Salmon Angling Regulations 2010

Includes information on bag limits, mandatory Catch & Release, rivers which are open and closed, gill tags, and returning your completed logbook and unused tags to your Regional Fisheries Board by 19th October of the relevant year.

1. BAG LIMITS

There is an angling bag limit of 10 salmon (any size) or sea trout (over 40 cm) on rivers where you may catch and retain salmon (Table 1). The bag limits are subject to any quota allocated to a river and its tributaries.

Subject to the maximum annual bag limit of ten fish an angler may take:

a season bag limit of 3 fish in the period 1 Jan to 11 May,
a daily bag limit of 3 fish from 12 May to 31 August
and a daily bag limit of 1 fish from 1 September to the end of the season.
The Bye-law also provides for the use of single hooks and prohibits the use of worms as bait once the specified number of fish have been caught in the specified periods
Please note that no sea trout of any size caught in the Western Region or the Clew Bay area of the North Western Region can be retained.

After the daily bag limit has been taken, anglers are permitted to fish catch and release, using single barbless hooks and there is a ban on the use of worms.

Catch and Release Rivers

On rivers where catch and release is permitted (Table 2):

there is a ban on the use of worms
anglers must use single barbless hooks
the fish must be handled carefully and should not be removed from the water prior to release.

Closed Rivers

On all other rivers (Table 3) angling for salmon (any size) and sea trout (over 40cm) is prohibited.

2. OBTAINING A LICENCE

Anglers can obtain their licence from Regional Fisheries Board headquarters, any rod licence distributor or online at www.salmonlicences.ie. On payment of the rod licence fee, the angler will be given:

The relevant rod licence.
A logbook.
Up until the 11th May, no more than 3 tags can be issued. On 12th May onwards the balance of the 10 tags shall be issued in batches of 4 and 3 on presentation of a logbook showing that at least one of the previous tags has been used.
On 12th May onwards for a new licence no more than 4 tags to be issued on the first allocation, the balance of the tags will be issued in batches of 3 and 3 on presentation of a logbook showing that at least one of the previous tags has been used.
1 gill tag where a one day ordinary licence shall be issued up until 11th May, 3 gill tags from 12th May to 31st August and 1 gill tag from 1st Sept to the close of the season.
A business reply envelope will be provided for return of the logbook and unused tags to the relevant Regional Fisheries Board.
A plastic wallet for the logbook.

3. THE TAG

The tag to be used by anglers is a blue or brown plastic self-locking device. Each tag is embossed with a code identifying the region (or river and district) in which the tag was issued, the year in which the tag can be used and a tag number.

Fishermen 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.
These tags shall not be re-used.
One tag shall be attached to each salmon (any size) and sea trout (over 40 cm) caught and retained.
Tags must be attached immediately on landing the fish.
Tags shall be attached through the gill opening and mouth and 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.
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 a Regional Fisheries Board.
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 the fish, gutting and freezing the fish or cutting any steaks, cutlets or portions of the fish.

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 fisherman 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 the relevant Regional Fisheries Board.

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 Regional Fisheries Board by the 19th October of the relevant year. 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.

Anglers are prohibited from selling salmon (any size) or sea trout (any size) caught by rod and line.

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 Part 3 of the Fisheries (Amendment) Act, 1999 (No. 35 of 1999), the current Wild Salmon and Sea Trout Tagging Scheme Regulations and the Salmon and Sea Trout Conservation Bye-laws.

Table 1:Open Fisheries
Fishery District	River
Waterford District	Nore
Lismore District	Blackwater including Glenshelane and Finisk
Cork District	Owenacurra; Bandon; Argideen; Lower Lee; Ilen; Mealagh; Owvane; Coomhola
Kerry District	Roughty; Sneem; Watervillle/Cummeragh/Currane; Inny; Maine; Caragh; Laune including Cottoners; Sheen; Owenmore R.; Croanshagh (Glanmore R. and L); Ferta
Limerick District	Feale including Galey and Brick; Mulkear
Galway District	Corrib
Connemara District	Cashla; Screebe; Ballynahinch (Owenmore)
Ballinakill District	Owenglin (Clifden); Bundorragha (Delphi); Erriff; Culfin; Dawros
Bangor District	Owenmore R; Shramore (Burrishoole); Owenduff ; Newport River (Lough Beltra)
Ballina District	Moy; Easkey
Sligo District	Ballysadare; Drumcliff; Garvogue (Bonnet)
Ballyshannon District	Duff; Drowes; Eany; Glen
Letterkenny District	Owenea and Owentocker; Gweebarra; Gweedore (Crolly R); Crana
Dundalk District	Fane

Conservation of Salmon and Sea Trout Bye-Law No. C.S. 305, 2009. (River Bandon): The Bye-law provides for the prohibition on angling for salmon and sea trout (over 40cm) in the River Bandon during the period 15 February, 2010 to 11 May, 2010.

Conservation of Salmon and Sea Trout Bye-law No. 865, 2009. (Newport River) (Lough Beltra): This Bye-Law restricts angling to catch and release in respect of Salmon and Sea Trout (over 40 cm) in the Newport River (Lough Beltra) during the period 1 January to 11 May, 2010 and thereafter incorporates the provisions of the existing annual bag limit.

Catch and Release Fisheries

On rivers where catch and release is permitted (Table 2):

there is a ban on the use of worms,
anglers must use single, barbless hooks,
the fish must be handled carefully and should not be removed from the water prior to release.

Table 2: Fisheries open to Catch and Release only
Fishery District (1)	River (2)	Open Date	Close Date	Notes
Waterford District	Suir (including Clodiagh, Lingaun and Blackwater)	17th March	30th Sept
Waterford District	Colligan	17th March	30th Sept
Connemara District	Lough na Furnace	10 June	30th Sept
Ballinakill District All sea trout must be released in Ballinakill District	Carrownisky	1st April	30th Sept	Sea Trout 1st June to 30th Sept
	Bunowen	1st April	30th Sept	Sea Trout 1st June to 30th Sept
	Owenwee (Belclara)	1st Feb	30th Sept	Sea Trout 1st June to 30th Sept
Bangor District	Glenamoy	1st May	30th Sept	Sea Trout 1st May to 30th Sept
Ballyshannon District	Eske	1st March	30th Sept
Letterkenny District	Clady	2nd Feb May	30th Sept	Sea Trout 1st May to 12 Oct
Drogheda District	Boyne	1st March	30th Sept
Dundalk District	Castletown	1st March	12th October

Conservation of Salmon and Sea Trout Bye-Law No. 866, 2009. (River Blackwater (Munster)): This Bye-Law provides for a bag limit of one fish in respect of Salmon and Sea Trout (over 40 cm) in the River Blackwater (Munster) during the period 1 February to 11 May, 2010.

Closed Rivers

On all other rivers (Table 3) angling for salmon (any size) and sea trout (over 40cm) is prohibited.

Table 3: Closed fisheries
Fishery District (1)	River (2)
No. 1 or Dublin District	Liffey Dargle Vartry
No. 2 or Wexford District	Avoca Owenavorragh Slaney
No. 3 or Waterford District	Barrow and Pollmounty Corrock Owenduff Mahon Tay
No. 4 or Lismore District	Bride Lickey Tourig Womanagh
No. 5 or Cork District	Upper Lee Glengarriff Adrigole
No. 7 or Kerry District	Blackwater (Kerry) Owenshagh Finnihy Owenascaul Feohanagh Cloonee Owenreagh Emlaghmore Carhan Behy Emlagh Milltown Lee (Kerry) Kealincha Lough Fada
No. 8 or Limerick District	Deel Owenagarney Skivileen Aughyvackeen Doonbeg Annageeragh Inagh Fergus Maigue Shannon (excluding Mulkear)
No. 9(1) or Galway District	Clarinbridge Knock Aille Owenboliska, Spiddal Kilcolgan
No. 10(2) or Bangor District	Owengarve Muingnabo
No. 11 or Ballina District	Brusna Leaffony Ballinglen Cloonaghmore, Palmerstown
No. 12 or Sligo District	Grange
No. 13 or Ballyshannon District	Abbey Ballintra (Murvagh) Laghy (Stream) Bungosteen Erne Oily Owenwee (Yellow River)
No. 14 or Letterkenny District	Isle (Burn) Mill Clonmany Straid Owennamarve Glenna Swilly Donagh Glenagannon Culoort Lackagh Leannan Tullaghobegly Ray Bracky
No. 17(2) or Dundalk District	Flurry Glyde Dee

Brown gill tags

A system of Brown GILL Tags is in place on certain rivers where it is considered necessary in the interests of conserving salmon stocks to closely monitor the angling quotas to ensure that river based quotas are not exceeded.

Anglers should use a BROWN GILL TAG in addition to their BLUE GILL TAG on the rivers listed below. Please contact the relevant Regional Fishery Board to request information on how to obtain additional BROWN GILL TAGS.

Please note that the daily and annual bag limits still apply.

List of Districts and Rivers to which these Regulations apply from 1 January to 11 May

Fishery District

Rivers

Sligo

Contact NWRFB

Garavogue
(Bonnet)

List of Districts and Rivers to which these Regulations apply from from 1 January to 30 September

Fishery District	Rivers
Cork Contact SWRFB	Lower Lee
	Bandon
	Ilen
	Coomhola
Kerry Contact SWRFB	Croanshagh
	Sheen
	Inny
	Owenmore
	Maine
Ballinakill Contact NWRFB	Culfin
Sligo Contact NWRFB	Ballysadare
Ballyshannon Contact NRFB	Eany

Salmon Licence Distributors

Dungarvan tourist office Dungarvan, Co. Waterford 058 41741

Doug Lock, Gillie Cottage, Kilbarry Stud, Fermoy, Co. Cork 025 32720

John Carrigan, The Sports Shop, High Street, Kilkenny 056 7721517

Sheila Byrne, Kavanaghs, West Gate, Clonmel, Co. Tipperary 052 21279

Simon Treacy, Market Street, Thomastown, Co. Kilkenny 056 7754152

Gene Murphy, Shoot'n & Fish'n, 26A Ballybricken, Waterford 051 878007

Mooney Hardware, North Street, New Ross, Co. Wexford 051 421290

Maura Kelly, Fishing Tackle Shop, Main Street Mounthrath, Portlaoise, Co. Laois

Susan Lawlor, The Square, Durrow, Co. Laois 0502 36234

Maureen Glynn, The Sports Shop, Lyster House, Portlaoise, Co. Laois 0502 22623

David Norbury, Homemaker Hardware Lisduggan Shopping Centre Waterford

Stuart Griffen, Griffen Hawe Ltd. 22 Duke Street, Athy, Co. Kildare 0507 31221

Andrew Ryan, Clonanav Guesthouse, Ballymacarbry, Nr. Clonmel, Co. Tipperary 052 36141

R.G. Johnson, Springmount Garage, Templemore, Co.Tipperary 0504 31041

M.A McCullagh Market Square, Bagenalstown, Co. Carlow 0503 21381

Jim Hayden, Murphs, Lismard House, Tallow Street, Carlow 059 9132839

Michael Doyle, General Merchant, Main Street, Graiguenamanagh Co. Kilkenny 059 9724303

Noel McDonagh Army & Outdoor stores New Street, Waterford 051 857554

John O'Brien, Angling & Outdoor Centre, Westgate Retail Park, Tramore Road, Waterford 051 844314

W.A Finlay, Monasterevin, Co. Kildare

John O'Keeffe, OK Sports New Street, Carrick-on-Suir Co. Tipperary 051 640626

John Greene, Castleview, Mountelliot, New Ross, Co. Wexford

Tom Cahill, Bank place, Moneywell, Cashel, Co. Tipperary

Noel Molloy, Noreside Outdoors, Thomastown, Co. Kilkenny 056 7793966

Maurice Browne, Oaklands Lake, 9 Chapel lane, New Ross Co. Wexford 051 425196

Mount Juliet, Thomastown, Co. Kilkenny 056 7773070

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