Join Selin Charter for an authentic lobster safari in Bohuslän and experience one of the Swedish West Coast’s most beloved traditions up close. Together with experienced local fishermen, we depart from Strömstad or Tanumstrand to haul lobster pots, feel the excitement as the catch comes over the rail, and enjoy freshly cooked lobster directly on board. In Bohuslän’s salty archipelago, lobster fishing becomes more than an activity. It becomes a flavourful nature experience filled with tradition, sea air and genuine West Coast atmosphere.
Read more about lobster safari and the 2026 lobster premiere in Sweden...
Lobster Safari in Bohuslän with Selin Charter
Taking part in a lobster safari in Bohuslän means stepping into a living coastal tradition. With Selin Charter, you get to experience lobster fishing on the Swedish West Coast together with skilled and knowledgeable fishermen who bring you closer to the craft, the sea and the stories behind the hunt for the “black gold of the sea”. During the tour, you join us as we head out into the archipelago, haul lobster pots and follow the full journey from sea to table. When the pots are lifted, the atmosphere is always special. Every pull carries the same sense of anticipation, whether it is your first lobster safari or you already love life on the West Coast. When lobster is caught on board, it is cooked directly on the boat. Few taste experiences can compare to freshly cooked lobster enjoyed with views over cliffs, skerries and the open sea.
Our lobster safaris depart from Strömstad and Tanumstrand, and we also welcome groups from Koster, Resö, Grebbestad and Fjällbacka. The experience is ideal for private guests looking for a memorable autumn activity, as well as companies searching for an exclusive and personal activity for a kick-off, conference, customer event or corporate event in Bohuslän.
For guests who want to turn the lobster safari into a complete West Coast experience, we collaborate with local hotels and accommodation partners. This makes it possible to combine the tour with dinner, overnight stays and a culinary weekend by the sea. The day’s catch can become the beginning of a festive seafood dinner, where local ingredients, coastal settings and genuine fishing traditions create an experience that feels both exclusive and authentic.
The 2026 Lobster Premiere in Sweden
The 2026 lobster premiere takes place on Monday, 21 September at 07:00, marking the official start of the Swedish lobster fishing season.
Lobster fishing in Sweden is carefully regulated to protect the lobster population and preserve the tradition for future generations. Lobster may only be caught using lobster pots, and the rules cover equipment, marking, minimum size and fishing season. During our tours, you not only take part in an exciting archipelago experience, but also learn how sustainable and responsible lobster fishing works in practice.
With Selin Charter, you get a lobster safari where adventure, food culture and local knowledge come together. It is an experience for those who want to get close to Bohuslän for real: feel the scent of the salty sea, hear the stories from the coast and taste lobster where it belongs — freshly cooked, local and served in the archipelago.
Ticket must be booked in advance.
Pre-order food for larger groups.
Family price includes 2 adults and 2 children.
Children under 4 travel for free.
Toilet available on board.
Beer and wine are sold on board with a full licence.
Snacks and drinks are sold on board.
Subject to weather conditions.
We welcome bus groups from May to October.
Our boats can be chartered according to your schedule and needs.
Pre-order food for larger groups and events.
Subject to weather conditions.
Phone: +46 (0)70-605 81 76
Email: info@selincharter.com
Saturday
From Tanumstrand
09:00 AM
From Strömstad
14:00 PM
Saturday
From Tanumstrand
09:00 AM
From Strömstad
14:00 PM
Saturday
From Tanumstrand
09:00 AM
From Strömstad
14:00 PM
Saturday
From Tanumstrand
09:00 AM
From Strömstad
14:00 PM
Saturday
From Tanumstrand
09:00 AM
From Strömstad
14:00 PM
Saturday
From Tanumstrand
09:00 AM
From Strömstad
14:00 PM
Along the Bohuslän coast, lobster fishing has for generations been a natural part of life by the sea. As early as the 19th century, lobster was a highly sought-after trade commodity, and still today it is regarded as one of the West Coast’s most exclusive delicacies. For many locals, the start of the lobster season in September is more than just a date – it is a celebration that marks the transition to autumn and the beginning of a new fishing season.
Catching lobster is a craft that requires both patience and skill. Using lobster pots lowered to the seabed, the European lobster (Homarus gammarus) is lured out from its hiding places. The fishery is strictly regulated to protect the stocks, which makes every catch something truly special – the genuine black gold of the sea.
For those taking part in lobster fishing in Bohuslän today, the experience is not only about the catch itself but also about becoming part of the coastal heritage. Here, the drama of nature meets human tradition, resulting in an experience that reflects both the history and the vibrant present of Sweden’s West Coast.
When people talk about lobster fishing in Bohuslän, they are usually referring to Homarus gammarus, the European lobster. With its dark, almost black-blue shell and powerful claws, the lobster has become a symbol of the Swedish West Coast, northern Bohuslän and life in the salty archipelago.
In the waters around Strömstad, the Koster Islands, South Koster, North Koster, Grebbestad, Tanumstrand, Fjällbacka and Kosterhavet, you find a rich marine landscape shaped by rocky seabeds, seaweed forests, deep channels and sheltered shallow bays. This is where the lobster thrives: in cracks, cavities and stony environments where it can hide during the day and become more active after dark.
For many visitors, a lobster safari in Bohuslän is one of the most authentic ways to experience the archipelago. It is not only about lobster and seafood. It is a boat tour, a fishing tradition, a nature experience and a story about the “black gold of the sea” in one of Sweden’s most unique coastal landscapes.
Lobsters are among the most mythical shellfish along the Swedish West Coast, and in Bohuslän, the European lobster, Homarus gammarus, takes centre stage. With its dark shell, strong claws and close connection to local fishing traditions, the lobster has become a powerful symbol of northern Bohuslän and life by the sea.
In the waters around Strömstad, the Koster Islands, South Koster, North Koster, Grebbestad, Tanumstrand and Fjällbacka, lobsters live on rocky and stony seabeds. They seek shelter in crevices, holes and under stones. During the day, they often stay hidden, while at night they become more active.
Lobster fishing in Bohuslän is especially associated with autumn, when interest in the sea’s black gold awakens along the coast. For many, lobster is more than an exclusive delicacy. It is a tradition, a taste experience and a living part of the archipelago’s coastal culture.
Kosterhavet is one of Sweden’s most appreciated areas for seafood and marine nature experiences. Here, you find habitats for several of the species that have made Bohuslän famous for its clean, salty flavours: Norway lobster, crab, mussels, oysters and lobster.
The Norway lobster lives mainly on softer seabeds in deeper waters and is known for its mild, sweet flavour. Crab thrives in coastal environments among rocks, stones and seaweed, while mussels and oysters are strongly associated with the cold, clear waters of the Swedish West Coast.
From Grebbestad and Tanumstrand to Strömstad and the Koster Islands, seafood is a natural part of the local food culture. For visitors, it often becomes one of the clearest and most memorable tastes of northern Bohuslän.
Fish life in northern Bohuslän is closely connected to both nature and human history by the sea. Mackerel is one of the most anticipated summer fish along the Swedish West Coast, while cod has long played an important role in the fishing traditions of the Skagerrak and the North Sea region.
Mackerel often arrives in shoals during summer and is associated with salty winds, boat trips and classic archipelago life. In the waters around Strömstad, the Koster Islands, Grebbestad, Tanumstrand and Fjällbacka, mackerel fishing is a popular activity for both beginners and experienced anglers. You can also book one of our mackerel fishing tours.
Cod also carries an important story about changes in the sea and the need for careful management. It reminds us how closely fishing, food culture and marine ecosystems are connected in and around Kosterhavet.
Kosterhavet National Park is one of Sweden’s most unique marine environments and a natural centre for anyone who wants to experience wildlife below the surface on the Swedish West Coast. The area contains a varied seascape with deep channels, rocky seabeds, seaweed forests, soft bottoms and shallow bays.
This variety creates habitats for many different species. Lobsters seek shelter in rocky crevices, Norway lobsters live on softer seabeds, crabs move among stones and seaweed, and fish species such as mackerel and cod are part of the larger marine ecosystem.
For anyone visiting Strömstad, the Koster Islands, South Koster, North Koster, Grebbestad, Tanumstrand or Fjällbacka, Kosterhavet is more than a beautiful place. It is a living marine area where nature, wildlife, seafood and coastal culture meet.
The Koster Islands, with South Koster and North Koster, are located in one of Sweden’s most distinctive archipelago landscapes. Here, the sea is always close, and the islands form a natural gateway to Kosterhavet and Kosterhavet National Park.
Around the islands, you find environments where many of Bohuslän’s best-known species thrive. Lobster, crab, Norway lobster, mussels, oysters and mackerel are all part of the marine identity that defines the area.
For visitors, the Koster Islands are a place where archipelago life, nature experiences and local flavours come together. Whether the journey begins in Strömstad, continues along the Swedish West Coast, or is combined with visits to Grebbestad, Tanumstrand or Fjällbacka, South Koster and North Koster are strong symbols of the living sea in northern Bohuslän.
Fishing along the Swedish West Coast is an important part of Bohuslän’s history, but it also requires knowledge and respect. Lobster, Norway lobster, crab, mackerel, cod, mussels and oysters are all part of a larger marine ecosystem where every species has its place.
In northern Bohuslän, from Fjällbacka, Grebbestad and Tanumstrand to Strömstad, South Koster and North Koster, there is a long tradition of living close to the sea. At the same time, sustainability, fishing regulations, seasons and responsible use of marine resources are becoming increasingly important for the future of the archipelago.
Experiencing seafood and fishing in Bohuslän is therefore not only about flavour and tradition. It is also about understanding the sea, respecting marine life and helping Kosterhavet and Kosterhavet National Park remain living marine environments for future generations.
The lobster is one of the most fascinating species along the Swedish West Coast and a strong symbol of marine life in northern Bohuslän. In the waters around Strömstad, the Koster Islands, South Koster, North Koster, Grebbestad, Tanumstrand, Fjällbacka and Kosterhavet, the European lobster, Homarus gammarus, lives close to the seabed in environments that many visitors never get to see for themselves.
Behind its reputation as the “black gold of the sea” is an animal with fascinating behaviour, strong adaptability and a close connection to rocks, seaweed, currents and stony seabeds. For anyone joining a lobster safari in Bohuslän, the lobster becomes more than an exclusive delicacy. It becomes a way into the story of the archipelago’s wildlife, local seafood and the unique marine landscape in and around Kosterhavet National Park.
Below, you can get to know the lobster a little better: how it hides, how it finds food, why its claws look different and why its habitat makes Kosterhavet such a special place for lobster fishing, seafood experiences and nature tours on the Swedish West Coast.
The European lobster prefers rocky seabeds where it can find natural shelters among stones, crevices and holes. During the day, it often stays hidden to protect itself from predators and strong movements in the water.
This is one reason why the rocky archipelago around Strömstad, the Koster Islands, Grebbestad and Tanumstrand is so closely associated with lobster fishing. The combination of hard seabeds, sheltered areas and rich marine life creates an environment where lobsters can live close to the bottom and move carefully through the landscape.
Lobsters have a highly developed sense of smell and use it to locate food on the seabed. In the dark, salty waters of Bohuslän, scent becomes an important tool when the lobster searches for food among rocks, seaweed and marine sediments.
This behaviour is one of the reasons lobster fishing is so closely connected to knowledge of the sea. Understanding where lobsters move, where they hide and how they search for food is part of the local fishing tradition that has developed along the Swedish West Coast.
One of the most distinctive features of the lobster is its two different claws. One claw is usually larger and stronger, used for crushing, while the other is often slimmer and more adapted for gripping and cutting.
These powerful claws are part of what makes the lobster such an impressive animal. They also contribute to its reputation as one of the most iconic shellfish in Bohuslän’s seafood culture.
Lobsters are generally more active during the evening and night. When darkness falls, they are more likely to leave their hiding places and move across the seabed in search of food.
This nocturnal behaviour adds to the mystery surrounding the lobster. For visitors joining a lobster safari in Bohuslän, it also helps explain why the lobster is so closely connected to local knowledge, experience and respect for the rhythms of the sea.
The lobster’s shell is not just protection. It is also part of the animal’s growth. As lobsters grow, they must shed their old shell and form a new one. During this period, the lobster is more vulnerable and needs good hiding places among rocks and crevices.
This makes the habitat especially important. The rocky seabeds of Kosterhavet, Strömstad, Grebbestad and Tanumstrand provide the kind of shelter that lobsters need throughout different stages of life.
Kosterhavet is known for its varied underwater landscape. Deep channels, rocky bottoms, seaweed forests, soft seabeds and shallow bays create habitats for many marine species.
For lobster, this means access to shelter, food and suitable seabed environments. For visitors, it means that a trip through Kosterhavet is not only a scenic boat tour, but also a journey through one of Sweden’s most valuable marine ecosystems.
In Bohuslän, lobster is not only an exclusive seafood ingredient. It is also part of local identity, fishing history and coastal culture. The annual lobster season brings together tradition, food, nature and the excitement of the sea.
That is why a lobster safari on the Swedish West Coast is such a memorable experience. It combines the taste of freshly caught seafood with stories about the archipelago, the marine environment and the long tradition of lobster fishing in Bohuslän.
The motivation for 2020 was:
This year’s Cultural Prize is awarded to Helena Lantz, who runs the popular tourist destination Hilmas Alaska on Nord – Långö.
“With a driving force and a huge commitment with the goal of keeping a unique cultural heritage alive and preserving ancient history, awarded the Helena Lantz prize. The work she puts in to make the garden bloom in its noblest Splendor is invaluable. Hilma Svedahl’s memory and history lives on through Helena Lantz’s efforts.”
So appreciated, Thank you very much!
