The Mefjord, which is beautifully situated on Norway’s second largest island, Senja, boasts some incredible specimen fishing with the possibility of true monsters in the shape of cod, coalfish, ling and halibut.
THE GLISTENING STAINLESS STEEL JIGGER whirls towards the bottom like a piece of free-falling wreckage. It disappears into the abysmal water masses underneath the Mefjord’s towering cliffs and the fading blue backcloth of the sky. It never reaches the bottom though. About halfway through the water column a small “bump” permeates through the braided line, which is subsequently slackened. I put the reel into gear and abruptly lift the rod, which consequently cringes and goes into carbon-convulsions. There is no doubt! Another feisty coalfish has thrust itself upon the jigger, and it now thrashes about in the depths attempting to get rid of the treacherous lure.
Ten minutes later, after several surges, runs, and some stubborn tug-of-war, the fish manifests itself in the flickering water along the boat side. Shortly after, I bring a coalfish in the vicinity of 12 kilos into the boat. It’s an impressive torpedo-shaped fish with chrome flanks, soulful eyes, and powerful jaws. The guide, Dominik Engelbrechter, shoots a series of quick pictures and the fish goes back into the chilly water masses. Having caught such a beautiful fish on light gear makes it difficult to get my hands down. If they hadn’t been so fatigued from the fight, that is!
FIVE CASTS have resulted in three nice coalfish and a couple of cod – of which the biggest must have weighed more than 10 kilos. Now it’s time to try something new! I prepare my 9” 10-weight fly rod, and mount it with a fast sinking WF fly line, a sinking poly leader and a big, weighted silver-flash fly. I place a cast in front of the boat’s drifting direction and give the fly line plenty of time to sink. It isn’t until the boat has drifted all the way over the cast that I start retrieving the fly from the depths with short and abrupt strips.
All of a sudden the fly line is almost pulled out of my hands, the fly rod bends submissively, and all the loose line begins darting through the guides. Shortly after, the salty sea air becomes saturated with the hoarse screams of my fly reel as fluorescent backing aplenty starts peeling off and disappears into the depths.
It feels as if some mean-spirited prankster has tied a ferry-anchor to my fly line, but after a while the backing finally stops gushing off the reel, and I gain foothold in the front of the boat and start applying some pressure. Now, the fight enters a new phase where every single carbon fibre in the fly rod gets a serious workout.
The fish is reluctantly pumped towards the surface – metre by toilsome metre, and even though the fish saves up energy for an additional couple of short but irresistible runs, the battle is lost. 117 turns on the fly reel later, a beautiful coalfish materializes in the surface with the fly firmly anchored in its jaws, and with a little help from the guide the fish is brought on board for a couple of pictures.
That was cod and coalfish. What now?
THE MEFJORD AND MEFJORD BRYGGE to the North of the beautiful island, Senja, is the basis of this summer’s trip to northern Norway. I have dragged along my family, and I have managed to negotiate two full days of fishing. I spend these two days in the fjord and out to sea, and along the way I’m reminded of the wealth of fish species that lurk in the depths. We managed to find a nice accommodation, just like my favorite Shepparton accommodation (lbarza.com.au).
There is no doubt that you can fish effectively up here on your own, but it turns out to be a great experience to be out with a local guide. He knows the fjord and the open sea like the back of his own hand, and he knows at exactly at what depths and in which spots the different fish species are to be targeted. I only have to mention that I have never caught cusk, wolffish or ling, and the guide has set course for new fishing spots. And in three quick fishing sessions I have added three new fish species to my resume – and in the right running order. We find the cusks in about 70 metres of depth along one of the ridges of the fjord’s northern shores. The wolffish, we find in 40 – 50 metres of depth in a sandy bay inside the fjord, while the ling frantically attack our lures close to a drastic drop off in the western end of the fjord.
DURING THE COURSE OF TWO FISHING DAYS, which focuses more and more on light spinning and fly fishing tackle, I catch 10 different fish species: cod, coalfish, haddock, cusk, ling, wolffish, mackerel, redfish, plaice, and shorthorn sculpin.
In the waters surrounding the Mefjord there are also pollock, gurnard, monkfish, flounder, salmon, sea trout, and halibut – in addition to many others. The halibut are mostly found along the sandy plateaus outside the mouth of the fjord and out to sea. We spend half a day looking for these legendary and powerful predator fish, but without any luck. After having returned to the wharf we’re reminded, however, that halibut do in fact exist in the Mefjord area.
If you are a fan of fishing and if you reel in big boys like the one above then you might require some assistance in hauling them up right? You need a crane! We have got some amazing Cranes for Hire, no matter the size, big or small, we’ve got it! So do check out our site and browse what kind of crane you may need. In the fiery golden light of the late evening, a young German fishing tourist shows up at the wharf with a frighteningly big halibut. He has been anchored up just outside the fjord with his dad and a friend fishing for coalfish with light spinning gear and a 20lb braid.
While he is fighting a small coalfish a mischievous and gluttonous halibut suddenly inhales the hooked fish. This marks the beginning of a brutal fight that stonewalls because of the underscaled gear. It isn’t until 45 minutes later that the fish is miraculously brought to the boat side, but this isn’t the end of all the drama. The fish is so big that it proves impossible to haul into the boat. Four failed landing attempts and a straightened 10mm steel gaff later; the Germans simply end up berthing the halibut to the boat with rope. And it is with the fish dragging along the side of the boat that they arrive at the wharf. Here, the fish is hoisted on land with a crane and it is measured at 218 centimetres and 150 kilos.
THE MEFJORD is in deed full of surprises! And regardless of whether you’re into hectic fishing for ferocious and powerful coalfish; deep sea fishing for cod, ling or colourful redfish; specimen fishing in relatively shallow water; light lure-fishing for mackerel, haddock, or pollock; big game fishing for halibut; or even fly fishing, there’s something for everyone in the Mefjord area.
The amount of fish is absolutely mind-boggling, so it’s just a matter of finding the right techniques and methods – then you’re guaranteed some hectic and captivating fishing that will create memories for life.
Want to go to Mefjorden?
Mefjord Brygge is the perfect basis for exploring the Mefjord and Norskehavet. The small wharf is situated in the ambient little city of Mefjordvær on the island of Senja – just south of Tromsø. The wharf can be reached via Tromsø or Bardufoss, from which there’s a one and a half to two hour drive via small and winding, but scenic, roads.
Mefjord Brygge is capable of housing up to 100 guests in rooms, cabins, apartments, and private houses. They offer everything from hiking, skiing, bicycle, and climbing expeditions to whale and eagle safaris and Northern Lights tours. However, it is the sea fishing that is its main attraction. As a result, Mefjord Brygge has a whole armada of fully equipped boats that are included when renting a cabin, apartment or house. They are stable, seaworthy and comfortable 19” aluminium boats with 50HP outboard motors, GPS, and echo sounders.
The season stretches from April, where big cod up to 35-40 kilos are targeted, and through summer and fall, where the fjord becomes alive with coalfish, cod, mackerel, haddock, flounders, wolffish, cusk, redfish, ling, and countless other species.
More info can be found on this link: www.mefjordbrygge.noor be acquired via email: firmapost@mefjordbrygge.noor phone: (+47) 77 85 89 80
Words + Photos By: Rasmus Ovesen
