Catch your own lobster

September marks the start of the lobster season, one of the highlights of the year along Sweden’s west coast. Did you know that lobster tastes even better when you’ve caught it yourself? In Tanum, you have every opportunity to experience this unique coastal tradition first-hand.

The Start of the Lobster Season

At 7:00 AM on the Monday following 20 September, the starting signal is given for one of autumn’s most anticipated events: the lobster season. The opening day is a special occasion as boats head out through the morning mist, searching for the best lobster grounds.

Professional fishermen, enthusiastic amateurs and curious visitors all take part in what is often called Bohuslän’s National Day – a true celebration of the sea. The excitement can be felt throughout the region, from the fishing harbours to the seafood restaurants serving freshly caught lobster.

Experience Lobster Fishing Like a Local

Come and experience lobster fishing the way the locals do. Join a local fisherman on a lobster adventure and feel the excitement as the pots are hauled from the sea. We guarantee you won’t be disappointed.

Perhaps the greatest part of lobster fishing is the contrast it offers. Spend a crisp autumn day out in the archipelago, surrounded by rugged islands and fresh sea air, pulling pots and feeling the spray of the sea. Then return to shore to enjoy one of the ocean’s finest delicacies, served with carefully selected accompaniments and drinks.

It is an authentic Bohuslän experience – relaxing, memorable and sure to leave you wanting more.

More Than Just Opening Week

During the opening week, the coastal communities come alive with lobster celebrations, and many restaurants offer special lobster dinners and seafood menus.

If you can’t visit during the opening week, there is still plenty of time. The lobster season continues throughout the autumn, and a variety of lobster-themed packages are available along the coast. Imagine a weekend that combines lobster fishing, a seafood buffet and a relaxing spa experience. Or perhaps a traditional fishing trip aboard a wooden fishing boat followed by a lobster supper in an authentic Bohuslän boathouse.

Meet the King of the Sea

The European lobster is a fascinating creature. This ten-legged crustacean lives at depths of around 2–40 metres and has existed for approximately 300 million years, dating back to the same era as the dinosaurs.

During the day, lobsters hide beneath rocks and among crevices on the seabed. At night, they emerge to search for food. Each lobster has its own den, which it regularly returns to and defends from intruders.

Lobsters can grow up to 75 centimetres long and weigh as much as 4 kilograms, although most are around 30 centimetres in length and weigh about 1 kilogram.

A Taste of Bohuslän

Whether you join a fishing trip, enjoy a lobster dinner by the water or simply experience the atmosphere in the coastal communities, the lobster season is one of the most authentic ways to discover Bohuslän.

The combination of local traditions, fresh seafood, dramatic coastal scenery and warm hospitality makes lobster season an experience you will remember long after autumn has passed.