Lezha

If you follow the canal where the pumping station is located close to the seashore, you will find yourself at the southern edge of Patok valley, or as it is otherwise known, the estuary of the Drojë river.

The road from the pumping station up to the end is uncomfortable and difficult to drive on. Often the lagoon submerges part of the road and covers the track with water, so it is advised to go on foot or by bicycle.

To get there from Tirana city you have to follow the Tirana-Lac road that passes through the Thumanë-Lac highway. The distance from Tirana city near the Droje estuary is 59.1 km and can be reached by car in 1 hour and 6 minutes. It is 3.2 km away from Rinas Airport and takes 45 minutes to drive there. It is 28.1 km from Lezha city and takes 35 minutes by car. You can get to the estuary more easily from the Patok lagoon with a boat that you can rent for a fee together with the driver for about 20-25 euros, which is the cost of the ride to send you to the estuary and pick you up when you are done with fishing. The entire zone in the estuary is perfect for fishing mainly for mullet, eel, sea bass, common sole, anchovy etc. Meanwhile, you can also catch blue crabs, but watch out for its bite. The lagoon is closed from September to February when fishing is also possible and then from February to September it opens. This is a period when no fishing is allowed in the lagoon. If you are lucky, in addition to the ducks, and migratory birds you can also watch the Dalmatian pelican, a rare protected species that nests in Patok. 12 couples of birds were present in 2021. Meanwhile, from January to April, flamingos also rest in the lagoon. Precisely in the area where the Drojë River runs into the sea, several types of worms and shrimps are extracted and fishermen use as bait to attract fish. It is called čigal or arç, and it is found along shallow water. Those who practice this activity make a short encirclement of the area with a net resting on several spikes, where the worm or shrimp also fall. It is sold in boxes weighing no more than 200 grams for 400 - 500 ALL each box. The view of the Patok Lagoon from this angle is wonderful and on a cloudless day you wouldn't want to leave until you behold the sunset.

Since the fishing site is isolated, you must have with you food and water depending on the hours of staying. Then using the boat you can visit one of the many restaurants of the Lagoon including Martini's restaurant on a narrow strip of land in the middle of the water. This part of the lagoon is under concession and managed by FMO. If you are going to fish in the lagoon you may need a permit from them which does not require any procedure except a simple communication. Usually the payment for a day of fishing does not exceed 500 ALL. As for the part of the canal, the authorization from the municipality of Laci city which has this area under its jurisdiction is sufficient.