Top 10 Fishing Spots in Georgia (Country)
Georgia sits at the crossroads of Europe and Asia, its northern flank pressed against the Greater Caucasus, its western edge lapped by the Black Sea. The rivers that descend from those mountains are cold, clear and extraordinarily rich in wild brown trout, while the lowland Mtkvari River harbours barbel of surprising size, and the coastline around Batumi and Kobuleti opens onto Black Sea fishing for bluefish, mullet and horse mackerel. The country's angling infrastructure is modest but the fish are wild, the landscapes dramatic, and the tradition of riverside hospitality is genuine.
The Aragvi River — Wild Brown Trout Near Tbilisi
The Aragvi and its tributary the White Aragvi (Tetri Aragvi) rise in the Greater Caucasus and join the Mtkvari just north of Tbilisi, making them the most accessible quality trout rivers in Georgia. The stretch above Pasanauri village — roughly 70 km north of the capital along the Georgian Military Highway — holds brown trout averaging 25–35 cm, with occasional fish pushing 50 cm in the deeper pools below rapids. The season traditionally opens in March and continues through October; water temperatures remain optimal for trout throughout summer because the river is glacier-fed and runs cold even in July. Dry-fly fishing with elk-hair caddis and parachute patterns produces well on summer evenings when hatches are active.
The Rioni River — Pristine Flows in the Western Highlands
Rising near the ski resort of Bakuriani and tumbling westward through Racha and Imereti, the Rioni is Georgia's longest river and its upper reaches above Oni offer spectacular brown trout fishing in conditions that feel genuinely remote. At 900–1,200 m elevation the river runs between forested gorges, and the fish here have rarely seen an artificial lure. Local guides operate out of Ambrolauri, the regional centre of Racha, and arrange multi-day wading trips along stretches that see perhaps a dozen visiting anglers per season. Spinning with small Mepps or Rapala lures produces reliable results, but the trout respond eagerly to nymphs fished under an indicator in the faster runs.
The Alazani River — Kakheti Wine Country Fishing
In eastern Georgia's wine-producing Kakheti region, the Alazani flows through broad alluvial plains flanked by the Caucasus to the north and the Gombori Ridge to the south. The river is slower and warmer than the mountain torrents, and it holds barbel, asp, chub, and bream alongside smaller brown trout in the cooler tributary streams. The section between Telavi and Lagodekhi, near the Lagodekhi Protected Areas, is the most productive. Autumn is prime time when water levels drop after the summer rains and fish concentrate in the remaining deep channels. Float fishing with bread paste and hemp seed accounts for the majority of the larger barbel, which can reach 4–5 kg in the lower reaches.
The Mtkvari (Kura) River — Urban Barbel Fishing
The Mtkvari flows through the heart of Tbilisi and continues east toward Azerbaijan, and it remains the primary coarse fishing river in Georgia. Barbel of 2–6 kg are the main quarry — they occupy the gravel runs beneath the medieval Narikala Fortress and the modern Tbilisi bridges, feeding on invertebrates and showing remarkably little fear of urban activity. Feeder fishing with groundbait is the standard technique, though local anglers often use simple paternoster rigs with worm or meat bait fished close to the bottom. The stretch from the Zhinvali Reservoir outflow downstream to Mtskheta, about 25 km, is particularly productive because the reservoir releases cold, oxygenated water that concentrates fish.
Lake Paravani — Alpine Fishing at 2,073 m
Paravani is Georgia's largest natural lake, a shallow, windswept body of water on the Javakheti Plateau near the border with Armenia, sitting at 2,073 m above sea level. The lake holds rainbow trout introduced in the Soviet era and now self-sustaining in the cold, clear water. Fish average 30–40 cm with exceptional specimens reaching 60 cm. Access requires a four-wheel-drive vehicle along rough track from the town of Ninotsminda, and the wind can be ferocious — conditions that keep casual visitors away and preserve the quality of the fishing. Trolling small silver spoons from a small boat is the most effective method, working the drop-off zones where the shallows meet the slightly deeper central basin.
The Enguri River — Untouched Gorges in Svaneti
The Enguri rises beneath the glaciers of the Svaneti highlands and cuts one of the most dramatic gorges in the Caucasus before reaching its reservoir near Jvari. The upper river above Mestia, accessible only in summer when the snow-choked passes open, holds wild brown trout in a landscape of stone-tower villages and permanent ice fields. Fish here are small — 20–30 cm — but exceptionally vivid, with deep orange spots and near-black backs that reflect the mineral-rich glacial flows. The road to Mestia via Zugdidi has improved significantly, and several guesthouses now cater to fly-fishers who combine angling with hiking in the Chalaadi Glacier area.
The Black Sea Coast — Bluefish and Mullet at Batumi
Georgia's short Black Sea coastline centres on the city of Batumi and the smaller resort of Kobuleti to the north. The main quarry from the rocky piers and breakwaters are bluefish, which arrive from October to December in sometimes enormous shoals, thrashing through baitfish schools with reckless aggression. Spinning with metal jigs or small chrome lures in the 10–20 g range produces furious sport during a bluefish run, and it is possible to take 20–30 fish in an evening session from the Batumi waterfront promenade itself. Grey mullet and horse mackerel are present year-round and can be taken on small hook rigs baited with bread or ragworm.
Sioni Fishing Area — Managed Waters in the Kakheti Foothills
The Sioni area in eastern Georgia, near the Sioni Reservoir on the Iori River in Kakheti, offers managed fishing for those who prefer organised access over the challenges of wild river exploration. The reservoir and the tailwater below the dam hold barbel, bream, pike, and stocked rainbow trout. Fishing licences are available locally, and basic facilities — bank access, parking, simple accommodation in the village — make this a practical base for a family fishing trip. The foothills around Sioni are covered in scrub oak and hawthorn, and in autumn the scenery rivals the fishing as a reason to visit.
Explore on the map
Georgia's fishing landscape stretches from Black Sea bluefish runs at Batumi to alpine trout at Lake Paravani and the crystal mountain torrents of Svaneti — a geographic range compressed into a country barely 400 km across. Use the interactive map to plot your route between the Aragvi trout beats and the Alazani barbel flats, or to locate access roads to Georgia on the map for remote highland fishing. Every river and reservoir mentioned here is searchable on the map, making it easy to build an itinerary around Georgia's extraordinary angling variety.