitants of the depths were forced to adapt to the harsh climate, so they are much more active, powerful and larger than their river counterparts. Fishing in the Barents Sea is of 2 types:

  1. In the numerous bays that dot the complex coastline, free fish can be caught from the shore, from a boat, or near the piers. There is one problem - you can only get to open water on the Sredny Peninsula, near the villages of Rybachy, Dalnie Zelentsy, Teriberka, and Ura-Guba.
  2. Actually sea (paid) fishing, where from the yacht you can only see the endless expanse, seals, whales and birds, since you have to move away from the shore at a distance of 5-10 km. It is recommended to rent a ship (for a day with an overnight stay, without going ashore, for 45,000 rubles) or buy a 3-day comprehensive tour for 66,000 rubles (with catch processing on the ship, excursions, insurance, meals, paperwork).

Fauna of the Barents (Russian) Sea

  • Shark (polar and spiny);
  • Char;
  • Catfish (three subspecies);
  • Flounder;
  • Capelin;
  • Sea bass;
  • Minek;
  • Navaga;
  • Gerbil;
  • Haddock;
  • Halibut (two subspecies);
  • Saida;
  • Herring (two subspecies);
  • Saika;
  • Salmon;
  • Stingray;
  • Cod.

What gear, bait, lures, groundbaits are used

For a sea adventure, you need to stock up on a large fishing assortment, which consists of several items. Tackle. A rod up to 2m long, with a test weight of 500-700g, a baitcasting reel with a diameter of 0.4-0.8mm and a 200-meter nylon or dacron fishing line, multi-core cords, a cord with a lead core, marine echo sounders, extractors, landing nets, hooks, loops - grips, cages, depth gauges, lights for night fishing.

The bait is:

  • Marine polychaete worms, dung worms;
  • Crabs and their meat;
  • Shrimps;
  • Squid;
  • Mussels;
  • Live bait;
  • Pieces of fish;
  • Spleen of birds and animals.

Groundbait is prepared from crushed fish, which is placed in a feeder and lowered into the water below the waterline (this method is only effective in places with a good current). They mostly consist of chopped mackerel, herring, sardines and other fish that are thrown overboard to attract sharks and tuna. Perforated canned food for domestic animals is widely used for catching flounder and cod.

Artificial bait (jig heads, twisters, vibrating tails, spinners) should be similar to real food. (Silicone baits treated with attractants will be a good help). It is important not to miss the moment to hook and land the fish before it spits out the bait. However, this standard rule of classical fishing is applicable everywhere and always.

Video of summer fishing in the Barents Sea:

The Barents Sea has never been considered welcoming. It is no less harsh than the harsh nature of the Arctic. But most importantly, unlike other Arctic seas, the Barents Sea does not freeze in winter. Warm currents from the Atlantic warm its waters. That's why amateur fishing in the Barents Sea attractive at any time of the year.

The coastal zone of the Barents Sea is characterized by an uneven bottom with predominant depths of up to 200 meters, and the bottom also has many shallows. The shores mainly consist of granite rocks. Devoid of vegetation and steep in many places. The sea is characterized by frequent stormy weather. The waters of the Barents Sea are home to 114 species of fish, of which about 20 species are commercially important species. The most important commercial species are halibut, cod, herring, catfish, salmon, cod and other species. Of particular value is salmon, which spawns in many rivers on the Kola Peninsula.

The richest in the number of species is the cod fish family, of which there are 19 species, followed by the flounder family with 9 species. There are 7 species of salmon in the Barents Sea, and 12 species of gobies also live there. The tides in the Barents Sea can reach a height of 4 m, which leads to strong currents in the bays.

Amateur fishing in the Barents Sea the most favorable at this time. During high tides, large schools of pollock, flounder, haddock, and cod rush to the shore in search of food. Amateur fishing far from the coast is practically inaccessible due to harsh conditions and great depths.

In the Barents Sea, among the numerous bottom-dwelling fish, cod is considered the main species. This fish spawns off the coast of Norway in its northwestern part. The main feeding grounds for cod are on the southern side of the Barents Sea.

The largest and oldest cod begin to spawn first; the eggs of this fish are not in one place but float in the water. When cod reaches the age of 3-4 years, it gathers in large schools, and at 5 years of age it begins to move quite long distances. In feeding areas, cod stays both at the very bottom and at half-water. In summer, cod prefers to stay on the banks, and in winter it goes to greater depth. With the onset of spring, huge schools of cod enter the southern waters of the Barents Sea from the west and then move eastward as the water warms up. Throughout the summer, cod feed intensively on the banks, and with the onset of cold weather, the fish begin to migrate back to the shores of Norway, where its spawning grounds are concentrated. Large schools of cod that have not yet reached spawning age spend the winter in the Barents Sea. The migration routes of cod to feeding areas practically coincide with the direction of the currents. In autumn and spring, cod can make vertical daily migrations. One more important feature cod is its rapid growth.

Amateur fishermen prefer to fish in bays and bays. The longest and widest bay of the Barents Sea is the Kola Bay. Few amateurs dare to fish on the open sea, as it is dangerous. In winter, when there are severe frosts, some lips and bays may become covered with ice. But you cannot fish on this ice; it is usually too thin, it begins to break as soon as the first waves from the sea begin to arrive.

Fishing in the Barents Sea in most cases it is carried out using vertical trolling, or jigging. In this case, a spinning rod equipped with a spinning or inertial reel, or better yet a multiplier, is best suited; some fishermen prefer to use a reel.

To do this, select a strong fishing line with a diameter of 0.8-1 mm, and at the end of the fishing line a heavy spoon equipped with a large double or tee is mounted. Above the spoon, from three to five leashes equipped with hooks are attached at a distance of 30-50 cm from each other. Hooks should be equipped with rubber cambrics. Fishing in the Barents Sea using vertical lures is carried out at the very bottom, while the tackle periodically twitches. This method is best for catching haddock, cod or pollock. If in the place of fishing big fish absent, use less aggressive tackle. In this case, the spoon is replaced with an ordinary sinker and smaller hooks are placed, and bait is also used in this case. Usually the bait is a sea worm, amphipod, or pieces of any fish. The weight must be lowered to the very bottom; in this way it is good to catch haddock, medium-sized cod, halibut, and flounder. In late summer or early fall, large schools of pollock begin to appear. And during this period it can be caught not only with the described tackle, but also with a regular spinning rod with any bait.

The Barents Sea has a close relationship with the Atlantic Ocean, more precisely with its northern part. The Arctic region of high atmospheric pressure and the specific Icelandic low interact here. In addition, the North Atlantic Warm Current and its branches have a strong influence on climatic features. This determines the complex hydrological regime and climate of the Barents Sea. The coldest month is February, at this time in the northern part of the sea the temperature is usually - 25° and about - 5° in its southwestern part. Concerning summer period then in the warmest August in the southwest the temperature is about +10.° and in the north it is 0°.

Also in the Barents Sea there are frequent fogs, sometimes (even in June) there are snow charges and high clouds. The sea near the coast is very rich not only in the ichthyofauna mentioned above, but also in various marine flora, especially brown, green and red algae, among which kelp, ascophyllum and fucus predominate.

Fishing in the Barents Sea requires skill and courage, but the catches justify all the efforts spent by the fishermen.


Other interesting materials:


There are two species of croaker in the Black Sea: black and light. The fish has...