Fisheries Legislation - An Overview

There are a myriad of Fisheries Bye laws under the Fisheries Acts which are in many cases specific to a particular fishery. These are listed where relevant on a fishery by fishery basis in our Fishing Guides Angling sections.

The following is an overview of the important Angling Regulations/Bye Laws which cover fishing in the Shannon region. For others, please check with us.  

GENERAL FRESHWATER

• 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 transfer live roach from one water to any other waters. (Bye-law No.561)

• The taking or killing of by any person of more than one pike on any day is illegal. (Bye-law No.667)

• The taking by rod and line of more than one salmon or sea trout (over 40 centimetres in length) by any person in any day from 1 January to 31 May, 2002 is prohibited  (Bye Law No 781)

• All salmon (and sea trout over 40cm) kept must be tagged, and the logbook filled out accordingly. See Logbook Scheme.

• It is prohibited to sell rod caught salmon or sea trout over 40cm between January 1st and October 31st.

PIKE & COARSE FISH

• It is illegal to have or to use live bait as bait (Bye-law No.592)

• A person may fish with not more than two rods for coarse angling at any one time.

• It is illegal to transfer live roach from one water to any other waters. (Bye-law No.561)

• The taking or killing of by any person of more than one pike on any day is illegal.

• The taking and killing by any person of any pike exceeding 6.6lbs (3kg) in weight is illegal.

• It is illegal for any one person to have in their possession more than one dead whole pike or alternatively more than 3.3lbs (1.5kg) by weight of pike flesh or parts.

• It is permitted to take one whole specimen size whole, ungutted pike on any one day. River specimen pike 20lbs (9.072) - Lake specimen pike 30lbs (13.608kg) on any day

• The bylaw also provides for the register to be set up by each Regional Fisheries Board of all premises and other storage facilities used by persons acting as holders of pike for third parties. Furthermore all pike flesh, up to a maximum of 1.5kg per person must be wrapped separately with the anglers name clearly visible.

These laws were introduced in order that all anglers will continue to enjoy excellent sport on all our rivers and lakes and we require your co-operation in ensuring they are adhered to.

SALMON AND SEATROUT

• The Minister for the Marine and Natural Resources, Frank Fahy has made the above Bye-law No. 781, on December 20th, 2001. This Bye-law prohibits the taking by rod and line of more than one salmon or sea trout (over 40 centimetres in length) by any person in any day from 1 January to 31 May, 2002 (commencing January 1st 2002) (Conservation of Salmon and Sea Trout Bye-law No 781, 2001)

• It is prohibited to sell rod caught salmon or sea trout over 40cm between January 1st and October 31st.

Wild Carcass Tagging and Logbook Scheme The Department of the Marine and Natural Resources has introduced a Carcass Tagging and Logbook scheme for commercial and recreational salmon catches. The scheme is to be administered  by the Central and Regional Fisheries Boards. There are a series of leaflets for anglers on tagging their catch and recording relevant details in their logbooks. From January 1st 2001 all salmon rod licence holders shall affix a tag to 

• all salmon

• sea trout over 40 cms they catch and retain

These tags will identify salmon and sea trout (over 40cms), which have been caught legally, and will therefore allow for an enumeration of the catch.

FISHING ShRFB MANAGED FISHERIES

There are 27 Fisheries which are controlled by the Shannon Regional Fisheries Board. A fishing permit is required to fish these waters (Trout and Coarse Fish).

Rates 2003: Adult Annual €30.00; Pensioner/Disability Annual €15.00;. Juvenile Annual €8.00 Juvenile 1 Day €2.00 Day Permit €8.00 Visitors 21 Day: €15.00.  Share Certificate from the North Shannon Development Co-Operative Society is required to fish  the Upper Shannon and tributaries located upstream of Banagher Bridge on the Shannon in Co Offaly. A Share Certificate can be purchased from most of the larger tackle dealers  which are advertised on this site.  See Rod Fees .

Each fishery has it's own angling regulations which are listed on our fishing guides angling section. However general rules apply as follows

• Anglers can only fish one rod per angler

• Rods must not be left unattended.

• All under sized fish must be returned to the water with as little injury as possible

• The Management reserve the right to refuse and revoke a permit to anyone violating, these regulations or acting in a manner detrimental to the fishery, fishing or the surrounding countryside.

• Anglers who are found to have acted in an 'unsporting manner' may have their permit revoked

SEA FISH

BASS

• It is prohibited to take and kill more than two bass on any one day.( Bye-law No.667)
  Minimum overall size limit of 40cm. From tip of snout to end of tail
  · Closed season from 15th May to 15th June.

Note: Penalties for breach of the above laws include confiscation of tackle and heavy fines.