Skrei are migratory Atlantic cod that travel from the Barents Sea to spawn along the Norwegian coast. Sørøya is particularly well known for high average weights and exceptionally large fish. Our original guide reports more cod over 30 kg from our fjord and the surrounding grounds than from the rest of Norway combined, an average of more than one fish over 40 kg each year in the area, and a 47 kg world-record fish. These are the historical figures on which the camp’s description is based.
Skrei and coastal cod are the same species but belong to distinct stocks. Skrei tend to look different and grow larger, with broader heads and bodies, lighter colouring and larger teeth. They arrive in very different condition from resident cod, and we value their particularly white flesh. A large skrei can make aggressive runs, whereas coastal cod more often fight with heavy head-shakes and rolling movements.
Skrei fishing can be extraordinary. Our original guide describes catches of up to a tonne of cod per angler in a day, illustrating why selecting larger fish rather than simply catching everything is important. We explain how to target bigger fish when you arrive.
A fish over 30 kg is an ambitious but realistic target; it is never something you can simply turn up and collect. The camp’s original account describes daily opportunities for 20 kg fish for experienced anglers and reports that roughly 75% of guests caught a cod over 25 kg during a week in skrei season. When everything comes together, average weights can exceed 20 kg for hours. Contact us with any questions about tackle or preparation.
The season runs from our opening in the first week of March until late April, often continuing into May. April usually brings better weather. Spawning often takes place between 8 and 25 April; as more fish spawn, fish over 30 kg become harder to find. Hungry post-spawning cod can make fish over 20 kg easier to catch, with more long fish landed than during the pre-spawning period.
The camp record listed in the original guide is 39.9 kg and 159 cm, caught by Thomas Barkemo from Umeå.
