Pictured is Mick Brown in Västervik
Unusually, pike, perch, zander and other normally fresh-water species are caught not only in the lakes and rivers but also in the brackish water of the Baltic Sea, including the Stockholm archipelago. In 2000, for example, the Västervik area on the east coast produced record pike of more than 20 kg (44 lb), bream of 4.8 kg (10.6 lb), and perch of 1.9 kg (4.1 lb).
Many lakes and rivers in the southern half of Sweden provide some top-class coarse fishing for familiar species like roach, bream, tench, and the less well-known burbot.
Pictured is Mick Brown in Västervik
Perhaps the best thing about coarse fishing in Sweden is that the fish are generally large.