Angling Regulations

blowin · Angling Regulations

The Sea Angling Ireland site have recently published these links , which give some detail of the regs :
For the ROI :
http://www.cfb.ie/fishing_in_ireland/Angling%20Regulations.htm
and for the North :
http://www.dcal-fishingni.gov.uk/...its_licences/main_regulations.htm

Extracts from the ROI one :

Irish Fishing Regulations
SALMON and SEA TROUT

A State Licence is required to fish for salmon and sea trout, but does not entitle you to fish. Permits or permission from fisheries owners must be obtained.
General salmon angling regulations

* All salmon (and sea trout over 40cm) kept must be tagged, and the logbook filled out accordingly.
* The salmon and sea trout season opens on January 1st in some fisheries. Most fisheries open at a later date (various dates up to the March 20th). Most fisheries close on September 30th with some exceptions which close on various dates between September 15th and October 12th.
* It is prohibited to keep or kill any sea trout in Connemara or the Ballinakill district.
* It is prohibited sell rod caught salmon or sea trout over 40cm between January 1st and October 31st

Salmon Licence Fees (2008)

* All Districts (i.e. all Regions) Annual: €134 (incl. €67 conservation stamp)
* Juvenile (under the age of 18 years) All Districts Annual: €20 (incl. €10 conservation stamp)
* One District, Annual: €64 (incl. €32 conservation stamp)
* All districts, 21 Days: €50 (incl. €25 conservation stamp)
* All districts, 1 Day: €36 (incl. €18 conservation stamp)
* Special Local (for Annual Licence holders) €26 (incl. €13 conservation stamp)
* Special Local (for non- Annual Licence holders) €100 (incl. €50 conservation stamp)
* Foyle Area Extension €84 (incl. €42 conservation stamp)

Bag Limits

Conservation of Salmon and Sea Trout Bye-law No. 829, 2007 (Bag limit) The existing annual bag limit of 10 fish per angler for the 2008 season continues in rivers identified as being above their Conservation Limits.

* 3 salmon or sea trout (over 40cm) during the period from the start of the season to 11th May but not more than one fish on any day during that period,
* a daily bag limit of 3 fish from 12 May to 31 August and
* a daily bag limit of 1 fish from 1 September to the end of the season.

Open Rivers, Closed Rivers, Tagging Scheme, more information

Please follow this link for Salmon Angling Regulations 2008.
Coarse Fish

The Coarse fish bye law provides for the following conservation measures:

* a bag limit of 4 coarse fish in any one day,
* prohibits the killing of any coarse fish greater than 25 cm in length,
* prohibits the sale of any coarse fish in Ireland (excluding NI), this provision will not apply to fishing tackle dealers and fish bait suppliers who have been granted an exemption from their respective Regional Fisheries Board
* .CONSERVATION OF AND PROHIBITION ON SALE OF COARSE FISH BYE-LAW NO. 806, 2006

PIKE

The pike bye law provides for the following conservation measures:

* a bag limit of 1 Pike in any one day,
* prohibits the killing of any pike more than 50 cm in length,
* prohibits the possession by any person of more than 1 whole pike less than 50 cm or more than 0.75 kgs of pike flesh, this provision does not apply to a person storing pike or pike parts subject to conditions,
* prohibits the possession by any person of more than 12 coarse fish for use as bait subject to conditions.
* CONSERVATION OF PIKE BYE-LAW NO. 809, 2006

And from the North :

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.
Licences
You need a licence to use a fishing rod. You can be fined for fishing without a licence.
Fishing Seasons
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.
Other Regulations
The use of gaffs is illegal in the Fisheries Conservancy Board 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.

blowin

Just had a quick check and as far as I can see the regs for this year are the same as for last but there is an additional section relating to eels .

Eels

The eel fishing bye law provides for the following conservation measures:

* prohibits the taking or fishing for brown eel under 30cm in length.
* close season for brown eel, from 1 September to 31 May of the following year
* provides for a close season for silver eel from 1 January to 30 September in any year.