Permits/Licences

Anglers are sometimes confused about the difference between a licence and a permit.

A permit or day ticket is a document issued by the owner of a fishery which confers the right to fish in that fishery. An owner can be a private individual or a company, an angling club or in the case of the the Public Angling Estate, a Government Department.

A licence is required by law for using a fishing rod (there is no requirement to have a licence for sea fishing except when fishing for salmon or sea trout ). For further information on licences and permits see 'General Information'.

In Northern Ireland fish species are referred to as either game species (brown trout, sea trout, salmon, arctic char) or coarse species (pike, bream, roach, perch, carp, tench, rudd and eels). Licences and permits are also split into these categories.

The Department of Culture, Arts & Leisure (DCAL) and the Loughs Agency of the Foyle, Carlingford and Irish Lights Commission (FCILC) are conservation bodies responsible for protecting fish stocks in Northern Ireland. Both bodies issue angling licences in their respective jurisdictions and, on payment of a supplement, licence holders are allowed to fish in the other jurisdictions.

Rod licences and most types of Department permits may be obtained from appointed distributors throughout Northern Ireland and the names and addresses of local distributors are available under Permit Outlets .

Game licences are required by law for each game fishing rod used by anyone over 12 years of age in the DCAL area and for all ages in the FCILC area to fish anywhere in Northern Ireland (there is no requirement to have a licence for sea fishing except when fishing for salmon or sea trout ). A Game permit is required for all ages to fish the Public Angling Estate. Licences are issued by either the DCAL or the FCILC depending on which area you are fishing in. (see map of Fishing Locations in Northern Ireland .)

It should be noted that both the game rod licence and Department game angling permit entitle the holder to use one game rod only. A separate game licence and game permit is required for each additonal game rod used. Holders of Concessionary permits using more than one game rod requires a full adult game licence and game permit for his second and every subsequent game rod.

A coarse licence is required by law by anyone over 12 years of age fishing anywhere in Northern Ireland (there is no requirement to have a licence for sea fishing except when fishing for salmon or sea trout ). A Coarse permit is required for all ages to fish the Public Angling Estate.

It should be noted that a coarse rod licence and a coarse Department permit entitle the holder to use two coarse rods. A separate coarse licence and coarse permit is required for a third and subsequent coarse rod being used. Similarly, holders of Concessionary permits are entitled to fish using two coarse rods.