Fish, burbot family
Burbot
- Maximum length
- 152cm
- Maximum weight
- 34kg
- Best water temperature
- 4–14 °C
- Water today (4.1 °C)
- Ideal temperature
- Fishing districts near where it occurs
- 15
About the species Burbot
How to recognise it
One barbel on the chin, two dorsal fins (the second long), a mottled brown body and a flat head.
Where it lives
Cold clean rivers and deep reservoirs; it hides in summer.
What it feeds on
Fish, crayfish, invertebrates.
Spawning
In winter, from December to February, in cold water.
It is active at night and in winter, and is fished near the bottom.
Closed season, minimum size and daily limit
What the Fisheries Act says about burbot. For guidance only; check it in the fishing regulations of the district.
Closed season
§ 10 of the Decree- 1 Jan – 15 Mar
this species may not be fishedoutside this period
It does not depend on the closed season for all fish by water type. You can find this and the other rules on the fishing district page in the Law and fishing rules section.
Minimum size
§ 12 of the Decree35 cm
below the size limit: return it to the waterfrom the size limit: you may keep it
You must not keep a fish shorter than 35 cm. The total length is measured from the front of the head to the end of the longest ray of the tail fin (§ 12, para. 4). The district user may raise the size; the one in the permit and the fishing regulations applies.
Daily limit
§ 14 of the Decree- 2ksGreen groupeel, carp, burbot, zander, pike, tench, barbel, lake brown trout, brown trout, grayling (combined)
The limit applies per day, also when fishing in several districts. The district user may set a lower limit in the permit, in which case the stricter one applies.
Summary of Act no. 216/2018 Coll. and Decree no. 381/2018 Coll. (as of 6 Nov 2026). It may be out of date or contain an error, and exceptions apply on some waters. The permit and the fishing regulations of the district are binding. The fishing law, rule by rule.
Water temperature and requirements
At what temperature the species is active and how well today's water suits it.
Ideal temperatureTypical water on the Slovakia is 4.1 °C today. This is the ideal temperature for the species (best 4 to 14 °C): the fish are usually active and feed willingly.
- tolerates 0 to 20 °C
- best 4 to 14 °C
- spawning at 0 to 4 °C
- typical water today 4.1 °C
- Length
- up to 152 cm
- Weight
- up to 34 kg
- Oxygen
- Requires a lot of oxygen
- Position in the food chain
- 4,0predator
The values are indicative and come from the FishBase database. In a particular water, fish behave according to the weather, air pressure, oxygen and food.
Where it was recorded
Fishing districts around which a record of this species exists (GBIF).
- OR Patkový Piesok
- OR Hámre
- Štrkovisko Adamov č. 1
- Štrkovisko Adamov č. 2
- Štrkovisko u Janíčkov
- Morava č. 7b
- Štrkovisko Boričky I.
- Štrkovisko Brodské
- Štrkovisko Unín
- Melioračný kanál Tvrdonice
- Štrkovisko Boričky II.
- Hron č. 3
- Perec č. 3
- VN Tekov
- Štrkovisko Tlmače
15 fishing districts in total. Show on map
Similar species
Photo credits
- Burbot: Photo: Harka, Akos, CC BY 3.0, Wikimedia Commons
- European eel: Photo: vranken martin, CC BY 4.0, Wikimedia Commons
Minimum sizes, protection periods and permitted fishing methods are set by the fishing regulations and the conditions of the specific fishing district. Check them before you fish.