Northern Ireland Fisheries Management Region
Guide To The Northern Ireland Fisheries Management Region
The Salmon fishing in the Northern Ireland Fisheries Management Region comes under the wings of the Department of Culture, Arts and Leisure (DCAL). This body is responsible, for the salmon and inland fisheries of Northern Ireland except for the Foyle and Carlingford catchments which are the responsibility of the Loughs Agency.
The region includes the prolific Lower Bann, which is one of the best Salmon Fishing Rivers in Ireland.
The top Salmon rivers of the northern ireland fisheries management region include, the Lower Bann, the River Agivey, the River Moyola and the River Clady.
Rivers Of The Northern Ireland Fisheries Management Region
| Agivey | Annaghcloy | Ballinamallard |
| Ballinderry | Ballynahinch (Quoile) | Blackwater-Carryduff |
| Blackwater-Lough Neagh | Bush | Callan |
| Carey | Clady | Colebrook |
| Crumlin | Glasswater | Glenarm |
| Glendun | Glenshesk (Glen) | Glenwhirry |
| Grillagh | Kells Water | Kilkeel |
| Lagan | Lower Bann | Maine |
| Margy | Moyola | Shimna |
| Six Mile Water | Upper Bann | Wee Agivey |
| White Water |
Regulations Of The Northern Ireland Fisheries Management Region
Who to contact about illegal fishing?
If you know about or suspect illegal fishing, you should contact DCAL on 028 9051 5119 or, if it is considered an emergency (or outside office hours), contact the hotline 0800 80 70 60.
In the event of a pollution incident, and/or a fish kill you should contact the Northern Ireland Environment Agency pollution hotline on 0800 80 70 60.
Licences regulations
You need a licence to use a fishing rod. You can be fined for fishing without a licence.
Salmon tagging
All commercial and recreational salmon catches must be tagged and the catch recorded in a logbook. This applies to all salmon and sea trout over 50 cm.
The tag to be used by Anglers is a blue plastic self-locking device embossed with a code identifying the region in which the tag was issued and the tag number.
Anglers will be required to record the catch on a daily basis at the end of each fishing trip (before midnight of each day) in the logbook. You will receive salmon tags and a log book when you purchase any game rod licence.
Recording angling catch returns
Recording catches will help the management of the Public Angling Estate. Catches can be recorded by completing the back of your permit or completing the catch and return form and returning it to the Department (by post or email to dcalangling@dcalni.gov.uk)
Fishing seasons
Fishing seasons vary for the species fished and on the location of the fishery. The variety of seasons is a reflection of the timing of salmon runs into different river catchments.
For salmon and wild brown trout fishing the seasons vary, as follows.
- in the Foyle catchment the salmon fishing season operates from 1 April to 20 October
- in the Carlingford catchment the season is from 1 April to 31 October
- 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)
- in the Erne catchment the season is 1 March to 30 September except for Lough Melvin (1 February to 30 September)
Other regulations
The use of gaffs is illegal in the DCAL and Loughs Agency area.
There are other regulations relating to things such as types of fishing permitted, hook sizes, and fishing from boats, 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.
Bag limits/catch and release/minimum sizes
There are no specific bag limits or minimum sizes for brown trout except for the Foyle and Carlingford catchments regulated by the Loughs Agency. Fishery owners tend to apply their own bag limits and minimum sizes and information is generally provided on the permit you purchase from the fishery owner.
In general, a bag limit of four brown or rainbow trout may be taken from the stocked fisheries. The minimum size of fish that may be taken from stocked fisheries is 25.4 cm.
As salmon stocks are declining across all North Atlantic countries there are limits on the number of salmon that may be retained.
Catch and release operates (except for Lough Melvin) for salmon from 1 March to 31 May and a daily bag limit of two salmon applies thereafter.
On Lough Melvin one salmon may be retained from 1 February to 31 May and three salmon from 1 June to 30 September. You may continue to fish after you have obtained your bag limit but all fish must be returned alive and unharmed to the water.
All salmon and sea trout over 50 cms retained by the angler must be tagged. Tags are provided with your game rod licence.
License Costs
| £ | |
| Season Game Fishing Rod and Line. | 17.00 |
| Fourteen Day Game Fishing Rod and Line. | 9.00 |
| Three Day Game Fishing Rod and Line. | 3.50 |
| Concessionary Game Licence (Senior Citizens - Valid for Men and Women over 60 yrs - ID confirming age must be produced). | 5.00 |
| Concessionary Game Licence (Disabled Citizens - Valid for Men and Women in receipt of one of the following benefits; Disability Living Allowance, Attendance Allowance, War Disablement Pension and Severe Disablement Pension). | 5.00 |
| Game Juvenile Season (12yrs to 18yrs old). | 2.00 |
| Foyle Endorsement. | 1.00 |
License Distributors
A4 Fishing Tackle
176 Ballygawley Road
Dungannon
BT70 1RX
+ 44 (0)28 8776 7166
Angling Centre
71 Coleraine Road
Garvagh
BT51 5HR
+ 44 (0)28 2955 7691
Angling First Ltd
9 Rugby Avenue
Banbridge
BT32 3NA
+ 44 (0)28 4062 2323
Angling Supplies
131, Main Street
Larne
BT40 1HJ
+ 44 (0)28 2827 6634
Antrim Information Centre
16 High Street
Antrim
BT41 4AN
+ 44 (0)28 9442 8331
Belfast Welcome Centre
47, Donegall Place
Belfast
BT1 5AD
+ 44 (0)28 9024 6609
Belleek Angling Centre
The Thatch, Main Street
Belleek
BT93 3FX
+ 44 (0)28 6865 8181
Bushmills Salmon Hatchery
21 Church Street
Bushmills
BT57 8QJ
+ 44 (0)28 2073 1435
C. A. Anderson & Co.
64 Market Street
Omagh
BT78 1EN
+ 44 (0)28 8224 2311
Email: caanderson@utvinternet.com
C. F. Beattie
39 Main Street, Ballycarry
Carrickfergus
BT38 9HH
+ 44 (0)28 9335 3462
Carrickfergus Borough Council
Tourist Information Centre, 11 Antrim Street
Carrickfergus
BT38 9QD
+ 44 (0)28 9335 8049
Clonduff Angling Club
69 Newry Road
Rathfriland
BT34 5AL
+ 44 (0)28 4063 2582
Cloughbally Mills Angling Centre
Ballycassidy
Enniskillen
BT94 2LY
+ 44 (0)28 6638 1556
Country Sports
52 Drumadravey Road
Irvinestown
BT94 1LQ
+ 44 (0)28 6862 1788
Country Sports
48a Regent Street
Newtownards
BT23 4LP
+ 44 (0)28 9181 2585
Country Sports & Tackle
9 Rough Lane
Antrim
BT41 2QG
+ 44 (0)28 9446 7378
E & J Cassells & Sons
41/43 Main Street
Ballymoney
BT53 6AN
+ 44 (0)28 2766 3216
East Belfast Coarse Angling Club
7 Knockvale Grove
Belfast
BT5 6HL
+ 44 (0)28 9052 5794
Erne Tackle
121 Main Street
Lisnaskea
BT92 0JD
+ 44 (0)28 6772 1969
Fermanagh Lakeland Cottages
Aghnablaney
Leggs
BT93 2BB
+ 44 (0)28 6863 1500
Fermanagh Tourist Information Centre
Wellington Road
Enniskillen
BT74 7EF
+ 44 (0)28 6632 3110
Field and Stream
24 Charlemont Street
Moy
BT71 7SL
+ 44 (0)28 8778 9533
Fisheries Conservancy Board
1 Mahon Road
Portadown
BT62 3EE
+ 44 (0)28 3833 4666
Fisheries Office
Castlewellan Forest Park
Castlewellan
BT31 9BU
+ 44 (0)28 4377 8937
Four Seasons
47 Main Street
Newcastle
BT33 0AD
+ 44 (0)28 4372 5078
Frankie McPhillips Fishing Tackle
No.5 The Buttermarket, Down Street
Enniskillen
BT74 7DU
+ 44 (0)28 6632 3047
Furs, Feathers & Fins
Unit 1 Corriwood Industrial Park, 20 Station Rd
Castlwellan
BT31 9NF
+ 44 (0)7840993097
G I Stores
5 Dobbin Street
Armagh
BT61 7QQ
+ 44 (0)28 3752 2335
Get Hooked
4, Woodburn Crescent
Belfast
BT11 9PH
+ 44 (0)28 9062 3431
Home, Field & Stream
18 20 Church Street
Enniskillen
BT74 7EJ
+ 44 (0)28 6632 2114
J Braddell & Sons Ltd
11, North Street
Belfast
BT1 1NA
+ 44 (0)28 9032 0525
J Coburn & Son Ltd
32 Scarva Street
Banbridge
BT32 3DD
+ 44 (0)28 4066 2207
Jack Smyth Angling and Outdoors
Unit 1F Altona Retail Park
Lisburn
BT27 5QB
+ 44 (0)28 9267 6600
Kelly Hardware
54 - 56 Market Street
Downpatrick
BT30 6LZ
+ 44 (0)28 4461 2193
Laganside Tackle
161, Kingsway
Dunmurry
+ 44 (0)28 9062 5931
Lakeview Tackle
106 Ballygawley Road
Dungannon
BT70 1TA
+ 44 (0)28 8776 1133
Lough Erne Hotel
Main Street
Kesh
BT93 ITF
+ 44 (0)28 6863 1275
Mahons Hotel
Mill Street
Irvinestown
BT94 1GS
+ 44 (0)28 6862 1656
McIlduff's Fishing & Fieldsports Store
Unit 2B Gilpinstown Road
Lurgan
BT66 8RL
+ 44 (0)28 3834 9709
McKee's Unit 12
16 Balloo Avenue
Bangor
BT19 7QT
+ 44 (0)28 9145 4983
Mi-Fli Fishing Tackle
11 Ashberg Grove
Dungannon
BT71 7BQ
+ 44 (0)28 8772 5207
Mid-Antrim Angling Centre
14 William Street
Ballymena
BT43 6AW
+ 44 (0)28 2564 8159
Mr Michael Patterson
18 Main Street
Saintfield
BT24 7AA
+ 44 (0)7778534496
N.M. Tackle
131 Melmount Road
Sion Mills
BT82 9PY
+ 44 (0)28 8165 9501
North West Country Sports
5 Castle Place
Strabane
BT82 2BJ
+ 44 (0)28 7188 3021
Email: martin@northwestcountrysports.com
Outdoor Experience
39B Castle Street
Portadown
BT62 1BA
+ 44 (0)28 3833 9333
Pete's Tackle
29/31 Balmoral Avenue, Whitehead
Carrickfergus
BT38 9QD
+ 44 (0)28 9335 3283
Pollock Car Wash Centre
Roeding Foot
Ballymoney
BT53 6JJ
+ 44 (0)28 2766 3529
Post Office
19 Main Street
Kesh
BT93 1TF
+ 44 (0)28 6863 1200
Rod & Line
1 Clarendon Street
Derry
BT48 7EP
+ 44 (0)28 7126 2877
Roe Valley Fishing Tackle
6-8 Catherine Street Unit 7
Limavady
BT49 9DB
+ 44 (0)28 7776 6688
S.J. Mitchell & Co.
29 Central Car Park
Limavady
BT49 0ER
+ 44 (0)28 7772 2128
Sion Mills Angling Club
151 Melmount Road
Sion Mills
BT82 9EX
+44 (0)28 8165 8027
Email: sion_anglingclub@tiscali.co.uk
Smyth's Sports and Saddlery
7 - 9 Kildare Street
Newry
BT34 1DQ
+ 44 (0)28 3026 5303
Smyths Country Sports
1 Park Street
Coleraine
BT52 1BD
+ 44 (0)28 7034 3970
Stewart & Gibson Ltd
25 - 27 Main Street
Ballynahinch
BT24 8DN
+ 44 (0)28 9756 2220
T. McCutcheon
100, Sandy Row
Belfast
BT12 5EX
+ 44 (0)28 9024 9509
The Great Outdoors
58 Society Street
Coleraine
BT52 1LA
+ 44 (0)28 028 7032 0701
The Great Outdoors
28 Greenvale Street
Ballymena
BT43 6AR
+ 44 (0)28 2565 3433
The Tackle Box
6 New Street
Randalstown
BT41 3AF
+ 44 (0)28 9447 9010
The Tackle Box Armagh
37 Cathedral Road
Armagh
BT61 &QX
The Valley Hotel
60 Main Street
Fivemiletown
BT75 0PW
+ 44 (0)28 8952 1505
Tight Lines
198 - 200, Albertbridge Road
Belfast
BT5 4GU
+ 44 (0)28 9045 7357
Tom's Tackle Shop
31 Ardlough Road
Drumahoe
BT47 5SP
+ 44 (0)28 7134 6265
Trap & Tackle
6 Seacliffe Road
Bangor
BT20 5EY
+ 44 (0)28 9145 8515
Village Tackle Shop
55a, Newtownbreda Road
Belfast
BT8 7BS
+ 44 (0)28 9049 1916
