Management of the Wild Salmon Fishery 2024

The Wild Salmon and Sea Trout Tagging Scheme regulates salmon and sea trout fishing in Ireland and is administered by Inland Fisheries Ireland. Please note that the regulations and bye-laws are subject to change. Contact your local Inland Fisheries Ireland office for information on individual rivers.

All salmon rod licence holders must affix a gill tag to all retained salmon (any size), or sea trout (over 40 cm).

Sustainable angling and biosecurity

  • Always Fish Sustainably
  • Be sure of local and national regulations
  • It is illegal to kill any kelt, rawner, baggot or other unseasonable salmon or sea trout
  • Check Clean Dry Check
  • If you need to report illegal fishing or water pollution Call 0818 34 74 24

We all need to fish sustainably, so that our fisheries can be enjoyed by future generations. Please practice Catch & Release for the majority of the fish you catch. When moving between fisheries, always make sure to Check, Clean and Dry your equipment, to help stop the spread of invasive species. For more information see:
https://www.fisheriesireland.ie/what-we-do/research/research-theme-biosecurity

1. BAG LIMITS

There is an angling bag limit of 10 salmon (any size) or sea trout (over 40 cm) on rivers where you may catch and retain salmon (Table 1). The bag limits are subject to any quota allocated to a river and its tributaries.

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

  • Daily Bag Limit – January 1st to May 11th: A total of one salmon (any size) or sea trout (over 40cm) per day  (three fish in total may be retained for this period).
  • Daily Bag Limit – May 12th to August 31st: Three salmon (any size) or sea trout (over 40cm) per day (except where a salmon rod (one-day) ordinary licence is held, 1 fish).
  • Daily Bag Limit – 1st September to the close of the season: One salmon (any size) or sea trout (over 40cm) per day.
  • There is an angling bag limit of three sea trout (under 40cm) per angler per day.
  • Please note that it is an offence to kill any sea trout in the following waters;
    -Galway, Connemara or Ballinakill Fisheries Districts including at sea from Hags Head in County Clare to Clew Bay (and in any waters flowing into Clew Bay) in the Bangor Fishery District south of a line drawn due east and west through Achill Head.
    – Kerry District, in that part of the sea east of a line between Bolus Head and Lambs Head and all the waters discharging into it (i.e. Waterville area)

After the daily bag limit has been taken, anglers are permitted to fish catch and release, using single or double, barbless hooks and anglers may not use worms. The killing and possession of foul hooked fish is prohibited.

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

  • anglers may not use worms,
  • anglers must use single or double, barbless hooks,
  • the fish must be handled carefully and should not be removed from the water prior to release.

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

  • The Regulations on the River Avoca prohibit the taking of any sea trout (under 40cm) as well as prohibiting 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. 890, 2011)
  • The Regulations on the River Slaney prohibit the use of; (a) any lure other than artificial fly using single or double barbless hooks in that part of the River Slaney upstream from the Railway Bridge Enniscorthy, or (b) worms as bait or any fish hooks, other than single barbless hooks, in that part of the River Slaney downstream from the Railway Bridge Enniscorthy to the mouth of the River Slaney.
  •  The Regulations on the River Suir prohibit the use of worms, prawn, shrimp or any other crustacean or artificial forms thereof as bait and any fish hooks other than single or double barbless hooks.

2. OBTAINING A LICENCE

Anglers can obtain their licence from Inland Fisheries Ireland or any rod licence distributor. On payment of the rod licence fee, the angler will be given:

  •  The relevant rod licence, associated logbook and a plastic wallet for the licence/logbook.
  • 3 gill tags where a salmon rod (annual) ordinary, juvenile, district or 21-day ordinary licence is issued up until 11th May and a further 7 gill tags (issued in lots of 3 or 4) from the period 12th May to 30th Sept up to a maximum of 10 gill tags in total provided they demonstrate that they have completed their logbook appropriately.
  • 1 gill tag where a one day ordinary licence is issued up until the close of the season.
  • A business reply envelope for return of the logbook and unused tags to the relevant Inland Fisheries Ireland office.

3. THE TAG

The tag to be used by anglers is a blue plastic self-locking device (an additional brown tag is also required for certain rivers – (refer to Table 1 – Open Fisheries) to ensure angling quotas are not exceeded. Contact the relevant IFI office for details on how to obtain brown tags). Each blue tag is embossed with a code identifying where the tag was issued, the year in which the tag can be used, a security code and a tag serial number.

Anglers 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.
  • 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. These tags shall not be re-used.
  • Tags shall be attached through the gill opening and mouth of the fish and securely 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 Inland Fisheries Ireland.
  • 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 angler 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 Inland Fisheries Ireland.

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 office of Inland Fisheries Ireland by the 19th October annually. 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.

6. PROHIBITION ON THE SALE OF ROD CAUGHT SALMON OR SEA TROUT

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

Open Fisheries 2024

Table 1: Open Fisheries with Optional Harvest  
Fishery District
River
No. 4 or Lismore District
  • Blackwater (Munster) [Open to 31st August, C&R from 1st Sept]
  • Glenshelane
  • Finisk
No. 5 or Cork District
  • Bandon
  • Lower Lee (brown tag required – Code S4)
  • Ilen
  • Mealagh
  • Owvane
  • Coomhola
  • Glengarriff
No. 7 or Kerry District
  • Roughty (brown tag required – code K4)
  • Sheen
  • Laune
  • Cottoners
  • Watervillle/Cummeragh/Currane
  • Sneem
  • Caragh
  • Owenmore R
  • Maine
  • Ferta
No. 9(1) or Galway District
  • Corrib
No. 9(2) or Connemara District
  • Cashla
No. 10(1) or Ballinakill District
  • Bundorragha (Delphi), [C&R to 11th May, Open from 12th May] (brown Tag required – code Z6)
  • Erriff (brown tag required – code P4)
  • Culfin
  • Dawros
  • Owenglin (Clifden), (brown tag required – code B4)
  • Bunowen (brown tag required – code I4)
No. 10(2) or Bangor District
  • Carrowmore Lake (brown tag required – code U6)
  • Owenduff (brown tag required – code R4)
  • Owenmore (brown tag required – code E6)
No. 11 or Ballina District
  • Moy
  • Easkey
No. 12 or Sligo District
  • Drumcliff River and Glencar Lake
No. 13 or Ballyshannon District
  • Drowes
  • Owenwee (Yellow)
No. 14 or Letterkenny District
  • Gweebarra  (open from 12th May )
  • Clady (brown tag required – code G3)
  • Gweedore (Crolly)
  • Crana  (brown tag required – code W6)
  • Owenea (brown tag required – code J6)
  • Owentocker (brown tag required – code J6)
No. 17(2) or Dundalk District

Catch and Release Fisheries 2024

Table 2: Fisheries Open to Catch and Release only
Fishery District
River
No. 1 or Dublin District
  • Lower Liffey (downstream of Leixlip Dam)*,**
No. 2 or Wexford District
  • Slaney* (Catch and Release 17 March to 31st August, Otherwise Closed)
No. 3 or Waterford District
  • Barrow
  • Suir
  • Pollmounty
  • Nore
No. 4 or Lismore District
  • Blackwater (Catch and Release from 1st
    September),
  • Bride*
No. 5 or Cork District
  • Argideen*
  • Owenacurra*
No.7 or Kerry District
  • Croanshagh
  • Blackwater*
  • Owenascaul*
  • Cloonee*
  • Inny*
No. 8 or Limerick District
  • Mulkear*
  • Feale (including Rivers Galey & Brick)*
  • Doonbeg*
  • Lower Shannon
No. 9(2) or Connemara District
  • Screebe*
  • Ballynahinch (Owenmore)
No. 10(1) or Ballinakill District
  • Owenwee*
  • Carrownisky*
  • Bundorragha (Catch and Release to 11th May)*
No. 10 (2) or Bangor District
  • Glenamoy*
  • Newport River ( including Lough Beltra and Crumpaun River)
No. 11 or Ballina District
  • Cloonaghmore (Palmerstown)*
No. 12 or Sligo District
  • Garvogue (Including River Bonet and Lough Gill)**
  • Ballysadare
No. 13 or Ballyshannon District
  • Eany*
  • Glen*
  • Oily*
  • Bungosteen*
  • Duff*
  • Eske*
No. 14 or Letterkenny District
  • Leannan*
  • Ray*
  • Lackagh (Catch and Release from 12 May)*
  • Gweebarra (Catch and Release to 11 May)*
  • Tullaghobegley*
No. 17(1) or Drogheda District
  • Boyne**
No. 17(2) or Dundalk District
  • Glyde*
  • Dee**
  • Fane

* Notwithstanding the restrictions in place for salmon (any size) and sea trout (over 40cm), further restrictions prohibiting the use of worms as bait in angling for all other fish species apply in certain closed and catch and release rivers. Anglers may only use single or double barbless hooks where these restrictions apply.
** Subject to paragraph* above these restrictions may not apply to the entire river.
*** Designated sanctuary areas may prohibit all fishing (e.g. designated sanctuary areas
downstream of Leixlip Dam and Lucan Weir)

Please refer to IFI website www.fisheriesireland.ie or your local IFI office for any further changes or amendments.

A salmon tagged with both blue and brown gill tags
A salmon from the Erriff River with both blue and brown gill tags

Closed Rivers 2024

Table 3: Closed Fisheries
Fishery District
River
No. 1 or Dublin District
  • Dargle*
  • Vartry*
  • Upper Liffey (Upstream of Leixlip Dam)**
No. 2 or Wexford District
  • Avoca*
  • Owenavorragh*
  • Slaney* (Closed to 16th March, Closed from 1st Sept)
No. 3 or Waterford District
  • Owenduff*
  • Mahon*
  • Tay*
  • Colligan*
  • Corrock*
No. 4 or Lismore District
  • Lickey*
  • Tourig*
  • Womanagh*
No. 5 or Cork District
  • Upper Lee
  • Adrigole*
  No. 7 or Kerry District
  • Owenshagh*
  • Finnihy*
  • Feohanagh*
  • Owenreagh*
  • Emlaghmore*
  • Carhan*
  • Emlagh*
  • Lee (Kerry)*
  • Behy*
  • Kealincha*
  • Lough Fada*
  • Miltown*
No. 8 or Limerick District
  • Deel*
  • Aughyvackeen*
  • Annageeragh*
  • Inagh*
  • Fergus
  • Maigue*
  • Upper Shannon (upstream of Parteen Weir)
  • Owenagarney
  • Skivileen*
No. 9(1) or Galway District
  • Clarinbridge*
  • Knock*
  • Aille*
  • Owenboliska, Spiddal*
  • Kilcolgan*
No. 9(2) or Connemara District
  • Lough na Furnace*
No. 10(2) or Bangor District
  • Owengarve*
  • Muingnabo*
  • Shramore*
No. 11 or Ballina District
  • Brusna*
  • Leaffony*
  • Ballinglen*
No. 12 Sligo District
  • Grange*
No. 13 or Ballyshannon District
  • Abbey*
  • Ballintra (Murvagh)**
  • Laghy (Stream)*
  • Erne
No. 14 or Letterkenny District
  • Bracky*
  • Isle (Burn)*
  • Mill*
  • Clonmany*
  • Straid*
  • Owenamarve*
  • Swilly*
  • Donagh*
  • Culoort*
  • Glenna*
  • Glenagannon*
  • Lackagh*  (Closed until 11th May)
No. 17(2) or Dundalk District
  • Flurry*
  • Castletown*

* Notwithstanding the restrictions in place for salmon (any size) and sea trout (over 40cm), further restrictions prohibiting the use of worms as bait in angling for all other fish species apply in certain closed and catch and release rivers. Anglers may only use single or double barbless hooks where these restrictions apply.
** Subject to paragraph* above these restrictions may not apply to the entire river.
*** Designated sanctuary areas may prohibit all fishing (e.g. designated sanctuary areas downstream of Leixlip Dam and Lucan Weir)

Please refer to IFI website www.fisheriesireland.ie or your local IFI office for any further changes or amendments.

2024 Season

•    S.I. No. Wild Salmon and Sea Trout Tagging Scheme (Amendment) Regulations 2023:

These regulations provide for the quotas of fish that can be harvested by commercial fishing engines and rod and line from those rivers identified in Schedule 2 of the regulations. The regulations also provide for the use of brown tags in specified rivers which are identified in Schedule 4.

•    Angling Bye-law:

This bye-law prohibits the use of any fishhooks, other than single or double barbless hooks, and also prohibits the use of worms as bait in angling for all species of fish in the waters specified in the bye-law.  This is to avoid the use of hooks and baits which are not conducive to fish survival and to ensure that the objective of catch and release fishing is not frustrated.

•    Conservation of Salmon and Sea Trout (Bag Limits) Bye-law:

This bye-law provides for an annual bag limit of 10 fish being either salmon or sea trout (over 40 cm) per angler and provides for a season bag limit of three fish in the period 1st January to 11th May, a daily bag limit of three fish from 12th May to 31st August and a daily bag limit of one fish from 1st September to the end of the season. The bye-law also provides for the use of single or double barbless hooks and prohibits the use of worms as bait once the specified numbers of fish have been caught in the specified periods.

•    Conservation of Salmon and Sea Trout (Catch and Release) Bye-law:

This bye-law provides for catch and release in respect of salmon and sea trout (over 40cm) in rivers that are meeting at least 50% of their Conservation Limit as mentioned in the bye-law. The bye-law also provides for the use of single or double barbless hooks and prohibits the use of worms as bait in angling for salmon and sea trout over 40cm.

•    Conservation of Salmon and Sea Trout (River Suir) Bye-law:

This bye-law provides for catch and release in angling for salmon (any size) and sea trout (over 40cm) in the River Suir (including the waters of the Rivers Clodiagh, Lingaun and Blackwater) and also prohibits the use of worms, prawn, shrimp or any other crustacean, or artificial forms thereof, as bait and any fish hooks other than single or double barbless hooks during the period 17th March to 30th September.

•    Conservation of Salmon and Sea Trout (River Slaney) Bye-law:

This bye-law extends the annual close season in angling for salmon, sea trout and brown trout in the River Slaney and its tributaries from 1st September to 16th March in any year. The bye-law also provides for the use of artificial fly only using single or double barbless hooks upstream of the Railway Bridge, Enniscorthy, and provides for the use of single barbless hooks and a ban on worms as bait downstream of the Railway Bridge, when angling for salmon or sea trout (any size).

•    Conservation of Sea Trout Bye-law:

This bye-law provides for a daily bag limit of three sea trout (less than 40cm in length) and provides for the use of single or double barbless hooks and prohibits the use of worms as bait once the specified number of sea trout have been caught.

•    Conservation of Salmon and Sea Trout (Closed Rivers) Bye-law:

Prohibits the taking or attempting to take by rod and line salmon and sea trout (over 40cm) in the rivers specified in the bye-law.

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 section 69 of the Inland Fisheries Act, 2010 (No. 10 of 2010), the current Wild Salmon and Sea Trout Tagging Scheme Regulations and the Salmon and Sea Trout Conservation Bye-laws.