Everything you need to go fishing
Everything you need to know about fishing in Northern Ireland can be found at the links below:
- Buy rod licences, permits and River Bush day tickets
- Angling - includes places to fish, fish stocking figures and more
May fish stocking figures
The May 2018 fish stocking figures have been published:
Copeland (Marshallstown) and Lough Mourne
The water levels at Copeland (Marshallstown) reservoir and Lough Mourne are low. Fishing can continue but anglers are advised not wade into the water from soft or muddy banks to get closer to the water:
Ireland fisheries
There have been reports of dead coarse fish at two fisheries in the Republic of Ireland. This is being investigated by Inland Fisheries Ireland. When the cause is known a further update will be given.
If you've recently fished in the Republic of Ireland and plan to fish in Northern Ireland, follow the advice at the link below when you leave the water, to stop the spread of invasive species:
Lough Cowey
Model aircraft flying might take place at Lough Cowey on Sunday 17 June and /or Sunday 24 June 2018, depending on the weather:
Craigavon City Park Lake South
The car park at Craigavon Watersports Centre is closed due to construction work. Therefore the nearest car park for anglers fishing at Craigavon City Park Lake South is off roundabout nine on the Portadown to Lurgan road.
Moor Lough
North West Model Aircraft Club plan to be at Moor Lough on the following dates 29 July and 31 September 2018 - weather permitting.
Anglers may wish to consider other nearby angling waters on those dates, such as Lough Ash.
Community Outreach Angling Events Fund
The 'Community Outreach Angling Events Fund' which helps with small grants, to encourage participation in angling, has reopened (since Monday 15 January 2018) following a short suspension of this scheme. Further information is available from DAERA Inland Fisheries, by telephone:
Phone: 0300 2007 860
Improvement works at Hillsborough Lake dams
Due to improvement works at Hillsborough Lake dams:
- the upper car park will stay closed until the works are finished
- Church Dam is closed - once the work at Church Dam is finished, the contractors will move back to finish the works on West Dam - this schedule depends on weather conditions as wet ground would be heavily damaged by equipment
- to avoid harming the public, fly fishing is not allowed from any of the dam walls and shores beside the dam walls or near the footbridge
- anglers can use at least one dam for angling at any one time during the improvement works
Portavoe Reservoir
The car park gates at Portavoe Reservoir will be locked each evening (before darkness) until 8.00 am the following day due to a series of anti-social behaviour issues at the site. This arrangement will be in place until further notice.
- find out more about angling at Portavoe Reservoir
New fisheries added to DAERA Public Angling Estate
A number of new waters have been added to the DAERA Public Angling Estate. They are:
- Dunalis Reservoir near Coleraine
- Boomers Dam in Lisburn
- Lough Islandreavy in the Mournes
- Creighton’s Green near Belfast
The new fisheries will be jointly managed with local angling clubs and day tickets will be available to DAERA Season Permit holders at reduced rates.
Further information will be published here in the coming weeks. If you have questions about these new waters, contact:
Safety at waterways
If you're a competitor or a spectator at angling events, always pay attention to safety notices and warnings about waterways.