The White Sea, being a vast bay of the Arctic Ocean, is quite cold. Nevertheless, skerries and sea open spaces, as well as amazing taiga nature attract many. People come here for solitude from the hustle and bustle of cities. Rest, fishing on the White Sea, fish soup cooked on a fire right on the shore - what could be better in order to relax and gain strength.
Interesting information
This vast bay of the Arctic Ocean is famous for its fairly cold water. And this is not surprising, because it is enough to imagine where the White Sea is located: it is located in the very north-west of Russia. And only due to the fact that it is deeply cut into the mainland, its water for a short summer period sometimes manages to warm up to eighteen degrees.
Since the White Sea is almost completely surrounded by land, it is considered to be inland. The bottom of this relatively small salt reservoir is characterized by a very complex relief. The most deep-sea part of it is Kandalaksha Bay.
A huge amount of fresh water is constantly flowing into the White Sea. As a result, its level rises, and the excess mass of water along the Throat connecting it with the Barents Sea leaves. This water exchange is very favorably influenced by frequent southwest winds. The tides of the White Sea are pronounced. As a result of their complex interaction, a standing wave forms in this relatively small inland body of water.
The best time to relax
The presence of the Arctic Circle nearby explains that it is cold in the spring, sometimes frosts are observed. Therefore, July or the beginning of August are considered the best time for a trip on vacation and fishing on the White Sea. This season the water is as warm as possible, it warms up to eighteen degrees. You can even swim, although sometimes the weather brings surprises: it can suddenly storm, often strong winds begin.
The most convenient places for those who come not only for fishing on the White Sea, but also for recreation, are considered to be Nikolskaya Bay near the village of Nizhnyaya Pulonga, as well as the village of Chkalov.
Small Karelian villages in which guest houses are built, the presence of shops, paved roads - all this attracts lovers of a quiet measured pastime, those who want to not only relax, but also go fishing. First of all, they come to the White Sea for cod, although herring and salmon are also a welcome prey.
At sea twice a day, the tidal current is replaced by a tidal current. The height of the waves on average does not exceed two or three meters, and only in places close to the exit to the Barents Sea are they sometimes twice as large. The most favorable time for sport fishing is considered to be the time that falls between the middle of the high tide and the middle of the low tide. At this time, the fish is especially intensively approaching the coastal strip and most often comes across a hook.
Flora and fauna
In this sea they are much poorer than, for example, in the neighboring Barents. For comparison: in the last one hectare of water, you can catch fish almost five times more than in the White. Experts attribute this to the fact that here the climatic conditions are more severe, in addition, the salt content in the water is reduced, and the winter is too harsh. And if boreal forms from the animal and plant worlds live closer to the surface, then at a depth of less than fifty meters, where the same temperature is constantly kept, there are already arctic ones. In this zone, a cold-water relic is widely represented.
Of all the varieties of fish of the White Sea, fishing is carried out primarily for herring, cod, salmon, pollock, flounder and saffron cod. The main places for their habitation are coastal zones with a maximum depth of up to thirty meters - places where hunting for them is especially favorable.
Fishing places
According to its deep differences, bottom topography and various salt concentrations, the White Sea is heterogeneous. And therefore, the distribution of fish in it is also uneven. The number of not only marine animals, but also plants is sharply reduced in highly desalinated bays, such as Dvinsky, Mezensky and Onega. There are no typical representatives of marine fish - pollock, cod, catfish, haddock, etc. But Kandalaksha Bay, as well as the northern shore of the White Sea, where the water is more salty, are excellent places where you can fish a lot of saltwater production. Another fishing place is the Karelian Isthmus, which many lovers of spearfishing come to. This, according to many, is one of the most calm and beautiful places not only in the region, but throughout Russia, where there is an abundance of fish and expanse for hunters. The most desirable prey for true lovers of spearfishing is sea salmon or trout, which is excellently caught all summer with spinning, as well as fly fishing gear, as well as pink salmon. The latter comes from mid-July in places where rivers flow into the White Sea.
Offered by many travel agencies, fishing on the White Sea in summer in coastal areas includes a full range of services. Tourists are offered everything: from accommodation and meals to the services of experienced rangers from local residents. They not only know every nearby fishing spot perfectly, but also guarantee an exciting and unforgettable spearfishing.
For the cod
Many people go fishing on the White Sea precisely because of this fish. Cod here is significantly different from the usual Atlantic in size. Her weight, as a rule, is one and a half or two times less than the ocean sister. The length of the cod living in the White Sea is not more than sixty centimeters. But even such, to put it mildly, non-trophy specimens do not pamper fishermen. The largest individuals can be caught only in the deep Kandalaksha Bay. For fishing in the White Sea for the largest cod, according to experienced hunters, you need to go there and catch it from the steep cliffs that go into the water. But small individuals are not bad caught in shallow water, and in places where the bottom is almost covered with stones.
Locals distinguish between small - summer, which Pomors call "pertuy", as well as larger - winter cod, which appears on the coast only in late August - early September. The largest are found by fishermen in Kandalaksha Bay - the deepest bay of the White Sea. In the open sea, it is better to catch cod near stone ridges covered with bottom kelp or seaweed. Usually, such banks that sharply rise above the rest of the relief dry in their upper part after low tide. North Karelia is famous for such places that locals call Korgs or Baklaks . The White Sea, fishing on which, according to many professionals, is simply unique, beckons with its surrounding taiga nature and a truly unforgettable vacation with a fishing rod in hand.
Whitefish
This underwater inhabitant is no less an honorable trophy than cod. Whitefish is found in coastal waters in the White Sea. He walks in numerous small places in the straits and lips, where he feeds on various bottom animals - sea worms, mussels, amphipod crustaceans. In August, whitefish rushes to spawn in rivers. Most of them spawn only two or three times in their lives.
Whitefish winters also in rivers or in estuarine desalinated zones of the sea. Fishers fish this fish, usually during its spawning migrations, as well as salmon, pink salmon or trout - for spinning or nets. Whitefish sometimes comes into the sea during the fishing of herring or smelt. In addition to the migratory species, that is, migrating into the river from the White Sea and back, there are lake and river forms that never leave fresh water. The meat of this fish is highly valued for its amazing taste, but whitefish in salted or smoked form is especially good.
Catfish
For this fish, they often go to the Kandalaksha Bay for fishing on the White Sea . It is here that one of the varieties of the Atlantic catfish lives, the length of which can reach eighty-five centimeters. For anglers, it is like a trophy, which in value is in no way inferior to cod. Catfish have tasty and tender meat, and in July it is even possible to feast on its caviar, which tastes no worse than salmon.
The diet of this fish is quite diverse. It includes crabs and mollusks, starfish and shrimp, sometimes the catfish does not shun even small fish. This fish has excellently developed chewing and conical teeth, which easily grind and crush fairly strong skeletons of a variety of echinoderms and crustaceans.
Catfish are caught with bottom gear. Starting in May, it can be caught even at rather insignificant depths not far from the coast - in coastal waters. As for the rest of the time, then, having gone to the depths, it becomes quite difficult prey. To catch it, you only need to use steel or Kevlar leashes, since she easily grinds all the others with her teeth.
Flounder
There are fish that are especially interested in specialists studying the White Sea. Flounder is one of them. Five species of this fish are found in the White Sea at once. Three species - river, polar and ruff - belong to local forms, so they are found in almost all zones of the reservoir. The other two species - sea and flounder-ruff - come to Beloe from the Barents Sea for fattening. This happens in the summer months. Locals recommend flounder fishing with small fishing rods or tying hooks on small hooks. As a nozzle, it is better to use nereis worms, which can easily be found in sandbanks at low tide.
Fishing on the Karelian coast
This is not only the most beautiful, but also the most fishing place of the White Sea. It is one of the most peaceful and beautiful places in Russia where fish abounds. Lovers of sea hunting from the Norwegian fjords gradually began to come here . However, fishing on the Karelian coast of the White Sea was most popular for a middle-income Russian. This beach is literally teeming with tourist resorts, which are primarily intended for accommodation in the economy class, so that you can easily engage in your favorite hobby, which is fishing. In Belomorsk, on the White Sea, smelt and navaga are well caught.
In general, fishing and recreation on the Karelian coast of this Arctic Ocean bay will delight not only professionals. Many come here to combine family vacations with their favorite pastime. It is believed that nothing brings together like a joint passion and, of course, the expectation of biting. At the same time, everyone likes swimming in the summer months at sea: both children and parents.
Most of all come here lovers of cod fishing. In order to return with a good catch, in these places you need to have at hand a boat or a boat with a powerful motor, a shovel, an anchor, fifty to seventy meters of rope, tackle, a map, GPS, an echo sounder. The most convenient place in terms of transport access on the North Karelian coast on the White Sea is Chupa. Here it is possible to leave the car in a guarded parking lot, rent a boat, a boat and even a yacht and hire a jäger-guide who can show the most fishing places for successful fishing. You need to keep in mind that you need to sail to such sites on a boat along the Chupin Bay, located in the Kandalaksha Gulf, thirty or forty kilometers deep into the White Sea. Those who wish can book a fishing tour at a local yacht club, and those who are confident in their abilities and have all the necessary equipment have the opportunity to go spearfishing on their own.
Tackle
Most often, experienced anglers use onboard short spinning rods and the Nevka reel “Nevka” as equipment. In principle, an improved donka, which is caught using finger technology, also works well here. The fishing technique is as follows: the tackle with baits goes down to the bottom, then several blows are made one after another, after which it rises by thirty - fifty centimeters. Fishing should continue with short but intense twitches. This technology primarily catches cod - a notable treasured local trophy. The bite of this fish is sharp. In small individuals, one or two twitches, and then a blow. Whereas the large cod begins immediately with a sharp bite. In this case, after hooking, the fisherman must not give slack, especially during fishing "on the finger" or with side spinning.
After a few bites, you must definitely check for the presence of bait, as cod has an amazing ability to pull it off. To reduce the number of hooks and subsequent loss of spinners during bottom fishing, single hooks are most often used. But the onboard spinning, allowing you to make small casts, is great for finding fish.
Not bad pecks cod on various jigs with silicone fish. Using the technique of "shelling" the fishing area with distant castings, very good results can be achieved. Moreover, this method of fishing has one drawback: a long fishing rod. This makes it impossible to fit in a boat to more than two anglers.