Merlangius merlangusSourcesFact from a specialist source · Applies to all regions1ResearchHavforskningsinstituttetHvitting2EncyclopediaStore norske leksikonhvittingAll sources on this page
Also called (Norwegian names)kvitingbleikeblekehavets kyllingSourcesFact from a specialist source · Applies to all regions1ResearchHavforskningsinstituttetHvitting2EncyclopediaStore norske leksikonhvittingAll sources on this page
Whiting is a cod-family fish with white flesh, a dark spot at the pectoral fin and a distinctly overbitten mouth.SourcesFact from a specialist source · Applies to all regions1ResearchHavforskningsinstituttetHvitting2EncyclopediaStore norske leksikonhvittingAll sources on this page
Southern and Eastern Norway: common.SourceFact from a specialist source · Applies to all regions1ResearchHavforskningsinstituttetHvittingAll sources on this page
Western Norway: common.SourceFact from a specialist source · Applies to all regions1ResearchHavforskningsinstituttetHvittingAll sources on this page
Central Norway: present.SourceFact from a specialist source · Applies to all regions1ResearchHavforskningsinstituttetHvittingAll sources on this page
Northern Norway: present.SourceFact from a specialist source · Applies to all regions1ResearchHavforskningsinstituttetHvittingAll sources on this page
Found in
Bottom
Best season
Jan–Dec
Methods
Bait on the bottom
Rules checked
29 September 2026
Getting started
Your first try for whiting
One recommended starting point: bait on the bottom from a boat or from shore. More methods are listed under “How to fish”.
Not too large hooks. Alvestad uses 1–2/0, and Alt om fiske writes that you do not need to go above 1/0. The hook must be sharp.SourcesTackle advice from a source of experience · Applies to all regions5ExperienceAlt om fiske (Klikk.no)Vinter er hvittingtid6ExperienceAsgeir AlvestadHvittingfiske i sommer…All sources on this page
Attractors
Colourful beads, rubber tubes or shrimp flies on the rig give more bites. Glow-in-the-dark colours work in deep water.SourcesTackle advice from a source of experience · Applies to all regions5ExperienceAlt om fiske (Klikk.no)Vinter er hvittingtid6ExperienceAsgeir AlvestadHvittingfiske i sommer…All sources on this page
Pliers
Whiting have many small, sharp teeth. Pliers make it easier to get the hook out.SourceTackle advice from a source of experience · Applies to all regions5ExperienceAlt om fiske (Klikk.no)Vinter er hvittingtidAll sources on this page
→The sinker hangs at the bottom and the hooks with bait on short droppers just above, so the bait lies on or just above the bottom.SourceTackle advice from a source of experience · Applies to all regions7Experienceasgeiralvestad.noSlik fisker du torsk, tips og triksAll sources on this page
→Attach the sinker with a slightly thinner line. If it gets stuck, only the sinker breaks off, and you save the rest of the rig.SourceTackle advice from a source of experience · Applies to all regions7Experienceasgeiralvestad.noSlik fisker du torsk, tips og triksAll sources on this page
4. How to do it
→Fish with bait down near the bottom, on a simple paternoster rig with two or three hooks above one another. Whiting often nibble a lot, and several hooks save you from hauling up after every bite.SourcesFishing tip confirmed by 3 independent sources of experience · Applies to all regions4ExperienceHooked.noHvordan fiske hvitting – art nummer 8 / 525ExperienceAlt om fiske (Klikk.no)Vinter er hvittingtid6ExperienceAsgeir AlvestadHvittingfiske i sommer…All sources on this page
Where
Where to find whiting
SurfaceOpen waterBottom0 m50 m100 m150 m200 m
Adult whiting are common at 20–200 metres depth (Store norske leksikon), and it is usually a bottom fish from 10 to 200 metres (Institute of Marine Research).SourcesFishing tip from a specialist source · Applies to all regions1ResearchHavforskningsinstituttetHvitting2EncyclopediaStore norske leksikonhvittingAll sources on this page Highlighted: bottomSourcesFishing tip from a specialist source · Applies to all regions1ResearchHavforskningsinstituttetHvitting3ExperienceAsgeir AlvestadTid for hvitting fiske4ExperienceHooked.noHvordan fiske hvitting – art nummer 8 / 525ExperienceAlt om fiske (Klikk.no)Vinter er hvittingtidAll sources on this page.
Østfold to Agder (the Skagerrak coast)SourceFact from a specialist source · Applies to all regions1ResearchHavforskningsinstituttetHvittingAll sources on this page
Western NorwayCommon
Rogaland and Vestland, south of StadSourceFact from a specialist source · Applies to all regions1ResearchHavforskningsinstituttetHvittingAll sources on this page
Central NorwayPresent
Møre og Romsdal and TrøndelagSourceFact from a specialist source · Applies to all regions1ResearchHavforskningsinstituttetHvittingAll sources on this page
Northern NorwayPresent
Nordland, Troms and FinnmarkSourceFact from a specialist source · Applies to all regions1ResearchHavforskningsinstituttetHvittingAll sources on this page
Technique and tackle
How to fish for whiting
From boatFrom shore
Bait on the bottom
→Fish with bait down near the bottom, on a simple paternoster rig with two or three hooks above one another. Whiting often nibble a lot, and several hooks save you from hauling up after every bite.SourcesFishing tip confirmed by 3 independent sources of experience · Applies to all regions4ExperienceHooked.noHvordan fiske hvitting – art nummer 8 / 525ExperienceAlt om fiske (Klikk.no)Vinter er hvittingtid6ExperienceAsgeir AlvestadHvittingfiske i sommer…All sources on this page
Hook
Not too large hooks. Alvestad uses 1–2/0, and Alt om fiske writes that you do not need to go above 1/0. The hook must be sharp.SourcesTackle advice from a source of experience · Applies to all regions5ExperienceAlt om fiske (Klikk.no)Vinter er hvittingtid6ExperienceAsgeir AlvestadHvittingfiske i sommer…All sources on this page
Attractors
Colourful beads, rubber tubes or shrimp flies on the rig give more bites. Glow-in-the-dark colours work in deep water.SourcesTackle advice from a source of experience · Applies to all regions5ExperienceAlt om fiske (Klikk.no)Vinter er hvittingtid6ExperienceAsgeir AlvestadHvittingfiske i sommer…All sources on this page
Pliers
Whiting have many small, sharp teeth. Pliers make it easier to get the hook out.SourceTackle advice from a source of experience · Applies to all regions5ExperienceAlt om fiske (Klikk.no)Vinter er hvittingtidAll sources on this page
→Spawning lasts for several months and takes place in winter and spring. In the southern North Sea it begins as early as January.SourcesFact from a specialist source · Applies to all regions1ResearchHavforskningsinstituttetHvitting2EncyclopediaStore norske leksikonhvittingAll sources on this page
Rules
Minimum sizes and closed seasons
Show rules for
Showing rules for the whole coast. Rules that apply to only part of the coast are labelled.Showing rules for Southern and Eastern Norway (Østfold to Agder (the Skagerrak coast)).Showing rules for Western Norway (Rogaland and Vestland, south of Stad).Showing rules for Central Norway (Møre og Romsdal and Trøndelag).Showing rules for Northern Norway (Nordland, Troms and Finnmark).
→Minimum size for whiting (kviting) is 32 cm, in the whole country.SourceRule from the authorities · Applies to all regions9AuthorityFiskeridirektoratetMinstemål i fritidsfiskeAll sources on this page
→Whiting is not on the Directorate of Fisheries’ overview of protected and partially protected species.SourceRule from the authorities · Applies to all regions10AuthorityFiskeridirektoratetFreda og delvis freda artarAll sources on this page
→It is prohibited to fish closer than 100 metres to fish farms.SourceRule from the authorities · Applies to all regions15AuthorityFiskeridirektoratetGenerelle reglarAll sources on this page
→It is not permitted to use live fish or other live animals as bait.SourceRule from the authorities · Applies to all regions15AuthorityFiskeridirektoratetGenerelle reglarAll sources on this page
→Northern NorwaySeparate local restrictions may apply, for example for the cod fishery in Lofoten.SourceRule from the authorities · Applies to: Northern Norway15AuthorityFiskeridirektoratetGenerelle reglarAll sources on this page
The rules are translated from Norwegian. Only the Norwegian text and the authorities’ own pages (in Norwegian) are authoritative. Check them before your trip.
Not checked: rules in national parks and other protected areas at sea and local rules adopted by the municipality. The regulations may change, so always check the current rules before your trip.
→A dark pigment spot at the base of the pectoral fin. Most individuals have it.SourcesFact from a specialist source · Applies to all regions1ResearchHavforskningsinstituttetHvitting2EncyclopediaStore norske leksikonhvittingAll sources on this page
→The mouth has a distinct overbite.SourceFact from a specialist source · Applies to all regions2EncyclopediaStore norske leksikonhvittingAll sources on this page
→Small whiting have a tiny barbel. It usually disappears as the fish grows larger, and adults lack it.SourcesFact from a specialist source · Applies to all regions1ResearchHavforskningsinstituttetHvitting2EncyclopediaStore norske leksikonhvittingAll sources on this page
→Silvery with a white belly. According to Store norske leksikon it has a dark greenish back and grey sides with a brassy sheen.SourcesFact from a specialist source · Applies to all regions1ResearchHavforskningsinstituttetHvitting2EncyclopediaStore norske leksikonhvittingAll sources on this page
→The lateral line is slightly curved.SourceFact from a specialist source · Applies to all regions1ResearchHavforskningsinstituttetHvittingAll sources on this page
Size
→In southern waters the whiting grows to 30–40 cm, and further north it can reach 70 cm. Store norske leksikon gives the largest recorded size as 91.5 cm and over 3 kg, while the Institute of Marine Research gives a maximum of 55 cm and 1.5 kg.SourcesFact from a specialist source · Applies to all regions1ResearchHavforskningsinstituttetHvitting2EncyclopediaStore norske leksikonhvittingAll sources on this page
Diet
→The whiting is a typical fish-eater. Its main food is Norway pout, sand eel and herring, but it also takes fry of cod, haddock and whiting, and bottom animals.SourcesFact from a specialist source · Applies to all regions1ResearchHavforskningsinstituttetHvitting2EncyclopediaStore norske leksikonhvittingAll sources on this page
Life history
→Usually a bottom fish at 10–200 metres depth, but it also moves up into the water column.SourcesFact from a specialist source · Applies to all regions1ResearchHavforskningsinstituttetHvitting2EncyclopediaStore norske leksikonhvittingAll sources on this page
→Becomes sexually mature at around 2–3 years of age, at a length of 25–30 cm.SourcesFact from a specialist source · Applies to all regions1ResearchHavforskningsinstituttetHvitting2EncyclopediaStore norske leksikonhvittingAll sources on this page
→The fry live up in the water column, and whiting fry often hide under stinging jellyfish.SourcesFact from a specialist source · Applies to all regions1ResearchHavforskningsinstituttetHvitting2EncyclopediaStore norske leksikonhvittingAll sources on this page
→Found along the whole Norwegian coast, but most common north to Stad.SourceFact from a specialist source · Applies to all regions1ResearchHavforskningsinstituttetHvittingAll sources on this page
The stock
→The Red List status in Norway is viable (LC).SourceFact from a specialist source · Applies to all regions2EncyclopediaStore norske leksikonhvittingAll sources on this page
→Whiting is caught in a mixed whitefish fishery aimed at flatfish, in crustacean fisheries and in the fishery for Norway pout (industrial trawl fishery).SourceFact from a specialist source · Applies to all regions1ResearchHavforskningsinstituttetHvittingAll sources on this page
Experiences
Tips from people who have fished for whiting
From other anglers
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Experiences from readers. They have been read through, but not checked against sources, and do not count towards the source requirement. You will find rules only in the rules section. Tips are shown in the language they were written in, usually Norwegian.
Share an experience
Have you caught whiting? Tell us what worked for you.
Sources
What this page is based on
The numbers in the text refer to the sources below. Fishing tips must be confirmed by at least three independent sources. Read about our source requirements.
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