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 Goverment Department.

A licence is required by law for using a fishing rod (except when angling for sea fish). 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 Fisheries Conservancy Board (FCB) 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 Angling

Game licences are required by law for each game fishing rod used by anyone over 12 years of age in the FCB area and for all ages in the FCILC area to fish anywhere in Northern Ireland (no licence is required for angling for sea fish). Licences are issued by either the FCB 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 seperate game licence and game permit is required for each additonal game rod used. Holders of juvenile 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 (except angling for sea fish).

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 juvenile permits are entitled to fish using two coarse rods.