Fishing in Pakistan: Where to Catch Hilsa & Trout

Prime Fishing Locations for Two Iconic Species

Pakistan's diverse waterways offer distinct habitats for two prized catches: the saltwater/anadromous Hilsa (Tenualosa ilisha) and cold-water Trout (Brown & Rainbow).

Hilsa (Palla Fish)

Distribution: Widely found throughout the Indus River system and its major tributaries.

• Lower Indus (Sindh): Kotri Barrage downstream to the Arabian Sea—prime during monsoon migration (June–September).
• Indus Delta: Creek networks (Khobar, Hajamro) are traditional fishing grounds.
• Upstream: Historically reached Multan (Punjab), but barrages (Guddu, Sukkur, Kotri) now block migration. Stocking efforts exist.

Methods: Gillnets, cast nets, traditional boat fishing. Peak season: monsoon floods.

Trout

Distribution: Confined to cold, oxygenated waters of the northern mountains.

• Gilgit-Baltistan: Rivers Gilgit, Hunza, Ishkoman, Yasin; high-altitude lakes (Satpara, Kachura, Sheosar).
• Khyber Pakhtunkhwa: Swat Valley (Kalam, Bahrain, Ushu), Kaghan Valley (Kunhar River), Chitral (Mastuj, Lotkoh rivers).
• Azad Kashmir: Neelum Valley (Jagran, Shounter rivers), Leepa Valley.

Species: Brown trout (introduced 1900s) dominant; Rainbow trout in hatcheries/stocked waters.

Regulations: Fishing licenses required (issued by provincial fisheries departments). Seasons, size/bag limits apply. Many waters are catch-and-release only.

Conservation Notes

Hilsa populations have declined sharply due to overfishing, pollution, and barrage barriers. Trout face habitat degradation from tourism, mining, and climate change. Sustainable practices are critical.