Photo : PatrickByrnePhotography, CC BY-SA 4.0, Wikimedia Commons
Éire / Ireland
Country, Ireland. Authority : Inland Fisheries Ireland (IFI) ; Department of Climate, Energy and the Environment (règlements) ; Loughs Agency (Foyle et Carlingford, côté Donegal/Louth).
2026 rules, checked on 23 September 2026.
- Licence
- €100Salmon rod licence – 2026 Annual Licence (All Districts)
- Next closing
- 12 Oct 2026All species (brown trout fishery) – Lough Sheelin (Midland Fisheries Group)
- Minimum sizes
- 0
Useful gear for this area
Chosen from the species and size limits regulated in this area.
8-Strand Multicolour PE Braid, 500 mFor : northern pike, zander, walleye · vertical jigging
€72.90£49.90Not shipped to the United States
Walk-the-Dog Surface Stickbaits 10 cm 18 g, Pack of 3For : largemouth bass, smallmouth bass, northern pike · crankbait and hard-lure fishing
€60.90£43.90Not shipped to the United States
Jointed Stickbaits 13.5 cm 28 g, Pack of 3For : northern pike, largemouth bass, smallmouth bass · crankbait and hard-lure fishing
€32.90£18.90Not shipped to the United States
2026 season calendar
Harvest bag limits 3 Apr–31 Aug ; catch and release only from 1 September to end of season.
Lough Sheelin closed to all fishing 13 October – 29 February.
Aucune saison nationale fermée publiée sur les pages IFI consultées.
Solid bars: fishing allowed. Yellow line: today.
Minimum sizes
Not published by the authority: check with Inland Fisheries Ireland (IFI) ; Department of Climate, Energy and the Environment (règlements) ; Loughs Agency (Foyle et Carlingford, côté Donegal/Louth).
Bag limits
| Species | Fish you may keep |
|---|---|
| Salmon (any size) or sea trout > 40 cm – annual1 Annual bag limit 7 fish per angler, only on Table 1 rivers (bye-law 1023, 2026) | not published |
| Salmon or sea trout > 40 cm – 3 April to 31 May1 1 fish in total for the period, then C&R only (single/double barbless hooks, no worms) | not published |
| Salmon or sea trout > 40 cm – 1 June to 31 August1 1 fish/day with a one-day licence | 3 per day |
| Salmon or sea trout > 40 cm – from 1 September1 catch and release only | 0 per day |
| Sea trout < 40 cm1 bye-law 1026, 2026 ; killing any sea trout prohibited in Galway, Connemara, Ballinakill districts and Waterville area | 3 per day |
| Pike5 Pike Bye-law 809/2006: no pike > 50 cm may be killed; possession max 1 whole pike < 50 cm or 0.75 kg pike flesh | 1 per day |
| Coarse fish (roach, bream, rudd, tench, perch…)5 Coarse Fish Bye-law 806/2006: no coarse fish > 25 cm may be killed | 4 per day |
Licence
| Licence | Duration | Price |
|---|---|---|
| Salmon rod licence – 2026 Annual Licence (All Districts)3 Licence d'État requise uniquement pour le saumon et la truite de mer (> 40 cm). Pour la truite, le brochet et les poissons blancs, pas de licence d'État mais un permis local peut être exigé (ex. Midland Fisheries Group, ESB). Licence imprimée à porter sur soi ; tags et logbook fournis. | calendar year 2026 | €100 |
| 2026 Annual Licence (All Districts) – salmon & sea trout (A)3 | calendar year 2026 | €100 |
| District Licence (B) – one fishery district2 | calendar year 2026 | €64 |
| 21 Day Licence (R) – all districts2 | 21 consecutive days | €50 |
| 1 Day Licence (S) – all districts2 | 1-day | €36 |
| Juvenile Annual Licence (P) – up to and including 17 years2 | calendar year 2026 | €10 |
| Foyle Area Extension Licence (W) – for Loughs Agency licence holders2 | season | €84 |
| Erne Estuary Licence (special local X)2 | season | €26 |
| Midland Fisheries Group – adult annual permit 2026 (trout/coarse waters: Sheelin, Owel, Ennel, Derravaragh, Suck, Inny, Brosna…)6 | 1 Jan–31 Dec 2026 | €45 |
| Midland Fisheries Group – adult one day permit6 | 1-day | €20 |
| Midland Fisheries Group – 21 day permit6 | 21-day | €25 |
| Midland Fisheries Group – senior citizen annual permit6 | annual 2026 | €25 |
| Midland Fisheries Group – juvenile annual permit6 | annual 2026 | €10 |
| Midland Fisheries Group – family annual permit (1 adult + 2 children)6 | annual 2026 | €55 |
Buy the licence on store.fishinginireland.info
- Ages and exemptions4
- Pas d'âge d'exemption publié pour la licence saumon ; licence juvénile (P) à 10 € jusqu'à 17 ans inclus.
Water categories
- Rivieres ouvertes recolte table1 : Bandon, Lower Lee, Ilen, Mealagh, Owvane, Glengarriff (Cork) ; Laune, Cottoners, Waterville/Cummeragh/Currane, Sneem, Caragh, Ferta, Roughty, Maine, Sheen, Blackwater (Kerry) ; Corrib (Galway) ; Cashla (Connemara) ; Bundorragha (from 1 June), Owenglin, Culfin, Dawros (Ballinakill) ; Carrowmore Lake, Owenmore (Bangor) ; Moy (Ballina) ; Ballysadare, Drumcliff & Glencar Lake (Sligo) ; Drowes, Owenwee (Yellow) (Ballyshannon) ; Gweebarra (from 1 June), Gweedore (Crolly), Owenea, Owentocker (Letterkenny)
- Rivieres catch and release table2 : Slaney (C&R 1 June–31 Aug only), Barrow & Pollmounty, Nore, Suir, Blackwater (Lismore) incl. Glenshelane & Finisk, Bride, Argideen, Owenacurra, Coomhola, Croanshagh, Cloonee, Inny, Owenmore (Kerry), Mulkear, Feale, Doonbeg, Lower Shannon, Screebe, Ballynahinch, Owenwee (Belclare), Carrownisky, Erriff, Bunowen, Glenamoy, Newport (to 31 May), Owenduff, Easkey, Garvogue, Eany, Oily, Glen, Eske, Leannan (from 1 June), Ray, Tullaghobegley, Clady, Lackagh (from 1 June), Crana, Glyde, Fane
- Rivieres fermees table3 : e.g. Dargle, Vartry, Liffey (upper and lower), Avoca, Owenavorragh, Upper Lee, Fergus, Maigue, Upper Shannon (upstream of Parteen Weir), Erne, Boyne, Swilly, Castletown, Dee (Louth) and other rivers listed in Table 3
Good to know
Wild Salmon and Sea Trout Tagging Scheme (S.I. No. 129 of 2026) : tag bleu à fixer sur tout saumon (toute taille) ou truite de mer > 40 cm gardé, tag marron supplémentaire sur certaines rivières (Roughty, Bundorragha, Owenglin, Carrowmore Lake, Owenmore, Owenea, Owentocker) ; logbook et tags non utilisés à retourner avant le 19 octobre. Vente de saumon/truite de mer pêchés à la ligne interdite. Maximum 2 cannes ; vif interdit ; transfert de gardons vivants interdit. Suir : vers, crevettes et crustacés interdits (bye-law 1025, 2026). Slaney en amont d'Enniscorthy : mouche seule.
What the authority does not publish
Points we could not find in the official texts: check with the authority.
- dates d'ouverture/fermeture du saumon par rivière non collectées (variables par district, IFI)
- saisons truite fario par district non collectées
- « share certificate » : aucune page officielle 2026 trouvée (fishinginireland.info bloqué par Cloudflare) — ne pas publier de prix
- FAQ IFI donne des tarifs antérieurs (1 jour 20 €, 21 jours 40 €, district 56 €) : on retient ceux de la boutique 2026 (36 €, 50 €, 64 €)
Rules change every year and can be amended during the season. Before fishing, check the text in force with the authority listed.
Frequently asked questions
How much is a fishing licence in Éire / Ireland in 2026?
The “Salmon rod licence – 2026 Annual Licence (All Districts)” licence costs €100 (calendar year 2026). Other options and prices are in the table above, with the official source.
When does the brown trout season open in Éire / Ireland?
Brown trout: 1 Mar → 12 Oct, according to the official calendar above.
Official sources
- IFI – Salmon Fishing Regulations / Management of the Wild Salmon Fishery 2026 (accessed on 23 September 2026)
- IFI – Salmon Licenses Ireland (boutique officielle) (accessed on 23 September 2026)
- IFI – 2026 Annual Licence (All Districts) (accessed on 23 September 2026)
- IFI – FAQ licences (types de licence) (accessed on 23 September 2026)
- IFI – Angling regulations reminder (pike 809/2006, coarse 806/2006) (accessed on 23 September 2026)
- IFI Permit Shop – Midland Fisheries Group permit 2026 (accessed on 23 September 2026)
- gov.ie – consultation Tagging Scheme 2026 (accessed on 23 September 2026)
- permits.fishinginireland.info/product/adult-annual-permit-midland-fisheries-group/
Last checked : 23 September 2026.