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Salmon Angling Regulations 2010

Includes information on bag limits, mandatory Catch & Release, rivers which are open and closed, gill tags, and returning your completed logbook and unused tags to your Regional Fisheries Board by 19th October of the relevant year.

1. BAG LIMITS

Subject to the maximum annual bag limit of ten fish an angler may take:

• a season bag limit of 3 fish in the period 1 Jan to 11 May,
• a daily bag limit of 3 fish from 12 May to 31 August
• and a daily bag limit of 1 fish from 1 September to the end of the season.
• The Bye-law also provides for the use of single hooks and prohibits the use of worms as bait once the specified number of fish have been caught in the specified periods
• Please note that no sea trout of any size caught in the Western Region or the Clew Bay area of the North Western Region can be retained.

After the daily bag limit has been taken, anglers are permitted to fish catch and release, using single barbless hooks and there is a ban on the use of worms.

Catch and Release Rivers

On rivers where catch and release is permitted (Table 2):

• there is a ban on the use of worms
• anglers must use single barbless hooks
• the fish must be handled carefully and should not be removed from the water prior to release.

Closed Rivers

On all other rivers (Table 3) angling for salmon (any size) and sea trout (over 40cm) is prohibited.

2. OBTAINING A LICENCE

Anglers can obtain their licence from Regional Fisheries Board headquarters, any rod licence distributor or online at www.salmonlicences.ie. On payment of the rod licence fee, the angler will be given:

• The relevant rod licence.
• A logbook.
• 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 that at least one of the previous tags has been used.
• On 12th May onwards for a new licence no more than 4 tags to be issued on the first allocation, the balance of the tags will be issued in batches of 3 and 3 on presentation of a logbook showing that at least one of the previous tags has been used.
• 1 gill tag where a one day ordinary licence shall be issued up until 11th May, 3 gill tags from 12th May to 31st August and 1 gill tag from 1st Sept to the close of the season.
• A business reply envelope will be provided for return of the logbook and unused tags to the relevant Regional Fisheries Board.
• A plastic wallet for the logbook.

3. THE TAG

The tag to be used by anglers is a blue or brown plastic self-locking device. Each tag is embossed with a code identifying the region (or river and district) in which the tag was issued, the year in which the tag can be used and a tag number.

Fishermen should carefully note the following concerning the use of these tags:

• Each rod licence holder will be issued tags for his/her use only. Tags are not transferable between licence holders.
• These tags shall not be re-used.
• One tag shall be attached to each salmon (any size) and sea trout (over 40 cm) caught and retained.
• Tags must be attached immediately on landing the fish.
• Tags shall be attached through the gill opening and mouth and double locked around the gill cover.
• Additional tags shall be issued on presentation of logbook information showing that the licence holder has used the gill tags issued to him or her, subject to bag limits.
• Lost and accidentally destroyed tags may be replaced upon presentation of a signed declaration completed by the angler and signed by an Authorised Officer of a Regional Fisheries Board.
• Gill Tags shall only be removed from the fish at the time of processing in accordance with the Tagging Scheme Regulations. For the purposes of this scheme processing includes: smoking, marinating or cooking the fish, gutting and freezing the fish or cutting any steaks, cutlets or portions of the fish.

4. THE LOGBOOK

On receipt of tags the angler will also receive a logbook. Details of the gill tags issued to an angler will be entered into the angler’s logbook by the issuing agent.

Each fisherman shall:

• Have the logbook in his/her possession while fishing for salmon or sea trout.
• Record all details of their catch in their logbook immediately after tagging the fish.
• Make a catch record even if the fish is released.
• Record details of any lost or damaged tags.
• Declare lost or damaged logbooks to the relevant Regional Fisheries Board.

5. RETURNING LOGBOOKS AND UNUSED TAGS

In accordance with the Wild Salmon and Sea Trout Tagging Regulations anglers are required by law to return their completed logbook (even if there is no catch recorded) and all unused tags to the issuing Regional Fisheries Board by the 19th October of the relevant year. A business reply envelope is provided for this purpose.

Anglers are required to obtain proof of postage and to retain such proof for 12 months.

Anglers are prohibited from selling salmon (any size) or sea trout (any size) caught by rod and line.

These guidelines have been prepared for information purposes only and do not purport to be a legal interpretation. The holder of a rod licence should familiarise himself or herself with Part 3 of the Fisheries (Amendment) Act, 1999 (No. 35 of 1999), the current Wild Salmon and Sea Trout Tagging Scheme Regulations and the Salmon and Sea Trout Conservation Bye-laws.

Conservation of Salmon and Sea Trout Bye-Law No. C.S. 305, 2009. (River Bandon): The Bye-law provides for the prohibition on angling for salmon and sea trout (over 40cm) in the River Bandon during the period 15 February, 2010 to 11 May, 2010.

Conservation of Salmon and Sea Trout Bye-law No. 865, 2009. (Newport River) (Lough Beltra): This Bye-Law restricts angling to catch and release in respect of Salmon and Sea Trout (over 40 cm) in the Newport River (Lough Beltra) during the period 1 January to 11 May, 2010 and thereafter incorporates the provisions of the existing annual bag limit.

Catch and Release Fisheries

On rivers where catch and release is permitted (Table 2):

• there is a ban on the use of worms,
• anglers must use single, barbless hooks,
• the fish must be handled carefully and should not be removed from the water prior to release.

Conservation of Salmon and Sea Trout Bye-Law No. 866, 2009. (River Blackwater (Munster)): This Bye-Law provides for a bag limit of one fish in respect of Salmon and Sea Trout (over 40 cm) in the River Blackwater (Munster) during the period 1 February to 11 May, 2010.

Closed Rivers

On all other rivers (Table 3) angling for salmon (any size) and sea trout (over 40cm) is prohibited.

Brown gill tags

A system of Brown GILL Tags is in place on certain rivers where it is considered necessary in the interests of conserving salmon stocks to closely monitor the angling quotas to ensure that river based quotas are not exceeded.

Anglers should use a BROWN GILL TAG in addition to their BLUE GILL TAG on the rivers listed below. Please contact the relevant Regional Fishery Board to request information on how to obtain additional BROWN GILL TAGS.

Please note that the daily and annual bag limits still apply.

List of Districts and Rivers to which these Regulations apply from 1 January to 11 May

List of Districts and Rivers to which these Regulations apply from from 1 January to 30 September

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