Istanbul · Kadıköy

Catch your first fish on the Bosphorus shore

Fishing the way Istanbul does it — on the quay beside a historic mosque, under the Bosphorus Bridge.

Three hours · up to six guests · All gear included · ₺3,000 + 20% VAT per guest

The experience

No boat. No rush. Just a rod, the current and a glass of tea.

Most visitors watch Istanbul from a ferry deck. This is the other version. You stand on the quay where the city itself fishes. A mosque that has watched the same water for centuries stands beside you, and the Bosphorus Bridge is above.

We hand you a rod, teach you the two knots that matter, and show you how to read the current. Then comes the part that is hard to describe. We wait. We drink tea. We talk. Every so often, something pulls.

Complete beginners are the normal case here, not the exception. Children often catch more than their parents. If you already fish and want a harder fish, tell us before you book and we bring heavier gear.

The plan

What we will actually do

Step 1
Meet your host and get your gear
15 min
We meet at the spot. We hand out the rods, go over the plan and the safety basics, and you get your first look at the water.
Step 2
Learn the cast, the knot and the bait
30 min
Two knots, one cast. We show you how to rig the line and bait the hook, and you will be casting before we finish.
Step 3
Fish the shore with a view of the bridge
1 hr 15 min
The main part. Lines in the water, with the Bosphorus Bridge above you. Your host stays beside you, reads your line, and says when to wait and when to strike.
Step 4
Break for tea with a Bosphorus view
15 min
Tea and homemade sandwiches by the water. We explain how this stretch of current works: the seasons, the fish, and the stories the fishermen here tell.
Step 5
Back to the water for the second bite
30 min
The light changes and so do the fish. We fish the last stretch with everything you have learned.
Step 6
Clean your catch and take it home
15 min
We show you how to clean a fish properly, and what you caught is yours to take.

Three hours in total. Start times at sunrise and late afternoon — the two windows when the fish are moving and the light is worth photographing.

The spot

Where we fish

Right on the waterfront, beside the old mosque, with the bridge overhead. Easy to reach on foot or by ferry, and flat ground the whole way — no scrambling over rocks.

The Bosphorus Bridge lit up at night, seen from the fishing spot

A bucket of horse mackerel caught from the shore

Tackle box and rod set up on the quay wall

The mosque dome in evening light, beside the fishing spot

Practical

What's included, what to bring

Included

Rod, reel, line and all tackle
Bait
Turkish tea and homemade sandwiches
Hands-on coaching the whole way through
Fish cleaning at the end — your catch is yours

Bring with you

Shoes with grip — the quay gets slippery
One layer more than you think; it is colder by the water
Sun protection and a hat
Your own rod, if you have a favourite (optional)

Your host

Deniz

Deniz runs DAS Experiences, and he is the host on the quay for every fishing session.

Business school in Istanbul and in London, then a few years in consulting and startups. Along the way I learned that I would rather host people than write strategy decks. I run DAS Experiences: small groups, real places, and time to talk.— Deniz

MA International Business, University of Greenwich
BA Business Administration, Özyeğin University
Laser sailing, Fenerbahçe Sport Club
Turkish · English · German

In motion

Three hours, from the mosque to the last cast

Filmed on an ordinary evening at the spot — no crew, no staging.

Walking in past the mosque, bridge lit up ahead.

Past the mosque and out onto the quay at sunset.

Good to know

Questions people ask

I have never fished in my life. Is that a problem?

It is the most common case. Everything is taught from zero, and you will be casting inside the first half hour. There is nothing to prepare beforehand.

Can I bring my children?

Yes, and they often catch more than the adults. Children must be with an adult, and we adjust the gear and the pace for them.

What if we do not catch anything?

It happens, and we will not pretend otherwise. You still get three hours on one of the best stretches of shore in the city. You keep the skill, and there is the tea. Most groups do catch something.

What happens if the weather turns?

If the weather makes the session unsafe, we move it to another day that suits you.

How far ahead do I need to book?

At least 24 hours before the session starts, so the quay, the gear and your host are ready for you. The checkout only offers sessions that are still open.

What if I need to cancel?

More than 24 hours before the session: a full refund. Between 24 and 12 hours before: a 50% refund. Within 12 hours, or a no-show: no refund. Read the full terms here.

How and when do I pay?

On the next page, by card, over iyzico's secure checkout. Your seat is held the moment payment clears, and you receive a confirmation by email.

Do we fish from a boat?

No. We fish from the shore, on flat ground, the whole time. There is no boat to board.

Reserve

Three hours, up to six guests, one very good spot

Sessions at sunrise and late afternoon. Small groups only, because we cannot coach more than six lines at once.

Bosphorus Shore Fishing₺3,000 + 20% VATper guest

Three hours on the Kadıköy quay under the Bosphorus Bridge. Rod, reel, tackle, bait, Turkish tea and homemade sandwiches are included.

Two to six guests per booking, booked at least 24 hours before the session, and no experience needed. You pick the date and the session on the next page.

You keep · The fish you catch, cleaned at the end.

sunrise or late afternoon · three hours

Book →

Private group, more than six guests, or an access question? Email us or message on WhatsApp.

Secure card payment · iyzico · Charged in Turkish lira

Terms · Cancellation and refunds

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