This is one area where anglers are often confused, especially on their first
visit to a new country or region. Luckily the situation in Ireland is not
complex though there are some regional variations that anglers need to be
aware of.
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.
For an outline of what is contained in all the regulatins regarding the 2008 salmon angling season click this link: Salmon Angling Regulations 2008.
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.
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 greater than 50 cm in length,
• prohibits the possession by any person of more than 1 whole pike less
than 50 cm or more than 1.5 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 fish for use
as bait subject to conditions.
Minimum overall size limit of 40cm. From tip of snout to end of tail
The effect of this Bye-law is to impose a bag limit on anglers of two bass in any one period of 24 hours and to provide for a ban on angling for bass during the spawning season (15th May to the 15th June).
The effect of this Order is to prohibit the sale or offer for sale of bass (other than bass which has been imported into the State) from 1st day of July to 30th day of June.
Note: Penalties for breach of the above laws include confiscation of tackle and heavy fines.
The only legal method to catch freshwater fish is by rod and line (Bye-law No.595).
A person may fish with not more than two rods at any time (Bye-law No.595).
It is illegal to have or to use live fish as bait (Bye-law No.592).
It is illegal to transfer live roach from one water to any other waters (Bye-law No.561).
Most brown trout fisheries open between February 15th and March 1st. Most close on September 30th with some exceptions which close on various dates between September 15th and October 12th. Clubs may have their own regulations on opening and closing dates.
On some waters fly only regulations or other method restrictions may be in place. Please check with the fishery owner or Regional Fisheries Board for further information.
The South Western Regional Fisheries Board presents this web site as a useful guide to salmon, trout and coarse fishing in Cork and Kerry.
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