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  2. Environment and the outdoors
  3. Forests and outdoor recreation
  4. Outdoor recreation
  5. Angling
  6. Angling - what you need to go fishing
  7. Angling permits

Angling permits explained

As well as a rod licence anglers must also have permission to fish in the chosen water. This can be in the form of a permit or day ticket from the fishery owner. Below are the types of permits/day tickets available and where to buy them.

Fishery owners

A fishery owner can be:

  • a private individual
  • a company
  • an angling club
  • the Department of Agriculture, Environment and Rural Affairs (DAERA)

Permits for private fisheries 

To fish in private waters you must buy:

  • a rod licence and 
  • a permit or day ticket 

The rod licence is for the fishing rod and the game or coarse fish you're allowed to catch.  

  • Angling rod licences explained 

A permit or day ticket gives you the right to fish in a particular fishery. More information on private fisheries is on the following page:

  • Fisheries outside the Public Angling Estate

Permits for DAERA's fisheries

DAERA's 91 fisheries are part of the 'DAERA Public Angling Estate', offering the public inexpensive fishing throughout Northern Ireland. To fish these waters you must buy the following from DAERA:

  • a rod licence and 
  • a permit or day ticket 

Find out more about these fisheries on the following page:

  • DAERA Public Angling Estate fisheries

Game and coarse angling

There are two types of angling, game and coarse:

  • game species include brown trout, sea trout, salmon and arctic char
  • ​coarse species include pike, bream, roach, perch, carp, tench and rudd

Your rod licence will show the type of fish you can catch and the number of rods allowed. 

  • Angling rod licences explained 

Detailed below are the different types of DAERA permits you can buy which give you permission to fish in the chosen water.

DAERA game permits

All DAERA game permits allow the holder to fish the Public Angling Estate for either game or coarse fish but with only one rod at a time. A separate game permit is needed for any extra rod being used for game or coarse. More information about game permits and prices is on the following page: 

  • Game angling permit prices from DAERA 

DAERA coarse permits

All DAERA coarse permits allow the holder to fish the Public Angling Estate with two coarse rods. A separate coarse permit is needed for a third and extra coarse rods being used. More information about coarse permits and prices is on the following page: 

  • Coarse angling permit prices from DAERA 

DAERA local season permits 

Local season permits are for anglers who just want to fish in their local area:

  • Local season fishing permit price from DAERA 

DAERA short-term permit types

If you do not fish regularly or if you're a tourist, you might find this type of DAERA permit useful. More information about prices and the number of rods you're allowed is on the following page:

  • Short-term angling permit prices from DAERA 

DAERA day tickets

The River Bush is close to the Giants Causeway. It has several types of DAERA day tickets available for salmon fishing and caters for various fishing methods:

  • Angling on River Bush - day ticket stretches 

Buy DAERA rod licences, permits, day tickets

Anglers can buy DAERA rod licences, permits and day tickets online or from a distributor (for example a tackle shop). They should read the 'Conditions of Sale' for fishing licences and permits before buying.

You can Buy rod licences and permits including River Bush day tickets online to fish the 91 DAERA Public Angling Estate fisheries. You can also buy a rod licence and permit together by choosing 'combined licence and permit'.

Authorised distributors sell DAERA rod licences and permits. Some also sell Loughs Agency rod licences and permits: 

  • Angling licence and permit distributors 

Note that you can't buy a permit or day ticket without a rod licence.

Have proof to show you're fishing legally

When fishing you may be approached by a DAERA Fishery Protection Officer, the Police Service of Northern Ireland  (PSNI) or a Private Water Bailiff to check if you're fishing legally. 

Find out more about having proof to show you're fishing legally. 

Paperless

DAERA runs a paperless system. Upon buying you will get a receipt by email.

More useful links

  • Angling - what you need to go fishing 
  • Angling
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Angling permits

  • Angling permits explained
  • Buy rod licences, permits and River Bush day tickets
  • Coarse angling permit prices from DAERA
  • Game angling permit prices from DAERA
  • Local season fishing permit price from DAERA
  • Short-term angling permit prices from DAERA

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Comments or queries about angling can be emailed to anglingcorrespondence@daera-ni.gov.uk 

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