Photo : mattbuck (category), CC BY-SA 4.0, Wikimedia Commons
Northern Ireland
Nation, United Kingdom. Authority : DAERA – Inland Fisheries (Department of Agriculture, Environment and Rural Affairs) ; Loughs Agency (Foyle et Carlingford).
2026 rules, checked on 23 September 2026.
- Licence
- £77DAERA season game permit (Public Angling Estate, 19-59)
- Next closing
- 30 Sept 2026Salmon, sea trout, brown trout, rainbow trout – Lough Melvin incl. tributaries
- Minimum sizes
- 25.4 cmSalmon, sea trout, brown trout (Loughs Agency area)
Useful gear for this area
Chosen from the species and size limits regulated in this area.
Responsible gearDigital Hanging Scale 50 kgTo check the minimum size: Brown trout 25.4 cm here.
€30.90£16.90Not shipped to the United States
Small Folding Aluminium Rod Tripods, Pack of 2For : common carp, common bream, tench · feeder fishing
€26.90£13.90Not shipped to the United States
Rigging Accessory Assortment, 184 PiecesFor : roach, common bream, common carp · float fishing (waggler and stick float)
€27.90£13.90Not shipped to the United States
Where to fish
© OpenStreetMap
2026 season calendar
Species
Salmon, sea trout, brown trout, rainbow trout – Lough Melvin incl. tributaries71 Feb → 30 Sept
DAERA
Salmon, sea trout, brown trout, rainbow trout – Lough Erne system incl. tributaries71 Mar → 30 Sept
DAERA
Salmon, sea trout, brown trout, rainbow trout – River Bush incl. tributaries71 Mar → 20 Oct
DAERA
Salmon, sea trout, brown trout, rainbow trout – all other DAERA waters71 Mar → 31 Oct
DAERA
Loughs Agency : River Foyle, Lough Foyle, River Finn 1 March–15 September ; Foyle et Finn déclarés catch and release (hameçon simple sans ardillon).
Loughs Agency PDF : saison game Carlingford 1 March–31 October ; Whitewater 1 June–31 October.
Coarse fish (pike, bream, roach, perch, tench, rudd, carp)7all year
Generally no close season, but game fishery seasons apply on game waters.
Solid bars: fishing allowed. Yellow line: today.
Minimum sizes
| Species | Minimum size | 0–60 cm |
|---|---|---|
| Salmon, sea trout, brown trout (Loughs Agency area)9 no fish under 25.4 cm (10 in) may be retained; tag salmon ≥ 25.4 cm and sea trout > 40 cm | 25.4 cm | |
| Brown trout (DAERA public fisheries)8 no minimum size | not published |
To check the minimum size: Brown trout 25.4 cm here. Digital Hanging Scale 50 kg €30.90£16.90Not shipped to the United States
Bag limits
| Species | Fish you may keep |
|---|---|
| Salmon and sea trout (DAERA Public Angling Estate)8 catch and release at all times, except Lough Melvin (1 Feb–30 Sep) and Clady river (1 Jun–31 Oct) with carcass tags | 0 per day |
| Brown / rainbow trout (DAERA stocked fisheries)8 combined | 4 per day |
| Pike (DAERA)8 under 4 kg; all pike ≥ 4 kg released | 1 per day |
| Pike (Loughs Agency)8 under 4 kg, + 1 specimen pike (≥ 9 kg river, ≥ 13.6 kg lake) | 2 per day |
| Other coarse fish (DAERA)8 except pike | 4 per day |
| Salmon or sea trout > 40 cm (Loughs Agency)9 1 March–31 May, max 5 in period; 2/day 1 June–31 October, max 20 in period; tagging required | 1 per day |
| Coarse fish and eels (Loughs Agency)9 killing prohibited (except pike) | 0 per day |
Licence
| Licence | Duration | Price |
|---|---|---|
| DAERA season game rod licence (19-59)1 Licence ET permis/day ticket obligatoires. Une licence GB ou République d'Irlande n'est pas valable en Irlande du Nord. | game season (generally March to October) / January–December for coarse | £17 |
| Season coarse rod licence (19-59, 2 rods)2 | January–December | £17 |
| Juvenile game or coarse rod licence (12-18)1 | season | £2 |
| Concessionary season game/coarse rod licence (60+ or disability)1 | season | £5 |
| Three day game rod licence (1 rod)3 | 3-day | £3.50 |
| Three day coarse rod licence (2 rods)3 | 3-day | £3.50 |
| 14 day game rod licence3 | 14-day | £9 |
| 14 day coarse rod licence3 | 14-day | £9 |
| DAERA season game permit (Public Angling Estate, 19-59)4 | season | £77 |
| DAERA local season game permit4 | season | £59 |
| DAERA concessionary season game permit (60+ / disability)4 | season | £17.50 |
| DAERA juvenile game permit (under 19)4 | season | £2 |
| Endorsement DAERA ↔ Loughs Agency (holders of a full season game rod licence)6 | season | £1 |
Buy the licence on nidirect.gov.uk
- Ages and exemptions5
- DAERA area: no licence under 12 (licence for each rod used by anyone over 12). Loughs Agency area (Foyle & Carlingford): licence required for all ages.
Water categories
DAERA Public Angling Estate (≈70 fisheries publiques) vs private fisheries ; zones DAERA vs Loughs Agency (Foyle, Carlingford).
Good to know
Deux autorités : DAERA (reste de l'Irlande du Nord) et Loughs Agency (bassins Foyle et Carlingford, transfrontalier). Licence + permis obligatoires. Tout saumon et truite de mer pris en zone DAERA doit être relâché. Vente de saumon pêché à la ligne interdite. Loughs Agency : crevettes, live bait interdits ; pas de pêche à moins de 5 m d'un barrage.
What the authority does not publish
Points we could not find in the official texts: check with the authority.
- prix des licences Loughs Agency (site eLicence en JavaScript, non lisible) — non publiés ici
- nidirect n'indique pas l'année des tarifs
- PDF Loughs Agency non daté
- pas de tarif non-résident distinct (les licences courtes 3/14 jours servent aux touristes)
Rules change every year and can be amended during the season. Before fishing, check the text in force with the authority listed.
Where to fish
Fishing places listed in the official sources.
- Altnahinch lake, County Antrim
Brown trout, Rainbow trout View on the map - River Ballinamallard river, County Fermanagh
Brown trout, Atlantic salmon View on the map - Ballykeel Lough Erne lake, County Down
Brown trout View on the map - Ballymoney River river, County Antrim
Brown trout, Atlantic salmon View on the map - Ballynahinch River river, County Down
Brown trout View on the map - Annacloy River river, County Down
Brown trout View on the map - Quoile Basin & River river, County Down
Brown trout, European perch, Northern pike, Rudd View on the map - Binevenagh Lake lake, County Londonderry
Rainbow trout View on the map - Brantry Lough lake, County Tyrone
Brown trout View on the map - Broadwater canal, County Antrim
Common bream, European perch, Northern pike, Roach View on the map - Lough Carrick lake, County Tyrone
Common bream, European perch, Northern pike, Roach View on the map - Castlewellan Forest Lake lake, County Down
Brown trout, Rainbow trout View on the map - Clay Lake reservoir, County Armagh
European perch, Northern pike, Rudd View on the map - Colebrooke River river, County Fermanagh
Common bream, Brown trout, European perch, Northern pike, Roach, Rudd, Atlantic salmon View on the map - Copeland Reservoir reservoir, County Antrim
Brown trout, Rainbow trout View on the map - Corranny Lake lake, County Fermanagh
Rainbow trout View on the map - Lough Corry lake, County Fermanagh
Brown trout View on the map - Craigavon City Park Lake - North lake, County Armagh
Northern pike, Rainbow trout View on the map - Craigavon City Park Lake - South lake, County Armagh
Common bream, European perch, Northern pike, Roach View on the map - Lough Creeve lake, County Tyrone
Common bream, European perch, Northern pike, Roach View on the map - Creevy Lough lake, County Down
Rainbow trout View on the map - Dungonnell Reservoir lake, County Antrim
Brown trout View on the map - Enagh Lough lake, County Tyrone
Common bream, European perch, Northern pike, Roach, Tench View on the map - Hillsborough Lake lake, County Down
Common carp, Rainbow trout View on the map - Killyfole Lough (Mill Lough) lake, County Fermanagh
Common bream, European perch, Northern pike, Roach, Tench View on the map - Killylane Reservoir reservoir, County Antrim
Brown trout View on the map - Lough Ash lake, County Tyrone
Brown trout View on the map - Lough Bradan reservoir, County Tyrone
Brown trout View on the map - Lough Cowey reservoir, County Down
Brown trout, Northern pike View on the map - Lough Erne Upper lake, County Fermanagh
Common bream, Brown trout, European perch, Northern pike, Roach, Atlantic salmon View on the map - Lough Erne Lower lake, County Fermanagh
Common bream, Brown trout, European perch, Northern pike, Roach, Atlantic salmon View on the map - Lough Keenaghan lake, County Fermanagh
Brown trout View on the map - Lough Lee reservoir, County Tyrone
Brown trout View on the map - Lough Macronan lake, County Tyrone
European perch, Northern pike, Tench View on the map - Lough Money lake, County Down
European perch, Northern pike, Rainbow trout View on the map - Lough Mourne reservoir, County Antrim
Brown trout View on the map - Lough na Cranagh lake, County Antrim
Brown trout View on the map - Lough Doo lake, County Antrim
Brown trout View on the map - Lough Scolban lake, County Fermanagh
Common bream, European perch, Northern pike, Roach, Rudd View on the map - Lough Brickland lake, County Down
Brown trout, Rainbow trout View on the map - Loughgall Lake lake, County Down
Common bream, Common carp, European perch, Northern pike, Roach, Tench View on the map - Lower South Woodburn Reservoir reservoir, County Antrim
Brown trout, Rainbow trout View on the map - Middle South Woodburn Reservoir reservoir, County Antrim
Brown trout, Rainbow trout View on the map - Upper South Woodburn Reservoir reservoir, County Armagh
Brown trout View on the map - Mill Lough (Bellanaleck) lake, County Fermanagh
Brown trout, Rainbow trout View on the map - Moorlough lake, County Tyrone
Brown trout, Rainbow trout View on the map - Movanagher Canal canal, County Antrim
Common bream, European perch, Northern pike, Roach View on the map - Lough Achork lake, County Fermanagh
Brown trout View on the map - Lough Glencreawan lake, County Fermanagh
Brown trout, Rainbow trout View on the map - Lough Meenameen lake, County Fermanagh
Brown trout View on the map - North Woodburn Reservoir reservoir, County Antrim
Rainbow trout View on the map - Portavoe Reservoir reservoir, County Down
Rainbow trout View on the map - Portna Canal canal, County Antrim
Common bream, European perch, Northern pike, Roach View on the map - River Blackwater river, County Antrim
Brown trout, Atlantic salmon View on the map - River Bush (Leap Stretch) river, County Antrim
Brown trout, Atlantic salmon View on the map - River Bush (New Stretch) river, County Antrim
Brown trout, Atlantic salmon View on the map - River Bush (Town Stretch) river, County Antrim
Brown trout, Atlantic salmon View on the map - River Bush (Unrestricted Stretch) river, County Antrim
Brown trout, Atlantic salmon View on the map - Carey River river, County Antrim
Brown trout, Atlantic salmon View on the map - Glenshesk River river, County Antrim
Brown trout, Atlantic salmon View on the map - Margy River river, County Antrim
Brown trout, Atlantic salmon View on the map - River Lagan (Iveagh Stretch) river, County Down
Brown trout, Atlantic salmon View on the map - River Lagan (Stranmillis Stretch) river, County Antrim
Common bream, European perch, Northern pike, Roach View on the map - River Lagan (Shaws Bridge Stretch) river, County Antrim
Brown trout, Atlantic salmon View on the map - River Maine river, County Antrim
Brown trout, Atlantic salmon View on the map - River Roe river, County Londonderry
Brown trout, Atlantic salmon View on the map - Shimna River river, County Down
Brown trout, Atlantic salmon View on the map - Spelga Reservoir reservoir, County Down
Brown trout View on the map - Stoneyford Reservoir reservoir, County Armagh
Brown trout, Rainbow trout View on the map - Toome Canal canal, County Antrim
Common bream, European perch, Northern pike, Roach View on the map - Tullygiven Lough lake, County Tyrone
Common bream, European perch, Northern pike, Roach View on the map - Upper Bann River river, County Armagh
Common bream, European perch, Northern pike, Roach View on the map - Upper Lough MacNean lake, County Fermanagh
Common bream, Brown trout, European perch, Northern pike, Roach View on the map - White Lough lake, County Tyrone
Northern pike, Rainbow trout View on the map - Lower Ballysallagh Reservoir reservoir, County Down View on the map
- Upper Ballysallagh Reservoir reservoir, County Down View on the map
- Boomer's Reservoir reservoir, County Down View on the map
- Carnagh Forest Lakes lake, County Armagh View on the map
- Church Road Reservoir reservoir, County Down View on the map
- Lower Conlig Reservoir reservoir, County Down View on the map
- Upper Conlig Reservoir reservoir, County Down View on the map
- Creightons Green reservoir, County Down View on the map
- Cypress Pond lake, County Down View on the map
- Dunalis Reservoir reservoir, County Down View on the map
- Lough Fea reservoir, County Tyrone View on the map
- Lough Island Reavy reservoir, County Down View on the map
- Loughmacrory reservoir, County Tyrone View on the map
- Quoile South Reservoir reservoir, County Down View on the map
- Quoile North Reservoir reservoir, County Down View on the map
- Seagahan Reservoir reservoir, County Armagh View on the map
- Gentle Owens Lake lake View on the map
Frequently asked questions
How much is a fishing licence in Northern Ireland in 2026?
The “DAERA season game permit (Public Angling Estate, 19-59)” licence costs £77 (season). Other options and prices are in the table above, with the official source.
When does the atlantic salmon season open in Northern Ireland?
Atlantic salmon: 1 Apr → 20 Oct, according to the official calendar above.
What is the minimum size for brown trout in Northern Ireland?
Brown trout: 25.4 cm. Any smaller fish must be released immediately.
Official sources
- nidirect – Game rod licence prices from DAERA (accessed on 23 September 2026)
- nidirect – Coarse rod licence prices (accessed on 23 September 2026)
- nidirect – Short-term and tourist rod licence prices (accessed on 23 September 2026)
- nidirect – Game angling permit prices (accessed on 23 September 2026)
- nidirect – Angling rod licences explained (accessed on 23 September 2026)
- nidirect – Endorsements (accessed on 23 September 2026)
- nidirect – Game and coarse fishing seasons (accessed on 23 September 2026)
- nidirect – Fish size and catch limits (accessed on 23 September 2026)
- Loughs Agency – Advice and Regulations (PDF) (accessed on 23 September 2026)
- www.nidirect.gov.uk/information-and-services/angling/angling-licences-and-permits
Last checked : 23 September 2026.