Consistency and calm waters define Sandbakken. Sheltered by the island of Senja, this fjord system delivers fishing from the moment you arrive. Powerful Coalfish crash shads in open water, Cod over 30lb prowl the peaks, and Halibut lie in wait on ledges and sandy flats when the mackerel shoals push through. Anglers can drift bays, reefs, and deep drops directly from camp, or head further out in search of Haddock and bigger Coalfish. Closer to shore, light rigs bring Plaice, Dabs, and Wolffish, with the jetty itself offering sport just steps from your cabin.
Fishing is from self-drive Silver Viking boats, easy to operate, fully kitted out, and moored only metres from your door. With no restrictions on hours, you control where and when you fish, moving at your own pace across prime water.
Accommodation is in cosy self-catering cabins right on the water’s edge. Each features comfortable bedrooms, private bathrooms, and modern kitchens, giving you full independence. Outdoor filleting stations and freezers make catch preparation straightforward, while barbecues invite evenings cooking fish fresh from the fjord. The setting is relaxed and social, with mountain peaks as the backdrop. For non-anglers, days can be filled with hiking, foraging cloudberries, or exploring Senja by bike or car.
Sandbakken is built for anglers who like independence, variety, and accessible fishing, paired with the freedom of a self-catering holiday in one of Norway’s most scenic fjord systems.
The season runs from April to September.
Season: April to September
Peak: April to May
Weight: 5lb to 90lb
Average Weight: 10lb
Season: April to September
Peak: May to September
Weight: 5lb to 40lb
Average Weight: 10lb
Season: May to September
Peak: September
Weight: 1lb to 5lb
Average Weight: 2lb
Season: May to September
Peak: June to August
Weight: 6lb to 160lb
Average Weight: 20lb
Depart Any international airport - Arrive Oslo
Depart Any international airport - Arrive Oslo
Depart: TBA
Arrive: Oslo Airport, Gardermoen
General Note
General Note
Please note: Depending on your chosen international airport, an overnight flight and/or hotel stay may be required, which may affect your departure and return dates. Your itinerary will be finalised once travel arrangements are confirmed.
Independent flight/travel arrangements can be accommodated, though our flight-inclusive packages are recommended to ensure seamless integration into your holiday plans.
Depart Oslo - Arrive Bardufoss
Depart Oslo - Arrive Bardufoss
Depart: Oslo Airport, Gardermoen
Arrive: Bardufoss Airport
Transfer from Bardufoss Airport to Sandbakken
Transfer from Bardufoss Airport to Sandbakken
After you have cleared customs, a representative from our partners will greet you and transfer you to the camp, a journey of approximately 30 minutes.
Once you arrive, the owners will show you around your cabin and provide a quick briefing on the boats and the equipment supplied. After that, you’re free to begin fishing.
Sandbakken Cabin
Overnight Accommodation
Sandbakken Cabin in a Twin Room on a Self Catering basis
Fishing
Fishing
During your first two fishing days, you will get your first taste of what Sandbakken has to offer, a camp famed for its fantastic mixed fishing and one considered virtually weatherproof. Thanks to the protection provided by Senja, one of Norway’s largest islands, it’s the ideal destination for anglers who prefer to avoid controlling a boat on the open ocean. Throughout the year, whatever the weather is doing out at sea, there is always somewhere to fish in the fjord – in fact, Solbergfjorden offers anglers a host of intimate bays and fish-holding features just a stone’s throw from the cabins.
Sandbakken Cabin
Overnight Accommodation
Sandbakken Cabin in a Twin Room on a Self Catering basis
Fishing
Fishing
Hopefully, by fishing days three and four, you’re settled into driving the boats and finding the fish. It can be a challenge, but that’s half the fun: finding and fishing your marks. Sandbakken is famous for three main species: Cod, Halibut and Coalfish. However, many other species are available, including Haddock, Wolffish, Dabs and Plaice.
Note: We supply a laminated map of the local fjord, which we recommend studying to try and find some marks in advance. Drop-offs, underwater structures, and shallower areas surrounded by deep water are all worth exploring. Don’t ignore the shallower bays, especially for Halibut and other flatfish.
Sandbakken Cabin
Overnight Accommodation
Sandbakken Cabin in a Twin Room on a Self Catering basis
Fishing
Fishing
On your last two fishing days and throughout your fishing week, you will wet a line from the camp’s easy-to-use, self-drive boats. They are 18ft Silver Vikings, featuring a 40Hp, four-stroke electric start engine; they are roomy and steady at sea, ideal for up to four anglers. They’re moored outside the accommodation on the camp’s custom-built jetty. As these are all self-drive, you can fish as much or as little as you like; there are no time limits on these trips; if you want, you can fish until you drop.
Sandbakken Cabin
Overnight Accommodation
Sandbakken Cabin in a Twin Room on a Self Catering basis
Transfer from Sandbakken to Bardufoss Airport
Transfer from Sandbakken to Bardufoss Airport
In the morning you will be transferred back to the airport ready to catch your flights home. The transfer takes approximately 30 minutes.
Depart Bardufoss - Arrive Oslo
Depart Bardufoss - Arrive Oslo
Depart: Bardufoss Airport
Arrive: Oslo Airport, Gardermoen
Depart Oslo - Arrive Any international airport
Depart Oslo - Arrive Any international airport
Depart: Oslo Airport, Gardermoen
Arrive: TBA
General Note
General Note
Please note: Depending on your chosen international airport, an overnight flight and/or hotel stay may be required, which may affect your departure and return dates. Your itinerary will be finalised once travel arrangements are confirmed.
Independent flight/travel arrangements can be accommodated, though our flight-inclusive packages are recommended to ensure seamless integration into your holiday plans.
Prices are shown per person and are based on twin rooms and four anglers per self-drive boat, unless otherwise specified. All prices are accurate at the time of publication but may vary slightly depending on factors such as travel dates, booking time, airline pricing, or fuel surcharges set by the operators. Flights are always priced at the most competitive rates available at the time of enquiry to ensure you receive the best possible value when booking.
Proudly an ATOL bonded company, our trips are complete packages, including all flights, transfers, accommodation, and fantastic fishing and shooting experiences.
Please note: If you were born after 1980, a motorboat certificate is required by Norwegian Law to operate the boat. Please get in touch with a member of the Sportquest Holidays team for further information.
| From | To | Days | Price | Availability |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 22/07/2026 | 29/07/2026 | 8 | £1,417 | Sold Out |
| 29/07/2026 | 05/08/2026 | 8 | £1,417 | Enquire |
| 05/08/2026 | 12/08/2026 | 8 | £1,417 | Sold Out |
| 12/08/2026 | 19/08/2026 | 8 | £1,417 | Enquire |
| 19/08/2026 | 26/08/2026 | 8 | £1,417 | Enquire |
| 26/08/2026 | 02/09/2026 | 8 | £1,417 | Enquire |
| 02/09/2026 | 09/09/2026 | 8 | £1,392 | Sold Out |
| 09/09/2026 | 16/09/2026 | 8 | £1,392 | Enquire |
| 21/04/2027 | 28/04/2027 | 8 | £1,334 | Enquire |
| 28/04/2027 | 05/05/2027 | 8 | £1,334 | Enquire |
| 05/05/2027 | 12/05/2027 | 8 | £1,407 | Enquire |
| 12/05/2027 | 19/05/2027 | 8 | £1,407 | Enquire |
| 19/05/2027 | 26/05/2027 | 8 | £1,407 | Enquire |
| 26/05/2027 | 02/06/2027 | 8 | £1,407 | Enquire |
| 02/06/2027 | 09/06/2027 | 8 | £1,432 | Enquire |
| 09/06/2027 | 16/06/2027 | 8 | £1,432 | Enquire |
| 16/06/2027 | 23/06/2027 | 8 | £1,432 | Enquire |
| 23/06/2027 | 30/06/2027 | 8 | £1,432 | Enquire |
| 30/06/2027 | 07/07/2027 | 8 | £1,432 | Enquire |
| 07/07/2027 | 14/07/2027 | 8 | £1,432 | Enquire |
| 14/07/2027 | 21/07/2027 | 8 | £1,432 | Enquire |
| 21/07/2027 | 28/07/2027 | 8 | £1,432 | Enquire |
| 28/07/2027 | 04/08/2027 | 8 | £1,432 | Enquire |
| 04/08/2027 | 11/08/2027 | 8 | £1,432 | Enquire |
| 11/08/2027 | 18/08/2027 | 8 | £1,432 | Enquire |
| 18/08/2027 | 25/08/2027 | 8 | £1,432 | Enquire |
| 25/08/2027 | 01/09/2027 | 8 | £1,432 | Enquire |
| 01/09/2027 | 08/09/2027 | 8 | £1,407 | Enquire |
| 08/09/2027 | 15/09/2027 | 8 | £1,407 | Enquire |
If your preferred week or travel dates do not appear in the calendar above, please get in touch. Many lodges release availability in stages, and some dates depend on tides, seasons, guide schedules, or short-notice changes. By speaking with us directly, you will receive the most up to date availability and clear guidance on securing the strongest options before popular weeks fill. Enquire now and we will check live availability for the dates you are considering.
Our ATOL protection, means you have financial security on your booking.
All our destinations are thoroughly researched by our team of experts.
We have worked hard to be able to provide you with the best prices possible.
We offer complete holiday packages, making booking a holiday simple.
"An excellent trip, the weather was abnormally cold which seems to have reduced fish numbers. We still caught loads of cod to 15llbs. a 15lb Wolf fish and managed to loose two Halibut. The coal fish were all small and less abundant. On the wildlife front we saw Fish Eagles , Porpoises and Raindeer. The accommodation was very good and the people were lovely. A trip to remember. "
"First of all is the ease of booking the holiday you require.
travel arrangements are excellent
holiday description in brochure is first class, accommodation and fishing just as described
we liked the freedom to fish when and for how long you want plus the owners of the camp in Sandbakken Norway treat the guests like friends
"
"Norway fishing is most definitely challenging but rewarding!
I have just returned form my weeks fishing in Norway booked with Sportquest Holidays and what can I say the fishing in Norway is like no other. Before leaving England the weather in Norway was excellent and the fish were crawling up the line, unfortunately this all changed just hours before we arrived the weather had a turn for the worse and the temperature dropped, and to top it all off the snow melt had made the Norwegian seas more coloured then ever. However I am happy to report even with the conditions against us the fishing was awesome, we spent a lot of time motoring around trying to find fish and for the first few days as all we managed was smaller fish ranging from 1-5lb (not a bad size however not what I went to Norway for.) Not to worry I was not to be defeated and kept up the hard work and boy did this pay off. Finally I found the fish with a little help from the locals, we started to land cod after cod after cod and this time they were bigger. The average size was around 8-10lb with a few magical fish mixed in including cod to 28lb and halibut to 20lb.
Once we had found the fish we never looked back everyday was extreme fishing and there was more cod than we knew what to do with, not forgetting countless wolfish, lyng mixed in. All in all this trip was unbelievable even with the locals saying we couldn’t have had worse fishing conditions we had at least 600 fish between my boat of 3. After being to Norway and experiencing the fishing first hand I would like to offer a few pointers to increase your fishing experience. > silver (chrome) perks are a must with some small red worms up the trace. Try to fish at night even though it doesn’t get dark the fishing was still better early hours of the morning. Fish shallow water the fish are in surprising shallow water I would recommend 5-40m no deeper. (15-20m seems to be the magical marks). Always listen to the local lets be honest they know the waters like the back of their hands and will put your on fish. I would like to say thank you to Sportquest Holidays for a smooth well run set up the service and the information was spot on.
I will be returning next year hopefully next time to some better conditions.
"
"It was well worth the trip, great new destination, everything boats etc was in top condition and the best part was the fishing. We caught Cod, Coalfish and even Halibut all on perks."
"A must trip for any sea angler, would highly recommend to anyone. See you again next year thank you so much."
"just returned from Sandbakken Fishing Lodge 2nd--9th July, what a fantastic week my two sons and I had, this was our third visit, the weather was great mid to high 20's for most of the week so we mainly fished through the night when it got slightly cooler, we had plenty of fish, cod to 20lb halibut to 23lb coalfish to 20lb wolf-fish to 16lb and lots in the 8-14lb range.
although we didn't see Kristian this trip Merete looked after us very well.
anyone thinking of going to Sandbakken I would recommend it
Once I get the pictures from my sons I will pass them on"
"Sandbakken lodge Norway.
Firstly i would like to thank Paul Stevens and the Sportquest team for all of their help and assistance in setting up this memorable holiday.
Our journey began with the 4 hour drive from Shropshire to Gatwick airport, once at Gatwick we experienced our first few lessons to remember for next time (this being our first fishing trip abroad) we soon realised we had far too much baggage, which was confirmed after the holiday was over as we all had at least 3 sets of clothing each that we had not worn during the stay, yes there was cold times once on the boat but we all used our preferred items of clothing on every trip out, mine being savage gear all in one fleece suit with fleece jacket, cargo trousers and floatation suit, neck tube and russian style hat. Lesson 2 is check the pockets of the clothing you are taking, one of us packed there shooting jacket in their hand luggage forgetting that in the inside pocket was their skinning knife, after a full search and confiscating the "concealed weapon" we were allowed to board the plane.
Once at sandbakken we were overwhelmed by the views and was eager to get fishing. Bags were dumped in the cabin, rods set-up and off we went, first drop and my wife was in to a 12lb Cod, wow is this how the holiday is going to continue.. unfortunately not, the next 2 days we experienced the strongest winds they have had for 4 years, we still managed a few hours in the evenings but had to stay close to shore with the wind behind us, once the winds had stopped we found ourselves false hooking most of our catches, why were the fish not feeding ?
We spoke to some of the locals who advised us to fish early hours of the morning using smaller Pirks 200-300g instead of our 400g + we was also informed that the majority of larger fish had left the fjord 2 weeks ago but should be returning soon..
Best catches of the week was 16lb Coalfish, 15lb Cod, 15lb Wolf fish. (all caught by the female members) Plenty of fish in the 8 - 12lb range which was great sport on our lighter tackle.
The only other advice I would like to give is make sure you take out the best insurance available, as we had to pay 10,000 kr for damaged to the propellor and hull of the boat, damage was caused during rough waters which forced us to stay within 20 meters off the shore line, we quickly came into shallow waters that was not marked by any bouys or depth markers. Currently going through the claims process but my advise would be go for best insurance and read the small print.
Overall an experience of a lifetime, no regrets apart from wishing I was still there..
Once again thanks to all of the sportquest team..
"
"I love using sportsquest as you have no worries at all everything taken care of "
"Thanks Sportquest Holidays for helping us make our minds up on where to go in Norway. There are so many camps out there but once we had explained what we were after Paul in the office pointed us in the right direction. We managed all the species we went for, not as big as we thought but that is fishing
Paul can you ring us as we would like to try some where else next year"
"The fishing was very good. I would leave the holiday as it is. Would go again!"
"Great time at Sandbakken! Fantastic place, people and fishing. Cod to 37lb, coalfish to 26lb, a couple of small halibut, redfish, haddock, torsk, wolfish and mackerel. We were joined in the fjord by whales on more than one occasion. Would recommend to anyone. Excellent, 10/10. "
"Overall a brilliant holiday. The automated check in was a bit awkward, but soon mastered. The only part of the info that may be improved was the fishing marks i.e. what time of the tide and direction to fish them."
"Down side was the return flights.
Lost a fishing day due to early pick up. Too long between flights."
"I cant fault any of the holiday. The best part was catching my biggest ever fish!"
"Fishing slow at first, but did have a couple of very good days with some big Coalfish after getting some info from some other German guests."
"Superb fishing and location. Suggest accommodation beds could be bigger and host could be better prepared, ie have a stock of food essentials & beers."
"I was lucky to bewith a 5 person party who had previous experience of Norway and the fish camp, so I was given plenty of info. There was another party there from the UK who had never been before and we had to give them help as there didn't seem to be much coming from the guide."
"Fishing very slow at first but once we found fish you could not fail. Had three halibut on light lure rods and small shads great sport and some cod on same tackle. Shame Coalfish were not about struggles to catch on the big lures. My team do a lot of catch and release I think they do need some decent landing nets on the boats had a good time thanks."
"Excellent holiday.
Fish sizes were not a disappointment.
Watching a Sea Eagle take a fish from the fjord was amazing.
Mackerel worked a treat.
Bring a cushion to sit on while on the boat.
Very good boats."
"Superb Holiday with everything covered from Start to Finish. All instructions and travel details where spot on.
If you forward on a memory stick I would be happy to load up all our photos and send back"
"This is the second time will be in for this location not much is changed since the last time we went. We did have one day where we could not get out due to the weather. But this is understanding and can’t be helped. The only issue we had. When we got to Oslo getting through customs what is a nightmare and we had to run to get through the next flight which luckily they just held the plane for another five minutes and we would’ve missed it. "
"From the minute we were picked up our host Kristian made us feel welcome. Showed us round the camp and facilities. We got through the formalities without any hassle. A really homely atmosphere and without encroaching on your time you always knew they were about to help with absolutely everything. Fishing was unbelievable and the whole holiday surpassed all expectations "
"From the minute of booking we felt in safe hands with this been our first trip to Norway. Flights, transfers, accommodation, facilities and the actual fishing was top notch. Overall surpassed my expectation of the bucket list trip."
"Fishing at Sandbakken was hampered by unusually hot weather. Most days were 27 degrees and perfectly calm but by the end of the week we had found some better fish. Cod to 20lbs and endless smaller Coalfish. Due to the conditions everything was caught on light gear. Most fish, even the larger Cod, were taken on mackerel feathers weighted down with a 2oz pirk. Find the big shoals of Coalfish and you have found the Cod. Sandbakken is a great venue and I will certainly go back again. "
"As a first time group travelling to Norway, we were recommended Sandbakken as the destination of choice by Paul at Sportquest and I must say it was perfect for what we wanted. All the fishing was very sheltered (which was important to some of the guys in our group), the boats were easy to use and the accommodation was comfortable. Finding the fish was a little challenging, but that was part of the excitement, we still however caught everyday. Highlights included a near 50lb Halibut and a pair of 20lb Cod landed on the same day. I think I've got the bug now and would certainly return, maybe on one of the guided trips next time, as I'm eyeing up a bigger Halibut. "
"I managed Cod, Coalfish and Halibut to over 20lb, so I was well happy. Everything ran smoothly and I'd certainly recommend Sportquest. Cheers. "
"Everything ran smoothly from the booking process to collecting our luggage back at Gatwick.
The accommodation, facilities and location at Sandbaaken were very good, providing everything we needed. The hosting was outstanding, nothing was too much trouble, we were given detailed charts, advice on where and when to fish, the self drive boats were stable and roomy, with Garmin Sonar/GPS.
Even though the weather was unseasonably wintery we got out every day and caught fish. We had plenty of Cod to 22lb on Silver Pirks, we also had Wolf Fish, Coley and a halibut, ( which sadly, we lost)
For us this was a trip of a lifetime. Sportquest and Sandbaaken made it superb and seamless."
"Great 1st trip to Norway. Caught loads of fish, highlighted by two130cm Halibut for one of the lads. By far the best fishing was near the road bridge at Finnsnes"
The cabins are purpose-built, self-catering ones on the water’s edge. Imagine waking up to the waves hitting the jetty and birds singing outside your bedroom window, surrounded by mountains. The open-planned kitchen and dining area in these cabins contains a small oven, a microwave, a coffee maker and a refrigerator. It also has a bathroom with a shower, a toilet and a four-person sauna. Every cabin has a large fridge perfect for storing food and keeping everything fresh. All cutlery will be supplied, including small cups, glasses, plates, bowls and small plates.
Each bedroom has clean sheets, a duvet set, one small towel and one large towel. If you run out of anything during your stay, ask the owners, and they will replenish.
When you arrive at the shore from a long day out fishing, you can prepare your catch at our outdoor filleting station, and then why not cook your fresh catch on the free-to-use BBQ (charcoal not provided) with travelling mates or perhaps some new friends?
There is also a well-stocked tackle shop on-site if you need any items whilst fishing. Just ask the camp owners, and they will be able to help.
The holiday is solely a self-catering holiday. There are no amenities at the camp where you can buy hot food. The local supermarket is 8 kilometres away in Sørreisa, and for a small charge, the camp owner will take you there in their car. Here, you will be able to buy your weekly provisions. You also have the opportunity to hire bicycles if that takes your fancy more, and you can cycle in to grab smaller items that will fit in a rucksack.
If you wish, if you’d like to explore more of your surroundings, it’s possible to hire a car from Bardufoss Airport. If you prefer to be more active, hiking close to the camp and even picking a range of blueberries, cloudberries, and raspberries in the forest is possible.
Exclusive to Sportquest Holidays, Sandbakken is a camp situated in an idyllic location on the shores of the Solbergfjorden in Sorreisa, Norway. Surrounded by 1000m high mountains and protected from the open ocean by the island of Senja, it’s a destination famed for its fantastic weather-proof fishing. The waters surrounding the small nest of cabins on the edge of the fjord offer travelling anglers the chance to enjoy a brilliant week of mixed fishing, wetting a line for Cod, Halibut, Coalfish, Wolffish and a whole host of smaller species.
Thanks to the protection offered by Senja, one of Norway’s largest islands, Sandbakken is the ideal destination for anglers who prefer to avoid controlling a boat on the open ocean. Throughout the year, whatever the weather is doing out at sea, there is always somewhere to fish in the fjord. In fact, Solbergfjorden offers anglers a host of intimate bays and fish-holding features just a stone’s throw from the cabins.
With a short, direct transfer time from the airport, easy-to-use boats, and excellent mixed fishing, the camp is the ideal location for first-timers visiting Norway or those worried about sea sickness. On the other hand, it’s also perfect for seasoned anglers looking to catch various species and use their watercraft to target those bigger specimens.
To find out more about the fishing on offer at Sandbakken in Norway, visit our YouTube channel.
Sandbakken is famous for three main species: Cod, Halibut and Coalfish. However, many other species are also on offer, including Haddock, Wolffish, Dabs and Plaice.
Resident Cod can be caught all year round, with fish between 10lb and 30lb common, with even bigger specimens landed every season. When targeting these, we recommend looking for fish-holding features such as underwater pinnacles of around 60 – 90m with deep areas on either side. All fishing gets done on the drift, and the primary tactic is to use a pirk bounced along the bottom. Pirks between 150-300 grams typically suffice, and popular colours include Silver, Silver and Blue, Green, and even Orange. If you want to target the giant Cod, a 20cm+ shad is an excellent tactic and can often account for the better fish.
Halibut fishing has been excellent over the last five years, and more fish are getting landed every season. Once again, shads are an excellent tactic for these famous giant flatfish, but so is dead baiting. A popular method is a medium-sized Coalfish or Mackerel dead bait fished on an anti-twist lead. In late July and early August, the fjord can be filled with large Mackerel, often coinciding with an increase in Halibut numbers.
Of all the species you can catch at Sandbakken, the Coalfish is among the best. From April onwards, good numbers of these fish can be found in the fjord, with specimens of over 20lb not unusual. These are generally willing to smash anything presented to them, but they do love a medium-sized lure of shad. In the right conditions, they can also get caught in the upper layers and even on surface poppers, providing some fantastic action.
Close to the camp, many of the intimate bays offer anglers the chance to target Plaice and Dabs. These are best targeted using flowing traces or flapper rigs with smaller hooks, baited with frozen black lugworm of prawns. If you tackle up with a lighter outfit for these species, it’s also possible to use the same fishing from the pier and jetty.
*Please note that, by Norwegian law, you’re not allowed to intentionally target and catch Halibut until the 20th of April each year.
The boats at Sandbakken in Norway are easy-to-use, self-drive boats. They are 18ft Silver Vikings, featuring a 40Hp, four-stroke electric start engine; they are roomy and steady at sea, ideal for up to four anglers. They’re moored outside the accommodation on the camp’s custom-built jetty. As these are all self-drive, you can fish as much or as little as you like; there are no time limits on these trips; if you want, you can fish until you drop.
There is also the possibility, subject to availability, to upgrade your boat to a 19-foot Kvernø Aluminium model fitted with a 60Hp engine, a GPS and a fish finder. At Sandbakken, one upgrade is available, so please inquire about the booking time. All boats have complete safety equipment, life jackets and a 24-hour mobile telephone number.
The destination is perfect for anglers who have never experienced Norway, as all fishing is fjord-based with minimal tide and a fair amount of shelter from any winds. The fishery is relatively straightforward, and even beginners have an excellent chance of landing many specimens. We have sent many customers on their first sea fishing trip to Sandbakken, who have loved it.
The number of fish you catch at Sandbakken will depend on what you’d like from your holiday. If you don’t mind what you fish for and what you catch, it’s possible to land good numbers of mixed fish from Cod, Coalfish and Haddock. However, the action will be slower if you set your stall out to target the bigger specimens or solely Halibut, but when you get the bite, you could easily hook up to the fish of a lifetime. You will discover Cod shoals that are relatively straightforward to catch, with the same comments applied to the Haddock, while the Coalfish tend to feed for relatively short periods and the Halibut only for around 1.5 hours in a tide.
Note: All the fish caught must be reported after each fishing session. The camp owner will demonstrate the best way for you to do this on arrival.
An excellent trip, the weather was abnormally cold which seems to have reduced fish numbers. We still caught loads of cod to 15llbs. a 15lb Wolf fish and managed to loose two Halibut. The coal fish were all small and less abundant. On the wildlife front we saw Fish Eagles , Porpoises and Raindeer. The accommodation was very good and the people were lovely. A trip to remember.
Thats great to hear, Sandbakken is a stunning place with excellent wildlife. Sounds like you managed to find some good fish and hope the guys at the camp looked after you
Once again thank you for travelling with us and hopefully you will choose Sportquest in the Future
All the best
Paul
First of all is the ease of booking the holiday you require.
travel arrangements are excellent
holiday description in brochure is first class, accommodation and fishing just as described
we liked the freedom to fish when and for how long you want plus the owners of the camp in Sandbakken Norway treat the guests like friends
Hello Brian, Glad to hear you had yet another great trip to Sandbakken and thanks for your kind words. We strongly believe that the information in both our website and brochure is a true reflection on the destination.
The owners of the camp are some of the kindest and friendliest hosts you could ask for.
Hopefully the same again for you next year
All the best
Paul
Norway fishing is most definitely challenging but rewarding!
I have just returned form my weeks fishing in Norway booked with Sportquest Holidays and what can I say the fishing in Norway is like no other. Before leaving England the weather in Norway was excellent and the fish were crawling up the line, unfortunately this all changed just hours before we arrived the weather had a turn for the worse and the temperature dropped, and to top it all off the snow melt had made the Norwegian seas more coloured then ever. However I am happy to report even with the conditions against us the fishing was awesome, we spent a lot of time motoring around trying to find fish and for the first few days as all we managed was smaller fish ranging from 1-5lb (not a bad size however not what I went to Norway for.) Not to worry I was not to be defeated and kept up the hard work and boy did this pay off. Finally I found the fish with a little help from the locals, we started to land cod after cod after cod and this time they were bigger. The average size was around 8-10lb with a few magical fish mixed in including cod to 28lb and halibut to 20lb.
Once we had found the fish we never looked back everyday was extreme fishing and there was more cod than we knew what to do with, not forgetting countless wolfish, lyng mixed in. All in all this trip was unbelievable even with the locals saying we couldn’t have had worse fishing conditions we had at least 600 fish between my boat of 3. After being to Norway and experiencing the fishing first hand I would like to offer a few pointers to increase your fishing experience. > silver (chrome) perks are a must with some small red worms up the trace. Try to fish at night even though it doesn’t get dark the fishing was still better early hours of the morning. Fish shallow water the fish are in surprising shallow water I would recommend 5-40m no deeper. (15-20m seems to be the magical marks). Always listen to the local lets be honest they know the waters like the back of their hands and will put your on fish. I would like to say thank you to Sportquest Holidays for a smooth well run set up the service and the information was spot on.
I will be returning next year hopefully next time to some better conditions.
Hi Steve, as i mentioned before you left, don't think you have to fish in stupid depths of water to catch the biggest fish. Always keep your options open and if the fishing is tough like it sounded then you have to try everything. Good on you for not giving up and sounds like you done the best thing to ask a local person.
In my experience the locals know a lot and are more than happy to help you
Like we have said lots of times, we can not control the weather the weather controls us
Regards
Paul
It was well worth the trip, great new destination, everything boats etc was in top condition and the best part was the fishing. We caught Cod, Coalfish and even Halibut all on perks.
Hi Jason, we worked very hard to find such a destination that offers everything for the most keen sea fisherman and all this for a very good price
The surrounding fjord is packed with fish of all different species and is just waiting for you to tempt them up.
Thanks Jason and speak to you soon
A must trip for any sea angler, would highly recommend to anyone. See you again next year thank you so much.
We will back you up on that Antony it is a great place and the hosts make it all that much better
Regards
Paul
just returned from Sandbakken Fishing Lodge 2nd--9th July, what a fantastic week my two sons and I had, this was our third visit, the weather was great mid to high 20's for most of the week so we mainly fished through the night when it got slightly cooler, we had plenty of fish, cod to 20lb halibut to 23lb coalfish to 20lb wolf-fish to 16lb and lots in the 8-14lb range.
although we didn't see Kristian this trip Merete looked after us very well.
anyone thinking of going to Sandbakken I would recommend it
Once I get the pictures from my sons I will pass them on
Hi Brian
Many thanks for your feedback. I am so glad you love this camp and for it to be your third trip that says it all.
Sounds like you had some great weather and the fishing was good for you and your sons. Would love to see the pictures and will pass your kind comments on to the guys who run this camp.
Look forward to helping you again next year
All the best
Paul
Sandbakken lodge Norway.
Firstly i would like to thank Paul Stevens and the Sportquest team for all of their help and assistance in setting up this memorable holiday.
Our journey began with the 4 hour drive from Shropshire to Gatwick airport, once at Gatwick we experienced our first few lessons to remember for next time (this being our first fishing trip abroad) we soon realised we had far too much baggage, which was confirmed after the holiday was over as we all had at least 3 sets of clothing each that we had not worn during the stay, yes there was cold times once on the boat but we all used our preferred items of clothing on every trip out, mine being savage gear all in one fleece suit with fleece jacket, cargo trousers and floatation suit, neck tube and russian style hat. Lesson 2 is check the pockets of the clothing you are taking, one of us packed there shooting jacket in their hand luggage forgetting that in the inside pocket was their skinning knife, after a full search and confiscating the "concealed weapon" we were allowed to board the plane.
Once at sandbakken we were overwhelmed by the views and was eager to get fishing. Bags were dumped in the cabin, rods set-up and off we went, first drop and my wife was in to a 12lb Cod, wow is this how the holiday is going to continue.. unfortunately not, the next 2 days we experienced the strongest winds they have had for 4 years, we still managed a few hours in the evenings but had to stay close to shore with the wind behind us, once the winds had stopped we found ourselves false hooking most of our catches, why were the fish not feeding ?
We spoke to some of the locals who advised us to fish early hours of the morning using smaller Pirks 200-300g instead of our 400g + we was also informed that the majority of larger fish had left the fjord 2 weeks ago but should be returning soon..
Best catches of the week was 16lb Coalfish, 15lb Cod, 15lb Wolf fish. (all caught by the female members) Plenty of fish in the 8 - 12lb range which was great sport on our lighter tackle.
The only other advice I would like to give is make sure you take out the best insurance available, as we had to pay 10,000 kr for damaged to the propellor and hull of the boat, damage was caused during rough waters which forced us to stay within 20 meters off the shore line, we quickly came into shallow waters that was not marked by any bouys or depth markers. Currently going through the claims process but my advise would be go for best insurance and read the small print.
Overall an experience of a lifetime, no regrets apart from wishing I was still there..
Once again thanks to all of the sportquest team..
What a great report thanks for taking the time to write this. Sandbakken is a great lodge and very good fish filled fjord right on your door step. Shame about what happened with the boat, its not the first time and i am sure i will not be the last. So glad everything worked out ok in the end and you managed to enjoy your last days.
I shall pass your very kind words on to all in the office
All the best
Paul
I love using sportsquest as you have no worries at all everything taken care of
Hello Reuben
We love making your dreams come true. Hope you had a fab time at Sandbakken again this year and you know where we are for next year. Look forward to taking you guys to Havoysund next year
All the best
Paul
Thanks Sportquest Holidays for helping us make our minds up on where to go in Norway. There are so many camps out there but once we had explained what we were after Paul in the office pointed us in the right direction. We managed all the species we went for, not as big as we thought but that is fishing
Paul can you ring us as we would like to try some where else next year
Hi Colin
Paul is out in Norway guiding at the moment but will get him to call you when he returns.
By the sound of it you had a good time and got on alright with the boats. The problem with going mid summer is that the big fish are out to sea but we do not class 30lb cod as small that cod Steve had was a lovely looking fish and thank you for all the photos
Once again thank you for travelling with us and i am sure Paul on his return will help you with your next trip
Regards
Peter
The fishing was very good. I would leave the holiday as it is. Would go again!
Hi Kenneth, thanks for your feedback form. Sandbakken is a great place the owners are always very helpful and the fishing is good. Hopefully the weather was also on your side
Any plans for next year? I will try and catch up with you soon
All the best
Paul
Great time at Sandbakken! Fantastic place, people and fishing. Cod to 37lb, coalfish to 26lb, a couple of small halibut, redfish, haddock, torsk, wolfish and mackerel. We were joined in the fjord by whales on more than one occasion. Would recommend to anyone. Excellent, 10/10.
Hi Jonathan, thank you so much for your feedback and very pleased you guys had a excellent time. Sandbakken is an awesome place, the people that run the camp are brilliant. Sounds like you managed to tick a few fish of your species list and would love to see some pictures if you have any?
I will try and catch up with you soon
All the best
Paul
Overall a brilliant holiday. The automated check in was a bit awkward, but soon mastered. The only part of the info that may be improved was the fishing marks i.e. what time of the tide and direction to fish them.
Hello William, thank you so much for taking the time to fill out your feedback forms. These are very useful for future travellers.
When I first used the automated checking it was very hard work but becomes a lot easier the more times you use them.
We are constantly updating our fishing information in customers paper work and Norway is going to get a big make over soon giving such information as techniques for certain species etc and hopefully tides, watch this space!
All the best
Paul
Down side was the return flights.
Lost a fishing day due to early pick up. Too long between flights.
Brian
Thank you for your feedback, glad you enjoyed the trip.
Just need to clear something up, you did not lose any fishing time as there is NO fishing on Wednesday which is the return day. All the boats have to be cleaned and returned back on Tuesday night before customers arrive again on the Wednesday.
Hope that clears things up as you will have had all the fishing as advertised on our website and your paperwork.
Regards Paul
I cant fault any of the holiday. The best part was catching my biggest ever fish!
Martin
Thank you for your feedback and scores as it is very much appreciated.
We look forward in having you all gained with us on one of our destinations.
Any questions at anytime just call me in the office.
Regards Paul.
Fishing slow at first, but did have a couple of very good days with some big Coalfish after getting some info from some other German guests.
Hi William, thanks for your feedback. The fjord you fished fishes very well for big Coalies and the runs of fish are huge. Shame about the first couple of days but at least it all turned round in the end.
All the best
Paul
Superb fishing and location. Suggest accommodation beds could be bigger and host could be better prepared, ie have a stock of food essentials & beers.
Hi Neil, thanks for your feedback. Sandbakken is a lovely location. I have been many years in a row and the bed thing is like that across the whole of Norway no matter where you travel to
Once again thank you and speak to you soon
Tight lines Paul
I was lucky to bewith a 5 person party who had previous experience of Norway and the fish camp, so I was given plenty of info. There was another party there from the UK who had never been before and we had to give them help as there didn't seem to be much coming from the guide.
Hi Tony, thanks for the feedback. It is hard when you very first go to a destination and was lucky that you travelled with some people you had previous experience. I remember the first time I travelled to Norway is was a very scary place but with more years under your belt it gets easier even when you go to new places.
All the best Paul
Fishing very slow at first but once we found fish you could not fail. Had three halibut on light lure rods and small shads great sport and some cod on same tackle. Shame Coalfish were not about struggles to catch on the big lures. My team do a lot of catch and release I think they do need some decent landing nets on the boats had a good time thanks.
Hi Lee, so glad you guys had a good time and managed to find the fish. With it being your third time there I bet it feels like a second home. Well done on your Halibut on light tackle, they are so much fun on light gear.
I wish more people would practise catch and release as those fish are the future of the sport. Hopefully get to speak with you all soon
Tight lines
Paul
Excellent holiday.
Fish sizes were not a disappointment.
Watching a Sea Eagle take a fish from the fjord was amazing.
Mackerel worked a treat.
Bring a cushion to sit on while on the boat.
Very good boats.
Thank you for the great feedback John
Tight lines
Matt
Superb Holiday with everything covered from Start to Finish. All instructions and travel details where spot on.
If you forward on a memory stick I would be happy to load up all our photos and send back
Hi Kevin, thank you for taking the time to send us your feedback. So glad you liked Sandbakken its a great place with stunning surroundings.
I will get a stick out to you as soon as we can and would love to see your pictures.
All the best, Paul
This is the second time will be in for this location not much is changed since the last time we went. We did have one day where we could not get out due to the weather. But this is understanding and can’t be helped. The only issue we had. When we got to Oslo getting through customs what is a nightmare and we had to run to get through the next flight which luckily they just held the plane for another five minutes and we would’ve missed it.
Hi Terry, thank you for finding the time to send us your feedback and so sorry that you nearly missed your flight, sometimes things like this are out of our control a bit like the weather. Sandbakken is a lovely destination and with regards to 'not much has changed' and we always say why try and fix something that isnt broken.
Tight lines and hopefully we can catch up soon
From the minute we were picked up our host Kristian made us feel welcome. Showed us round the camp and facilities. We got through the formalities without any hassle. A really homely atmosphere and without encroaching on your time you always knew they were about to help with absolutely everything. Fishing was unbelievable and the whole holiday surpassed all expectations
Hello Johnathon, thank you so much for your feedback. So glad you loved your time at Sandbakken. I have been there myself many times and love the place and the people that own it. All the best Paul and we should catch up soon
From the minute of booking we felt in safe hands with this been our first trip to Norway. Flights, transfers, accommodation, facilities and the actual fishing was top notch. Overall surpassed my expectation of the bucket list trip.
Hello John, so glad you and Johnathon had such a great time and thank you so much for your feedback. Its very important for future travellers to help them decide where to visit. All the best, Paul
Fishing at Sandbakken was hampered by unusually hot weather. Most days were 27 degrees and perfectly calm but by the end of the week we had found some better fish. Cod to 20lbs and endless smaller Coalfish. Due to the conditions everything was caught on light gear. Most fish, even the larger Cod, were taken on mackerel feathers weighted down with a 2oz pirk. Find the big shoals of Coalfish and you have found the Cod. Sandbakken is a great venue and I will certainly go back again.
Hi James, thanks for your feedback. Yes Norway has experienced very hot weather this year which has had a knock on affect to the fishing but sounded like you guys worked it out in the end so a massive well done. Tight lines, Paul
As a first time group travelling to Norway, we were recommended Sandbakken as the destination of choice by Paul at Sportquest and I must say it was perfect for what we wanted. All the fishing was very sheltered (which was important to some of the guys in our group), the boats were easy to use and the accommodation was comfortable. Finding the fish was a little challenging, but that was part of the excitement, we still however caught everyday. Highlights included a near 50lb Halibut and a pair of 20lb Cod landed on the same day. I think I've got the bug now and would certainly return, maybe on one of the guided trips next time, as I'm eyeing up a bigger Halibut.
Thank you for the feedback Paul, Sandbakken is always a popular destination and one we have worked with for nearly 20 years. I'm so glad you all had a good time and that you managed your first Halibut.
Tight lines, Paul.
I managed Cod, Coalfish and Halibut to over 20lb, so I was well happy. Everything ran smoothly and I'd certainly recommend Sportquest. Cheers.
Thanks for the feedback Jamie, nice to chat with you over the phone - congratulations with the new PB's.
Tight lines, Paul
Everything ran smoothly from the booking process to collecting our luggage back at Gatwick.
The accommodation, facilities and location at Sandbaaken were very good, providing everything we needed. The hosting was outstanding, nothing was too much trouble, we were given detailed charts, advice on where and when to fish, the self drive boats were stable and roomy, with Garmin Sonar/GPS.
Even though the weather was unseasonably wintery we got out every day and caught fish. We had plenty of Cod to 22lb on Silver Pirks, we also had Wolf Fish, Coley and a halibut, ( which sadly, we lost)
For us this was a trip of a lifetime. Sportquest and Sandbaaken made it superb and seamless.
Great 1st trip to Norway. Caught loads of fish, highlighted by two130cm Halibut for one of the lads. By far the best fishing was near the road bridge at Finnsnes
Everybody in the sea fishing community has heard of the island of Sørøya in northern Norway, primarily famed for its incredible Skrei Cod fishing, for some of the most significant specimens on the planet, including the current world record. However, through the years, it has developed into a true ‘all-year-round’ destination, allowing anglers to enjoy some incredible mixed fishing.
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.
Aa-gård fishing camp is situated in Lavangen, in Troms og Finnmark county, in northern Norway. Thanks to the protection from the surrounding mountains and topography, the destination is almost one hundred percent' weatherproof' - whatever the weather, it's possible to fish nearly every day of the year.
Mikkelvik Brygge is protected by the large islands of Rebbenesøya and its smaller neighbour Hersoya. As a result, the coastal waters close to the camp are generally calm, whatever the weather and very few fishing days get lost throughout the season. It's famed for its Skrei Cod fishing, as well as its fantastic Halibut and Plaice fishing.
Rognsund, located in Rognsundet in the southwestern part of Seiland, is Norway's eighth most significant island and the second-largest in Finnmark, behind only Sørøya. A beautiful island destination, the sheltered waters are home to abundant numbers of Cod, Halibut, Wolffish, Ling, Redfish, and some of the very best fishing spots get found within a stone's throw of the camp.
