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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

Sea angling

For sea anglers, there are a variety of shore, rock and boat fishing opportunities along Northern Ireland's coastline. The most common fish species include wrasse, cod, whiting, plaice, flatfish, turbot, mackerel, haddock, dogfish, coalfish, pollack, flounder and conger eels.

When you need a licence

There is no need to have a rod licence for sea angling, except when fishing for or taking salmon or sea trout. 

When sea fishing for salmon or sea trout, by law you need a game rod licence for each game fishing rod: 

Map showing DAERA and Loughs Agency fishing areas in Northern Ireland
Map showing DAERA and Loughs Agency fishing areas in Northern Ireland
  • used by anyone over 12 years of age who's fishing in the DAERA public fishing area
  • used by all ages in the Loughs Agency fishing area 

Game rod licence prices

  • Game rod licence prices from DAERA

Buy rod licence, permit

  • Buy rod licences, permits and River Bush day tickets 

Catch and release

All salmon and sea trout caught in the DAERA fishing area and in the sea, must be returned unharmed to the water.

At the end of the fishing season, fill in the DAERA angling catch return form  with details of any salmon and sea trout caught and released in the DAERA fishing area. This information helps to manage fish stocks. 

  • Catch and release fishing guidelines

Illegal to sell rod caught salmon

It is illegal to sell rod caught salmon in the DAERA area. The ban is a conservation measure to protect wild Atlantic salmon stocks and brings Northern Ireland into line with the Republic of Ireland and Britain where the ban already exists.

More on sea angling

For more information on sea angling, visit the website of the Irish Federation of Sea Anglers

More useful links

  • Angling - what you need to go fishing
  • DAERA Public Angling Estate fisheries
  • Angling
  • Rod licence and permit prices

For enquires about angling licences / permits and refunds contact Inland Fisheries – Portadown Office. For general enquiries contact Inland Fisheries - DAERA. For other enquiries like reporting illegal fishing activity, or pollution/fish kills visit the Department of Agriculture, Environment and Rural Affairs (DAERA) 

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Angling - what you need to go fishing

  • Angling licence and permit distributors
  • Angling permits
  • Angling rod licences
  • Angling rules
  • Buy rod licences, permits and River Bush day tickets
  • Endorsements to fish both DAERA and Loughs Agency
  • Fishing tips for beginners
  • Have proof to show you’re fishing legally
  • Rod licence and permit prices
  • Sea angling
  • Water safety tips for anglers

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

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