Hluboka has a more than 600 year-old tradition of fish farming in ponds. Following in the footsteps of this old tradition and its own modern experience, the joint stock company Fishery Hluboka cz. s.r.o. owns 2,552 hectares of fishing ponds for fish production.

Fish production

The annual production of fish intended for the market is 1,300 tons, mainly carp (1,200 tons) and other species, such as in particular perch, pike, catfish, herbivorous fish, tench, and white (lean) fish. With its annual production of 1,300 tons of fish, Fishery Hluboka cz. s.r.o. has 9% share of total production of freshwater fish in the Czech Republic.

The company has its own fish hatchery with the overall capacity of 900 tons of market fish. It has achieved tremendous success with the signing of a contract to be “Contractual Supplier for Prague Castle”.

Hunting and sport fishing

Game management in the company’s two hunting grounds and sport fishing in the company’s  fishing grounds are other popular and economically important activities.

Fishing Ponds

The seat of the company is located in Hluboka nad Vltavou. This town is situated in South Bohemia approximately 10 km north from České Budějovice. The firm has leased approximately 140 ponds with the total area of 2,558 ha and special farming facilities with water temperature control. Vilém of Pernštejn was the main builder of ponds and fish farming in the Hluboka region. The blossoming of fish farming in Hluboka took place at the turn of the 15th and 16th centuries, a time when the largest ponds were built. Having been built by the Rosenberg family, the Dehtář pond was filled in 1479 and has 260 hectares in size, while Bezdrev was built in 1490 by Vilém of Pernštejn and has 450 hectares.

Taking the Fish Out of the Ponds

Taking the fish out of the large fishing ponds is usually organized during the autumn season and is popular with spectators. Therefore the company tries to accommodate the wishes of the general public and begins taking the fish out on Saturdays and Sundays, or public holidays. Refreshments are available at dams of the ponds and spectators can buy fish taken directly from the pond.