In conjunction with our partners Big Fish Adventures, we’re excited to bring you our luxury Skrei Cod fishing package to the world-famous island of Soroya. New for 2023, this fully guided trip is exclusive to Sportquest Holidays and offers travelling anglers the chance to fish the fish-rich waters of Northern Norway for the biggest Cod in the world. Utilising the best guides, top of the range boats and deluxe apartments, this is truly a top of the range trip, ideal for those sea anglers looking for the best of the best.
With the range of first-class amenities on offer, it would only be correct to ensure we have the very best fishing to match, which is exactly what we have done. The island of Soroya, where our camp is based, is the most famous Skrei Cod fishing location in Europe and produces more Cod over 60lb each year than anywhere in the world. In fact, in 2013, a German angler smashed the 44-year-old world record for an enormous specimen weighing over 103lb. Throughout the years, our previous hosted trips to the island have rewarded hundreds of anglers with new PBs and produced fish to a whopping 93lb, and it surely won’t be long before one of our customers returns home with a new world record. The question is, could it be you?
These exclusive trips to Soroya only run for a short window during the early part of the season, so availability is limited; so if you’d like to book a trip, don’t delay, contact us today.
The island of Soroya, situated in northern Norway just a few miles from the mainland, is the fourth largest island in the country and one of the most famous Cod fishing hotspots in the world. Its extreme northern location is just a stone’s throw from the migratory routes of millions upon millions of Skrei Cod, and the destination attracts anglers from all around the globe.
For those who don’t know, the name ‘Skrei’ literally means ‘to migrate’, which is precisely what millions of Cod do every season: make the journey from the Barents sea back to their spawning grounds. The Skrei fish at our destination grow to some incredible sizes, and fish of over 50lb to 60lb are not unusual, and every season fish to epic proportions of over 70lb and even 80lb get landed by travelling rods. So if you’ve always dreamt of breaking your Cod PB, then Soroya is the destination for you.
The vast shoals of Skrei fish aren’t fussy and can be caught on a manner of different tactics; however, the best, most effective way is drift fishing with large shads. If it’s the very biggest fish you’re looking for, a shad fished right on top of the shoal will often produce the largest specimens. Even though the Cod aren’t known for their explosive fighting qualities, you’ll certainly know when you’ve hooked one, and the famous ‘Cod Nod’ from a hooked fish is something that all sea anglers can recognise.
The primary season for catching Skrei Cod in Soroya is March and April, as this is when the most extensive run of migratory fish are present and can be targeted just a short steam from the camp. The shoals can be unbelievable at this time of year and will be like nothing you’ve witnessed before. It’s not unusual to find shoals of fish stretching from the sea bed to just a metre below the surface, and they’ve even been seen clearing the water like Marlin. It truly is a spectacle that every keen sea angler needs to witness.
Due to the time of year and location of Soroya, a small island in the open ocean, the waters can be very rough at times, so anglers visiting should be aware it’s not unusual to lose a day or two of fishing to bad weather. However, one advantage of our exclusive camp is the fact that whatever the sea state is, it’s always possible to fish in the relatively sheltered waters of the nearby fjords. The Big Fish guides will always try their hardest to get anglers out fishing even in the worst conditions, it may not be for the giant Skrei Cod, but there’s always something to target. People’s safety always takes precedent over catching fish.
If you do happen to lose any days sea fishing, these will quickly be forgotten as a few hours on the Cod grounds catching the Skrei fish will put a massive smile on your face and have your arms and back aching.
As this is our luxury Skrei Cod fishing package, we only use the camp’s best boat, the Kaasbøll 760HT.
The Kaasbøll 760HT is a large, powerful aluminium boat with a hardtop centre console. Its modern and sporty design makes it a desirable boat to fish from. In addition, it has a slim and deep V-bottom that makes this vessel withstand rough seas at high speeds.
It comes equipped with two Garmin echoMAP 92s and the GT51-M transducer, offering a standard sonar and down and side view scanning options. With this transducer, you can easily see fish down to 300-400 metres. As well as this, it features a Zipwake, a dynamic trim-control system that automatically calculates the boat’s weight shift and compensates for this. What that means in practice is that the boat will remain correctly angled while driving, making the V-bottom work optimally. In addition, the system has an excellent and reliable automatic mode, so you don’t have to trim it manually. The engines of the models are the trusty Yamaha F150DETX models.
If you’d like to learn more about the boats on offer at our luxury Skrei Cod destination in Soroya, visit our YouTube channel.
Keeping in line with the luxury theme, the accommodation on this trip is the camps deluxe apartments, which are undoubtedly some of the finest you will find in Norway. Each house features two floors with 86 square meters and six beds distributed over three bedrooms. On the first floor, you have two bedrooms, a bathroom with a sauna and a washing and drying room. The first floor also has a terrace to sit and enjoy the stunning views.
Upstairs there’s an open kitchen and living room with full glass frontage, offering a jaw-dropping view across the fjord. There’s also a large balcony, the perfect spot to enjoy your morning coffee. The kitchen has a cooker, dishwasher, fridge with a small freezer, coffee machine, microwave, etc. There is also a bathroom and a bedroom on the second floor.
One fantastic feature of these accommodations is the fact that they are just metres from the boats.
The cabins are solely self-catering, meaning that you will be cooking your food whilst enjoying your stay. If you need any extra food or supplies, there is a local supermarket. If you didn’t want to cook every night and fancied eating out, the camp also has a hotel with a restaurant a short walk away and it’s also possible to arrange a full board package.
Although the fishing days are fixed, the below itinerary is still flexible should you require additional free days to explore at the beginning or end of your holiday; we can tailor this itinerary to suit you personally. Feel free to talk to our travel consultants who can explain all options available.
Depart UK
Arrive Oslo Depart Oslo
Arrive Tromso Depart Tromso
Arrive Hasvik
Once you have picked up your luggage and cleared customs, you will make your way outside of the terminal where there will be a representative from Big Fish Adventures waiting to transfer you and the group to your accommodation. You are then free to unpack and get your fishing tackle ready for your very first days fishing. Your hosts will make their way around the cabins offering their advice on tackle and making sure everyone is set ready for the next days fishing.
Overnight accommodation: Luxury Sørøya Cabins (Twin rooms) S/C
Over the next 6 days of fishing, all boats will head out at the same time following the host’s boat out to the fishing marks. Once on the fishing grounds, the boats will split up a little to try and locate the bigger fish. It is very important to keep in touch informing each other on what is being caught. Due to this holiday being early on in the season and mainly Skrei Cod being the target, it is difficult to target other species. However, if the wind prevents you from reaching the main Cod grounds then it is possible to fish closer in and try for Wolfish and Halibut.
Overnight accommodation: Luxury Sørøya Cabins (Twin rooms) S/C
Each day you will head out to the Cod grounds where you will be fishing and with some help and advice from your host will be targeting potential world record-sized Cod. It is important to release the big fish and the simple way of doing this is to stop reeling in once you see your cod in the water, let it release all its bubbles then once it starts to fight back then you can simply reel it up the last remaining few meters and lift it out. Be as quick as possible with regards to weighing and taking pictures then once you have finished making sure that you put the fish back in the water headfirst, forcing air through its gills.
Overnight accommodation: Luxury Sørøya Cabins (Twin rooms) S/C
In the morning you will check out of your cabin and then be transferred back to Hasvik airport for your return flight.
Depart Hasvik
Arrive Tromso Depart Tromso
Arrive Oslo Depart Oslo
Arrive UK
The season runs from March to April.
Season: March to April
Peak: March
Weight: 15lb to 103lb
Average Weight: 40lb
As this is a hosted holiday there are no supplements for travelling alone.
Remember that Sportquest Holidays' services are completely FREE! When you book a trip with Sportquest Holidays, you never pay more than when you book directly with the lodge and flights independently.
| Departing | Returning | Days | Price | Availability | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 01/03/2024 | 08/03/2024 | 8 | £2,377 | Sold Out | ||
| Fully guided by Big Fish Adventures guides | Fully guided by Big Fish Adventures guides | |||||
| 08/03/2024 | 15/03/2024 | 8 | £2,377 | Enquire Now | ||
| Fully guided by Big Fish Adventures guides | Fully guided by Big Fish Adventures guides | |||||
| 15/03/2024 | 22/03/2024 | 8 | £2,377 | Enquire Now | ||
| Fully guided by Big Fish Adventures guides | Fully guided by Big Fish Adventures guides | |||||
| 22/03/2024 | 29/03/2024 | 8 | £2,377 | Enquire Now | ||
| Fully guided by Big Fish Adventures guides | Fully guided by Big Fish Adventures guides | |||||
| 29/03/2024 | 05/04/2024 | 8 | £2,377 | Enquire Now | ||
| Fully guided by Big Fish Adventures guides | Fully guided by Big Fish Adventures guides | |||||
| 05/04/2024 | 12/04/2024 | 8 | £2,377 | Enquire Now | ||
| Fully guided by Big Fish Adventures guides | Fully guided by Big Fish Adventures guides | |||||
Prices are per person and based on 2 people sharing a twin room and 4 anglers per guide/boat. (unless otherwise stated) and are correct at the time of going to press. Subject to time of year or date and currency fluctuations, these prices may fluctuate slightly due to flight price increases or fuel surcharge.
The hotel was a great option. Food, drink hospitality first class. Armed the proprietor would love to see somebody from Sportquest. He is very proud of his operation and would love more english.
New housing, dock and boats represent large investment. We all took far too much equipment, its all there at UK prices. The fishing was made difficult by the weather.
Hello Stephen, so glad you liked the set up. The guys over there have made huge investments and by the sounds of it, it shows. I would love to go over there right now but a little too busy, it will have to wait until March 2020 when I am running a hosted trip after the Cod.
All the best
Paul
It was the best sea fishing I've ever experienced and the Cod were the biggest I've ever seen. The weather kept us in for a couple of days, but the days we could get out more than made up for it. I landed numerous Cod over 30, 40 and 50lb! By the end of the week, we were unhooking 20lb fish by the side of the boat... absolute madness and crazy fishing!
I'd heard lots about Soroya and lots about the Skrei Cod fishing, but I still wasn't sure what to expect and I don't think anything could have prepared me for what I experienced. The Cod fishing was simply insane, some of the shoals on the fishfinder spanned from the bottom to a few feet below the surface and on our boat, we landed Cod to over 60lb!
We were exceptionally proud to be involved with the Mortimer and Whitehouse Gone Fishing Christmas Special to Norway in 2022. Being the first time the programme had ventured outside the UK, it took a tremendous amount of work to produce the itinerary and cater for the thirteen-strong production team, but it was a fantastic couple of weeks away. If you enjoyed the programme, here is more information on Paul and Bob's trip and the itinerary it followed.
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