Golden Bućka of Đerdap | Tourist Calendar of Serbia

Golden Bućka of Đerdap is a traditional sports-fishing event that takes place every year, usually during the second week of August, in Tekija - a small village located on the banks of the Danube River, near Kladovo.

Since 1984, Tekija has been gathering fishing enthusiasts from all over the country, as well as curious visitors and tourists, during the two-day event. The central event is the Golden bućka, a competition in fishing using the bućka - an ancient device that produces a specific sound by hitting the water surface, attracting catfish.

In addition to fishing with this unusual technique, there are also competitions in float fishing, intended for less experienced anglers, as well as a children's carnival for the youngest participants.

It is understood that almost no event in Serbia can pass without good traditional "klope" (food), so it is inevitable to have a competition in preparing fish stew during the Golden bućka. While the sound of bućkanje echoes through the Danube, the smell of fish stew and fish specialties spreads through the Đerdap Gorge.

Today's Tekija is a small fishing village that emerged after the construction of the Iron Gates Dam in the 1960s when the old village with the same name was submerged, and a new one was formed at a higher altitude. This small settlement in the Đerdap Gorge is also known for the ancient traces left behind by the Romans, but its symbol, despite everything, is the bućka.

By hitting the water surface evenly, the fishermen produce a specific sound that attracts catfish. It could be said that the sound of this unusual fishing tool (usually made of wood) actually annoys the catfish, which curiously rise from the depths of the Đerdap Lake to the surface, where skilled fishermen swiftly catch them and pull them into their boats.

According to legend, this fishing technique originated spontaneously and unintentionally. Soldiers who were cleaning their mess tins in the Danube produced a sound that turned out to irritate catfish and lure them to the surface. The locals realized that a similar device could help them in fishing, and thus the bućka was created.

As the locals say, with skill, knowledge, and luck, catfish weighing 60 kilograms or more can be caught here. Local legends claim that in the submerged houses of the old Tekija, there are trophy specimens of the largest freshwater fish in Europe, so heavy and large that it is impossible to pull them to the surface. However, successful bućka usage requires a lot of training because someone who doesn't know how to use it properly usually scares away the fish.

While catfish fishing is exclusively done from floating boats, the Pionirski Cup represents a float fishing competition that takes place from the shore. Usually, children up to 14 years old participate in this competition.

As usual, Golden bućka concludes with a concert by one of the famous Serbian singers.

The popularity of this beautiful and unique event is also contributed by the fact that it takes place in the Djerdap National Park, one of the most beautiful sites in Europe, where visitors can enjoy numerous tourist attractions of Djerdap and its surroundings.

This year's edition of Golden bućka is planned for August 10th to 12th. For more information about Golden bućka Đerdapa, you can visit the official website of this event.