Main Regulations

We want you to enjoy your angling in Northern Ireland. We do not want your angling holiday disrupted because you have broken some rule or regulation that you did not know about. Better to know the regulations that apply which are mainly designed to protect fish stocks. In this way you will not have your licence confiscated, be fined or have your fishing interrupted. This is a short guide to the rules and regulations, which apply in Northern Ireland. It is not a comprehensive guide. Full detailed information is available from the licensing authority.

You need a licence to use a fishing rod. You can be fined for fishing without a licence.

Fishing seasons vary for the species fished and on the location of the fishery. Generally there is no close season for pike, bream, roach, perch, tench, rudd, carp and rainbow trout fishing. The seasons for salmon and wild brown trout fishing vary mainly by river catchment. For example in the Foyle catchment the salmon fishing season operates from 1 April to 20 October, in the Carlingford catchment it is from 1 April to 31 October while in the Bann catchment and the Co Antrim rivers the season is from 1 March to 31 October (except the River Bush where the season ends on 21 October). The season on the Erne catchment is 1 March to 30 September except for Lough Melvin (1 February to 30 September). The variety of seasons is a reflection of the timing of salmon runs into different river catchments.

The use of gaffs is illegal in the DCAL and Loughs Agency area.

There are other regulations relating to types of fishing permitted, hook sizes, fishing from boats etc which apply across Northern Ireland. Details are available from the licencing authorities or fishery owners. Please enquire when you are purchasing your licence or permit what specific rules apply to the fishery.