Management of the Wild Salmon Fishery 2026
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.
- A Kelt is a salmon that has recently spawned and is usually in poor condition. A Baggot is a female salmon which is full of mature eggs. A Kelt / Baggot whilst recorded in the logbook will not be counted as part of the run for the current year as it relates to the previous year salmon return.
- 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 (effective from 3rd April 2026)
There is a National angling bag limit of 7 salmon (any size) or sea trout (over 40cm) per person on rivers where you may catch and retain salmon (Table 1) (bye-law no. 1023, 2026). The bag limits are subject to any quota allocated to a river and its tributaries. A person shall not retain a wild salmon (any size) or sea trout (over 40cm) from a river other than a river mentioned in Table 1.
Subject to the maximum annual bag limit of seven fish an angler may take:
• Bag Limit – 3rd April to 31st May: A total of one salmon (any size) or sea trout (over 40cm) may be retained for this period. Once the bag limit has been reached, anglers must practice ‘Catch and Release only’, using single or double barbless hooks and anglers may not use worms.
• Daily Bag Limit – 1st June to 31st August: Three salmon (any size) or sea trout (over 40cm) per day (except where a salmon rod (one-day) ordinary licence is held, 1 fish).
• Bag Limit – 1st September to the close of the season: No Salmon (any size) or sea trout (over 40cm) may be retained for this period. Anglers must practice ‘Catch and Release only’ during this period, using single or double barbless hooks and anglers may not use worms.
• There is a daily bag limit of three sea trout (under 40cm) per angler per day (bye-law 1026, 2026).
• 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 (bye-law no. 834, 2008)
– 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) (bye-law no. 971, 2019).
After the daily or season 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. This also applies to anglers who have utilised their allocation of blue tags (or brown tags where they apply) or who are not in possession of an unused blue or brown tag for the river concerned. The killing and possession of foul hooked fish is prohibited.
On rivers where catch and release is permitted (Table 2) (bye-law no. 1024, 2026), and where it applies to rivers in Table 1:
• 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 (bye-law no. CS 339, 2026).
- 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 (bye-law no. 1,000, 2022).
• 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 (bye-law no. 1025, 2026).
2. OBTAINING A LICENCE
Anglers can obtain their licence from Inland Fisheries Ireland, online at store.fishinginireland.info or from 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.
• 7 gill tags where a salmon rod (annual) ordinary, juvenile, district or 21-day ordinary licence is issued (issued in lots of 3 or 4) in respect of the period 3rd April to 31st August, (but only 1 gill tag where a 21-day ordinary licence expires on or before 31st May).
• 1 gill tag where a salmon rod (one day) ordinary licence is issued up until 31st August in respect of the period 3rd April to 31st August.
• Holders of salmon rod (annual) district licences shall not be issued with any gills tags where no quotas apply.
• 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 with Optional Harvest Surplus – 2026) 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) or sea trout (over 40cm) 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.
This leaflet includes information on the status of rivers (open, closed and catch and release), bag limits, obtaining a licence, correct use of logbooks and gill tags.
• 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
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 2026
| Table 1: Open Fisheries with Optional Harvest Surplus 2026. Harvest permitted up to 31st August subject to bag limits, Catch and Release only from 1st September | |
| No. 5 or Cork District | Bandon Lower Lee Ilen Mealagh Owvane Glengarriff |
| No. 7 or Kerry District | Laune Cottoners Waterville/Cummeragh/Currane Sneem Caragh Ferta Roughty (brown tag required – code T10) Maine Sheen Blackwater |
| No. 9(1) or Galway District | Corrib |
| No. 9(2) or Connemara District | Cashla |
| No. 10(1) or Ballinakill District | Bundorragha (Open from 1st June) (brown Tag required – code V11) Owenglin (Clifden), (brown Tag required – code H4) Culfin Dawros |
| No. 10(2) or Bangor | Carrowmore Lake (brown Tag required – code A13) Owenmore (brown Tag required – code Q4) |
| No. 11 or Ballina District | Moy |
| No. 12 or Sligo District | Ballysadare Drumcliff R. & Glencar Lake |
| No. 13 or Ballyshannon District | Drowes Owenwee (Yellow) |
| No. 14 or Letterkenny District | Gweebarra (Open from 1st June) Gweedore (Crolly) Owenea (brown Tag required – code M4) Owentocker (brown Tag required – code M4) |
Catch and Release Fisheries 2026
|
Fishery District
|
River
|
|
No. 2 or Wexford District
|
Slaney (Catch and Release 1st June – 31st August, Otherwise Closed)*
|
|
No. 3 or Waterford District
|
Barrow and Pollmounty
Nore Suir |
|
No. 4 or Lismore District
|
Blackwater (including Glenshelane and Finisk)*
Bride* |
|
No. 5 or Cork District
|
Argideen*
Owenacurra* Coomhola* |
|
No.7 or Kerry District
|
Croanshagh*
Cloonee* Inny* Owenmore* |
|
No. 8 or Limerick District
|
Mulkear*
Feale (including Rivers Galey & Brick)* Doonbeg* Lower Shannon |
|
No. 9(2) or Connemara District
|
Screebe*
Ballynahinch* |
|
No. 10(1) or Ballinakill District
|
Owenwee (Belclare)*
Carrownisky* Bundorragha (Catch and Release to 31st May)* Erriff* Bunowen* |
|
No. 10 (2) or Bangor District
|
Glenamoy*
Newport River (including Lough Beltra and Crumpaun River Catch and Release to 31st May)* Owenduff* |
|
No. 11 or Ballina District
|
Easkey*
|
|
No. 12 or Sligo District
|
Garvogue (Including River Bonet and Lough Gill)*
|
|
No. 13 or Ballyshannon District
|
Eany*
Oily* Glen* Eske* |
|
No. 14 or Letterkenny District
|
Leannan (Catch and Release from 1st June)*
Ray* Tullaghobegley* Clady* Lackagh (Catch and Release from 1st June)* Gweebarra (Catch and Release to 31st May)* Crana* |
|
No. 17(2) or Dundalk District
|
Glyde*
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 from the Erriff River with both blue and brown gill tags
Closed Rivers 2026
|
Fishery District
|
River
|
|
No. 1 or Dublin District
|
Dargle*
Vartry* Upper Liffey (Upstream of Leixlip Dam)** Lower Liffey (downstream of Leixlip Dam)** |
|
No. 2 or Wexford District
|
Avoca*
Owenavorragh* Slaney* (Closed to 31st May, 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* Owenascaul* |
|
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 (Burrishoole)* Newport (including Lough Beltra and Crumpaun River), (Closed from 1st June)* |
|
No. 11 or Ballina District
|
Brusna*
Leaffony* Ballinglen* Cloonaghmore (Palmerstown)* |
|
No. 12 Sligo District
|
Grange*
|
|
No. 13 or Ballyshannon District
|
Abbey*
Ballintra (Murvagh)** (single or double barbless hooks only and no worms downstream of junction of Ballintra and Bridgetown Rivers) Laghy (Stream)* Erne Bungosteen* Duff* |
|
No. 14 or Letterkenny District
|
Bracky*
Isle (Burn)* Mill* Clonmany* Straid* Owenamarve* Swilly* Donagh* Culoort* Glenna* Glenagannon* Lackagh* (Closed to 31st May) Leannan* (Closed to 31st May) |
|
No. 17(1) or Drogheda District
|
Boyne*
|
|
No. 17(2) or Dundalk District
|
Flurry*
Castletown* Dee |
* 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.
2026 Season
1. S.I. No. 129 of 2026 Wild Salmon and Sea Trout Tagging Scheme (Amendment) Regulations 2026
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.
2. Angling Bye-law No. 1022, 2026
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.
3. Conservation of Salmon and Sea trout (Bag Limits) Bye-law No. 1023, 2026
This Bye-Law provides for an annual bag limit of 7 fish being either salmon or sea trout (over 40 cm) per angler and provides for a season bag limit of 1 fish in the period 3 April to 31 May and a daily bag limit of 3 fish from 1 June to 31 August. No fish shall be taken from 1 September to the end of the season other than by catch and release. 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.
4. Conservation of Salmon and Sea trout (Catch and Release) Bye-law No. 1024, 2026
This Bye-law provides for catch and release in respect of salmon and sea trout (over 40 cm) in rivers 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 40 cm.
5. Conservation of Salmon and Sea Trout (Closed Rivers) Bye-law No. C.S. 339, 2026
This Bye-law prohibits the taking or attempting to take by rod and line salmon and sea trout (over 40 cm) in the rivers specified in the Bye-law.
6. Conservation of Salmon and Sea Trout (River Suir) Bye-law No. 1025, 2026.
This Bye-law provides for catch and release in angling for salmon (any size) and sea trout (over 40 cm) 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 3rd April to 30 September.
7. Conservation of Sea Trout Bye-law No. 1026, 2026
This Bye-law provides for a daily bag limit of 3 sea trout (less than 40 cm 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 has been caught.
FOOTNOTE
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.