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Irish Fishing Regulations

Byelaws 2009

Bye-law No. 854 of 2009 prohibits the taking of more than two sea trout under 40 cm in the waters of the River Slaney or its tributaries in any one day, as specified in the Bye-law, up to the end of the season The Bye-law also prohibits the use of worms as bait and any fish hooks other than single barbless hooks in angling for sea trout under 40cm.

BYE-LAW NO. 855, 2009 prohibits the taking of any sea trout under 40cm by means of rod and line from the Avoca System (as defined in Definition No. D. 120 No.2 or Wexford District, Volume XX111 of the Statutory Rules, Orders and Regulations 1922-1938 (Fisheries)) unless such sea trout is handled carefully and immediately returned alive to the waters from which it is taken. The Bye-law also prohibits the use of worms as bait and any fish hooks other than single barbless hooks in angling for sea trout under 40cm.

Foul Hooking

This bye-law prohibits the killing and possession of foul hooked fish (fish hooked outside the mouth) in any fishery district in any year.

SALMON and SEA TROUT 2009

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.

OPEN FOR ANGLING

CATCH AND RELEASE

Catch and release is mandatory on these rivers and will be strictly enforced. Free copies of catch & release DVD’s are available from the Board.

CLOSED FOR ALL SALMON AND SEA TROUT ANGLING

• River Liffey (open for catch and release from 1/1/09-31/01/09) closed to fishing for salmon and sea trout (any size) for the rest of the season.

CLOSED TO ANGLING FOR ALL SALMON AND FOR SEA TROUT OVER 40CM AND OPEN TO ANGLING FOR SEA TROUT UNDER 40CM

In the rivers, that are open (when the bag limit has been reached) or where catch and release applies or where fishing for sea trout under 40cm in a closed river;

There is an annual angling bag limit of 10 fish per angler for salmon or sea trout (over 40cm). Subject to the maximum annual bag limit of 10 fish an angler may take:

The ban on the sale of rod caught salmon or sea trout caught from 1st January to the 31st October remains.

ALLOCATION OF TAGS FOR 2009

There is a limit of 10 tags per angler per year.

Up until the 11th May, no more than 3 tags can be issued. On 12th May onwards the balance of the 10 tags shall be issued in batches of 4 and 3 on presentation of a logbook showing previous tags have been used.

From 12th May onwards for a new licence no more than 3 tags to be issued on the first allocation, the balance of the tags will be issued in batches of 4 and 3 on presentation of a logbook showing that previous tags have been used.

Even in districts closed or catch and release log books must be issued to anglers

Logbooks including NIL returns must be returned to the Regional Fisheries Board by the 19th October at the latest.

Salmon Licence Fees (2009)

Single Barbless Hooks, Worms

Bye-law 824 of 2007 prohibits the use of any fish hooks, other than single barbless hooks, and the use of worms as bait in angling for all species of fish in the waters specified in the below:

No. 1 or Dublin District

No. 2 or Wexford District

No. 17 (1)or Drogheda District

No. 17 (2) or Dundalk District

Coarse Fish

Important notice! New angling bye laws!

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.

Eels

Eel fishing is closed until 2012. The prospect of re-opening the eel fishery will be considered at that time, following a review of the data collated as a result of scientific sampling provided for in the draft plan.

PIKE

Important notice! New angling bye laws!

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.

SEA ANGLING

BASS

Minimum overall size limit of 40cm. From tip of snout to end of tail

Bass Fishing Conservation Bye-law (Renewed annually)

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).

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The Eastern Regional Fisheries Board presents this web site as a definitive guide to salmon, trout, coarse and sea fishing in Monaghan, Meath, Louth, Dublin, Wicklow and Wexford.

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