Other fisheries outside the Public Angling Estate

There are a number of other waters in Northern Ireland, outside the Public Angling Estate, which are available to the public. Anglers still require a DCAL or FCILC rod licence and a permit or day ticket.

Permits and day tickets

A permit or day ticket is a document issued by the owner of a fishery which allows the angler the right to fish in that fishery. A fishery owner can be a private individual or a company, an angling club or in the case of the the Public Angling Estate, a Government Department. To fish waters outside the Public Angling Estate, you will require a permit, day ticket or permission from the fishery owner.

Open seasons for rod and line for salmon, sea trout, brown trout and rainbow trout

The open seasons in the DCAL Licensing area are as follows:

1st February to 30th September - Lough Melvin
1st March to 31st October - All other waters

In connection with the above a river, lough or lake includes any tributary of that river, lough or lake and includes any lough or lakes (except designated rainbow trout waters) draining into or forming part of any such river or tributary.

Open season for rod and line for rainbow trout

There is no close season for rainbow trout on waters (outside the Public Angling Estate) which have been designated by DCAL as rainbow trout waters.

The open season for coarse fishing is all year round.

For a full list of designated rainbow trout fisheries click below:

• Rainbow trout fisheries throughout Northern Ireland

Loughs Agency

For more information on fisheries under the control of the Loughs Agency, click below

• Loughs Agency (contacts section)

or contact

Foyle, Carlingford and Irish Lights Commission (FCILC)
22 Victoria Road
Londonderry
BT47 2PT
Telephone: 028 7134 2100
Fax: 028 7134 2720

Email: general@loughs-agency.org

Game angling clubs

For information on game angling clubs within Northern Ireland contact:

Ulster Angling Federation Ltd
PO Box 107
Carrickfergus
BT38 0BW
Tel: 028 9336 8952
Email: diannearchibald@yahoo.co.uk

Coarse fishing

For information on coarse fishing in Northern Ireland contact:

Ulster Coarse Fishing Federation
7 Knockvale Grove
Belfast
BT5 6HL
Tel: 028 9065 5373

Pike fishing

For information on pike fishing contact:

Northern Ireland Pike Society
Mr Justin Forsythe (Secretary)

Tel No: 07879814825

Tench fishing

For information on tench fishing contact:

The Tenchfishers
Mr Des Tobin,
9 Rosapenna Parade
Belfast
BT14 6GU
Tel: 028 9059 6058

You can also contact the Northern Ireland Tourist Board for more information

• Discover NI - Northern Ireland Tourist Board website