Norwegian record European whitefish: 4.15 kg

About European whitefish

The European whitefish (Coregonus lavaretus) is a salmonid with silvery flanks, a dark back and a white belly, without spots. It has fairly large scales, a small toothless mouth, a deeply forked tail and, like other salmonids, an adipose fin. Its much smaller dorsal fin separates it from the grayling. Whitefish vary enormously between waters, and several forms can live side by side in one lake: small plankton-eating fish in open water and larger bottom-feeding whitefish that eat midge larvae, snails and other invertebrates. Most weigh 0.2 to 1 kg, though some reach 3 to 4 kg or more. Spawning usually takes place in autumn, often October and November, in lakes or rivers. The species colonised Norway from the east and is common in the south-east, including Glomma, Mjøsa and Femunden, and in Finnmark, especially the Alta and Pasvik rivers. Anglers take it on worm, small flies and ice jigs. Norwegian Red List 2021: Least Concern (LC).

Sources: Artsdatabanken, Store norske leksikon, Wikipedia

• Habitat: Ferskvann
• Best month: Juli
• Red list status: LO (2023)

See the species guide

Biggest European whitefish in FishComp

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How to register a Norwegian record

1. Norwegian sport-fishing records are registered with Villmarksliv, not with FishComp. Read the rules before you do anything else with the fish.
2. Records are based on weight and approved by a jury. You give the weight and length, where it was caught, the gear you used and any witnesses.
3. Keep your photos and notes from the catch. Logging it in FishComp does not register a record.