Outdoor in Montenegro: fishing, hunting, boats, drones

This page lists the rules for visitors that official Montenegrin sources confirm: fishing, hunting, weapons at the border, diving, boats, drones and the emergency number 112.

Fishing

Recreational fishing needs a valid permit. The rules follow the sea fishing law and the freshwater fishing law.

Sea: the ministry or an authorised institution issues the permit. A permit is valid for a set period. It can cover shore fishing, boat fishing or spearfishing.
Freshwater: the user of the fishing water or the competent body issues the permit. Carry it. Show it to an inspector or fish warden on request.
Big game sea fishing (special sea angling for species set by the Fisheries Directorate): you need a daily permit. Keep catch records.

Allowed

Fish with a valid permit for the type of fishing you do.
Use only the allowed gear (sea fishing).

Declare

Show your freshwater permit to an inspector or fish warden on request.

Not allowed

Sell your catch. This is banned for sea fishing, including big game fishing.
Take fish below the minimum size or in a closed season (sea fishing).

Freshwater permits and catch limits

This section follows the freshwater rulebook of 2019 (Sl. list CG 11/2019). Freshwater permits are daily, monthly, annual, district (revirska) or night carp. Monthly and annual permits show your nationality and your passport or ID number.

Apply to a sport fishing club, a company or an entrepreneur that uses the water. Inside a protected natural area, apply to the legal person that manages the area.

Fish	Daily limit (number of fish)
Fish not listed below	5
Adriatic trout, Black Sea trout, grayling, lake char, brook char	2
Eel	4
Lake trout (blatnjača)	1

The 2014 amendment of the sea recreational fishing rulebook sets this sea limit: a permit holder may take up to 3 kg of fish and other sea organisms per day, plus one fish heavier than 3 kg. The limit does not apply to tuna, swordfish or competitions. The ministry page lists the current legal documents on sea fishing.

Hunting

The hunting-ground user (lovište) organises a hunt for a foreigner. The hunt follows the ground's own rules and has an expert escort.

The hunt is on farm-bred game, or on game whose numbers keep a natural balance.
The ministry must give prior consent. The hunting-ground user requests it and pays an administrative fee of EUR 3.00.
A tourism agency can take part under a contract.

Hunting weapons at the border

A foreigner may carry a weapon across the border for hunting and sport competitions without prior notice, but only at a border crossing open to international traffic. See also Customs and Entry.

Allowed

Carry the weapon and its ammunition across the border for hunting or a sport competition.
Enter at a border crossing open to international traffic.

Declare

Declare the weapon and ammunition to the border police.
Show the weapon document and proof of purpose: an invitation letter, a notice from the hunt or competition organiser, or a purchase approval.

Not allowed

Cross at a border crossing that is not open to international traffic.
Sell the weapon or ammunition.

Entry in the travel document: a foreign hunter in transit, or arriving to hunt, may carry a weapon if it is entered in the travel document. A Montenegrin diplomatic-consular mission enters it if you have a weapon-carry approval under the rules of your country of residence. If it is not entered, the border police enter it on the same condition and issue an import approval. On exit the border police take the approval back and cancel the entry.
EU citizens: a weapon listed in the European Firearms Pass needs a prior import approval. The approval is valid for one year and can be extended by one year. No approval is needed if the pass lists the weapon for hunting or sport competitions and you have proof of purpose (invitation letter or organiser notice).

This section follows the promulgation text of the Law on Weapons of 3 March 2015.

Diving and marine parks

Article 18 of the Law on Safety of Maritime Navigation (2020 consolidated text): a person who spearfishes, does underwater research or does other underwater activities must tow a yellow or orange buoy of at least 30 cm diameter on the water surface during the dive.

Montenegro has three marine protected areas: Platamuni, Katič and Stari Ulcinj.

Platamuni nature park (1,087.13 ha) was declared in April 2021. It is the first marine protected area in Montenegro. It has protection zone II (Žukovac bay with Kalafat reef, Velika Krekavica bay, and the area off Cape Platamuni) and zone III (land and sea). Illegal fishing and anchoring are listed as pressures on the park.

Boats and yachts

Ports open to international traffic: Bar, Budva, Kotor, Kumbor-Portonovi, Tivat (Gat I and II, Porto Montenegro) and Zelenika.

A skipper of a foreign yacht must follow these steps.

Sail by the shortest route to a destination port open to international traffic.
Pass border control there.
Get the vignette (vinjeta) and have the crew and passenger list certified.

Port	Customs post for yachts
Bar, Zelenika, Kotor	Open 24 hours, all year
Tivat marinas	Small vessels only
Budva marina	Small vessels only, May to October

A yacht is declared orally (conclusive act), without customs documents. It is a temporary import under the Istanbul Convention. If you bring the yacht by road, go to the customs post nearest to the harbour master. The vignette is issued there.

Documents for the vignette: application, registration certificate, competence certificates of the skipper and crew, third-party liability insurance, proof of ownership or a power of attorney, proof of paid navigation-safety fee and administrative tax.
Where to apply: in person at a harbour master's office (Lučka kapetanija) or a branch that accepts POS payment, or online on the eUprava portal.
Appeal: within 15 days of receiving the decision.

This section follows the Law on Yachts as described in a June 2023 government programme.

Drones

Montenegro uses the EU drone rules (Regulation 2019/947). The country adopted them in 2023 in the Pravilnik o uslovima za sigurnu upotrebu sistema bespilotnih vazduhoplova (Sl. list CG 24/23, 117/23, 75/25).

Emergencies and mountain rescue

Number	Use
112	Emergencies, including mountain rescue. Works 24 hours, 7 days a week, in the whole country.

The operators take calls in English, Italian, Russian and Albanian. When needed, the 112 centre calls the Mountain Rescue Service, the maritime safety administration and divers.

In 2025 the 112 centre coordinated 45 mountain rescue actions. They saved 94 people (81 foreigners and 13 Montenegrins). One foreigner died.

Outdoor and sport: fishing, hunting, boats, drones