Fishing in Ireland

Welcome to Irish Property World, your source of information about irish fishing and angling across Ireland.

Angling in Ireland is regulated by the Central Fisheries Board, a State body linked to the Department of Communications, Marine and Natural Resources. The main function of the Central Fisheries Board is to advise the Minister on policy relating to the conservation, protection, management, development and improvement of inland fisheries and sea angling. There are 7 Fisheries Boards located around the country ensuring that national and local fisheries laws are observed in both inland waterways and out to the 12 mile fishing limit off the coast. The 7 Regional Fisheries Boards in addition to the CFB also ensure that Ireland's fisheries resources are protected and conserved.

Angling in Ireland is divided into the following categories: coarse, game, sea, pike, and river trout. Protected fisheries species in Ireland include salmon, sea trout, sea bass, molluscs, eels and all freshwater fish. State licences are required in order to fish for salmon or sea trout in any part of Ireland.

Protection of resources
The 7 Regional Fisheries Boards, the Irish Naval Service, the Aer Corps and an Garda Siochana are all involved in the protection of Irish inland and sea fishery resources. In 1996, a national patrol plan was devised to co-ordinate all protection and surveillance operations.

The aim of the patrol and surveillance services is to create a deterrant to illegal activity by ensuring maximum visible presence in waters and to prosecute offencers and confiscate illegal nets, equipment, tackle and catch.

Tagging and logging salmon catches
A system of tagging and recording details of all commercial and recreational salmon catches in Ireland was introduced in 2000. This system of tagging and recording details of salmon caught is similar to systems in place in Canada, France, Spain and in the US. The tagging scheme provides valuable catch statistics and estimations of stocks on rivers. Read more about the tagging system here.

All salmon (and sea trout over 40cm) kept must be tagged and the logbook filled out accordingly. If you purchased a salmon rod licence in 2003, you are required to return your completed logbook and any unused tags within 7 days of the close of the season or the expiry of your licence (whichever is the soonest). Even if you did not fish or catch any fish, you must return your logbook and tags. For futher information contact the Central Fisheries Board.

The majority of waters in Ireland are owned either privately or are owned by the State. A fishing permit issued by the owner of the waterway gives you the right to fish for varying periods ranging from a day to a season.

• The only legal way to catch freshwater fish in Ireland is by rod and line. It is illegal for one person to use more than two rods at a time.
• It is illegal to use live fish as bait.
• You must obtain a State Fishing licence, tags and a separate fishing permit in order to fish for salmon and sea trout. Prices and duration of permits will vary.
• Most fisheries close on September 30th each year (with a few exceptions that close on various dates between September 15th and October 12th). Check with your Regional Fisheries Board for further information.
• It is illegal to keep or kill any sea trout in Connemara (western Ireland) or the Ballinakill district (above Connemara).
• On some waters, "fly-only" regulations or other restrictions may in place. Check with the owner of the waterway or your Regional Fisheries Board for more information.

More Information:

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• Fishing Ireland.
• Central Irish Fisheries Board.
• Regional Irish Fisheries Boards.