Record salmon catches in Iceland's Jökla river attributed to stock rebuilding efforts

Salmon fishing in Iceland's Jökla river is experiencing a remarkable season, with catches already surpassing last year's total by more than a third. By mid-August, anglers had landed over 1,260 salmon, with 284 caught in the preceding seven days alone. The fishing season continues until the end of September, suggesting the final tally will be even higher.

This year's success is particularly notable for the abundance of large salmon, often referred to as "stórlax." According to Þröstur Elliðason, who heads the fishing service Strengir that leases the Jökla and its tributaries, about half of the fish caught are over 80 centimeters long. "This is a magnificent catch, looks good, and there are a lot of fish, and the salmon are still running," Elliðason told Morgunblaðið.

Elliðason attributes the thriving fish population to sustained efforts to rebuild the river's stocks since the Jökla hydroelectric power plant was established. "We have been building up the river since Jökla was harnessed, and one of the country's largest salmon populations has now been established here," he explained. Other Icelandic rivers are also reporting strong fishing seasons, with Þverá and Kjarrá exceeding 2,000 salmon and Laxá in Kjós nearing its total catch from last year.

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This is a magnificent catch, looks good, and there are a lot of fish, and the salmon are still running. I expected good fishing this summer, we have been building up the river since Jökla was harnessed and one of the country's largest salmon populations has now been established here.