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56 Fishing on the Adriatic Zadar county 57
Nedo Buljan
daily catch is 5kg for recreational and sport licences, and you
may not sell or exchange your catch. There is also a list of
regulations on the protection of fish species which stipulates
the minimum size of commercially important fish and other
sea creatures that may be caught. If you accidentally find
a female spiny lobster in your net, or a European lobster
with eggs, you must immediately put them back in the sea
regardless of their size.
Most people go fishing from a quiet spot on the shore or from
a small fishing boat, while adrenalin seekers go for either big
game fishing or spearfishing.
Big game fishing is an exciting sport using fast boats on
the open sea to catch powerful fish such as tuna and marlin.
Licences are for sale in travel agencies. The largest and most
prized catch on the Croatian Adriatic is bluefin tuna, which is in
season from August to January. The belt of water around the
island of Blitvenica and the Kornati archipelago is especially
suitable for bluefin tuna fishing. Other “big game” which can
be caught in this way include swordfish (sabljarka), greater
amberjack (gof), Atlantic bonito (palamida), dolphin fish
(lampuga), and blue shark (modrulj).
The beauty of this sport is its unpredictable nature and the
co-ordination of the whole crew on board the boat. If you visit
the village of Jezera on the island of Murter, you can watch (or
take part in) Europe’s largest big game fishing competition.
Spearfishing is the most selective form of fishing. You
can fish while free diving, snorkelling or scuba diving, and
nowadays anglers use elastic-powered or compressed
gas spearguns or slings to hunt the fish. Spearfishing
can only take place during the daylight hours for obvious
reasons, and the sport requires you to be both physically
and psychologically fit due to both the diving skills required
and the weapon used. In the Adriatic, the best spearfishing
is to be had in late summer and early autumn. The best fish
is to be found where the sea has a rocky bottom, providing
shelter for the fish. The best-known spearfishing competition
in the Adriatic is the New Year Spearfishing Cup held on the
island of Mali Lošinj.
Nedo Buljan
Finally, don’t forget, whichever kind of fishing you go for, it’s
important for your sake and everyone else’s that you keep
within the law and fish in a responsible and ethical manner.
We wish you calm seas and a plentiful catch!
Nedo Buljan
Islands
Don’t make the mistake of missing some of these great
places in Zadar’s surrounding areas. Many of them are
somewhat neglected by guide books, and therefore all the
more delightful to discover.
Dugi otok
Although it’s easily accessible from Zadar by boat, Croatia’s
“Long Island” is rather far out to sea, and so remains one
of those few places where you can enjoy tranquillity even
in high season. Its capital, Sali, is a simple, historic and
attractive fishing town with a summer cultural festival running
from mid-July to mid-August. The climax of this is a festival
called Saljski užanci - three days of music, fireworks, fresh
grilled fish, drinking, dancing, donkey racing and parades
in traditional local costume in a friendly atmosphere. The
festivites sometimes get rather wild and climax in revellers
leaping into the sea in full national costume! Another unique
element is the strange and haunting folk music of the island,
played on old irons filled with stones, and on enormous horns
poached from some poor beast.
If that all sounds too hectic, head for the smaller village of
Božava. The exceptionally clean sea makes it a haven for
divers. Nearby is a white sand beach called Saharun. There
are other sandy beaches in this area on the north tip of the
island. Treat yourself and hire a boat and explore to your
heart’s content - it’s the best way to explore any island.
Beaches away from settlements and people are, of course,
clothing-optional zones.
A trip to the Telaščica Nature Park is an unmissable part
of a visit to Dugi Otok - it’s within biking distance from Sali.
Telašćica Bay is a 10km deep inlet dotted with bays, islets
and cliffs. A spectacular saltwater lake lies next to the bay -
the water is warm and said to be curative, and you can swim
Tourist information
i
Dugi otok Tourist Board Obala
Perta Lorinija bb, Sali, tel. (+385-23)
37 70 94, tz-sali@zd.t-com.hr, www.
dugiotok.hr. Q Open 08:00 - 21:00,
Sun 09:00 - 12:00, 17:00 - 21:00.
Telašćica Nature Park Ulica Danijela Grbin bb,
Sali, tel. (+385-23) 37 70 96/(+385-23) 37 73
93, telascica@zd.t-com.hr, www.telascica.hr. Q
Information office in Sali open 07:00 - 15:00. Closed Sat,
Sun. Park entry tickets and permits are also issued by
Park Rangers who are available and on duty 00:00 -24:00
inside park premises. Admission 60kn.
there. Legends abound about hidden treasure and ancient
inhabitants with five horns on their heads. More visible
treasure is the wildlife that abounds there, from pine to fig to
olive to moufflon (a kind of wild sheep). Although the park is
not commercialised, there are facilities for tourists providing
fresh fish and local wine. Paradise indeed.
Iž
This is one for those of you with jangled nerves - a green,
low-lying island with only two picturesque villages: Veli and
Mali Iž. Veli Iž’s Hotel Korinjak serves only vegetarian food,
and offers personal development programs including yoga
and massage. In the town, you can visit a shop and gallery
displaying terracotta pots that have been made here in the
same way since Neolithic times. Islanders used to take it to
Zadar market every day, and it was traded along the whole
Dalmatian coastline.
The streets are too
narrow for cars, but
luckily the locals are
renowned for being a
jolly and friendly lot, and
will come to your aid with
trolleys for your luggage.
The town’s festival takes
place over 3 days in
August, and showcases
a local oddity, water
basketball. Mali Iž has
lovely beaches. The
i slanders live from
fishing, olives, making
great wine and a special rakija made with Japanese herbs
that they say is good for the heart. If you’re really nice to
them, they might take you to the islet of Rutnjak, great for
swimming, fishing and diving. If not, you can always swim
there.
Tourist information
i
Zadar Tourist Board office Veli Iž 195, tel.
(+385-23) 27 70 21.
Ist & Molat
Molat is a relative giant of the Zadar archipelago, having 3 -
count ‘em! - attractive little hamlets. OK, we got a bit carried
away - they are very, very small. With only one ferry a day,
Molat really is far from the madding crowd. There are only
a handful of restaurants and shops on the island. Molat is
covered by low-lying shrubs feeding a few goats and sheep.
It’s great to spend the day exploring the pretty coastline by
boat. Some of the best beaches are around Brgulje, where
the ferry docks.
Zadar In Your Pocket
zadar.inyourpocket.com
zadar.inyourpocket.com
Summer 2011