Fishing at Paliastomi Lake

Characteristics of Paliastomi Lake

Paliastomi Lake is an open lake, 0.3 meters below sea level, located near the city of Poti, in the Samegrelo - Zemo Svaneti region.

The surface area of the lake is 18.2 km2, with a maximum depth of four meters and an average depth of 2.6 meters. The lake is fed by rainwater and tributaries. 

The temperature of the water from July to August is 250C on average, and 50C on average in the winter.

Types of Fish

With permission from the administration of Kolkheti National Park, fishing of various kinds is allowed on the lake, including for scientific and research purposes.

The common fish species and their corresponding seasons on Paliastomi Lake are as follows:

• Pike – 1 April to 1 September;

• Black Sea herring – 1 December to 1 January and 1 April to 1 September;

• Danube bleak – 1 April to 1 September;

• Vimba – 1 April to 1 September;

• Carp – 1 April to 1 September;

• Welsh catfish – 1 April to 1 September and 1 December to 1 January;

• Racer goby – 1 April to 1 September;

• Round goby – 1 April to 1 September; and

• Black goby – 1 April to 1 September.

Fish belonging to the mullet family are allowed to be caught year-round.

Prohibited at Paliastomi Lake:

• Catching fish in Paliastomi Lake and exposed riverbeds using drift nets which are wider than 200 meters and whose holes are no less than 22 millimeters wide;

• Catching mullets (flathead grey, pilengas, golden grey, etc.) in Paliastomi Lake and exposed riverbeds using casting nets which are wider than 350 meters and whose holes are no less than 22 millimeters wide; and

• Using drift and casting nets and placing such nets, when their length is more than 200 meters and their holes are smaller than 20 millimeters wide. The height of a net being placed must not exceed three meters.

Important Information

If you intend to go fishing at Paliastomi Lake, keep the weather forecast in mind, because the lake is prone to high waves when there is a strong wind.