3.1 Is a Rod Licence Required?
No licence is required for sport fishing in either UK or Irish saltwater
3.2 Is there a closed season?
There are no closed seasons apart from those dictated by the fish themselves as they migrate.
3.3 Do Cod bans apply to anglers?
Yes. These bans have been applied at short notice and over localised sea areas on a number of occasions during past seasons. The ban applies to all boat caught cod be it for pleasure or commercial gain and prevents any fish being landed by boat. The bans have been very localised with boats fishing from nearby ports being unaffected. Shore anglers are not included in any bans.
3.4 Do minimum sizes apply to anglers?
Size limits set by the local fisheries offices are legally binding. It is an offence to retain any fish below these sizes. The species covered by these size limits are those of commercial importance and also include lobster, edible crabs and certain shellfish. The NFSA minimum sizes either equal or exceed the statutory minimum sizes, and also include other species. Contact your local fisheries office for the exact sizes and species in your area.
I have heard conflicting reports on whether fish or shellfish being used for angling bait need to comply with the legal minimum sizes. Can anyone confirm or deny this?
3.5 Is a licence required to dig bait?
No. Collecting bait is free and unrestricted in most cases. You may be prevented from digging in harbours, especially around moorings. Some parts of the shore may be commercial shellfish beds, where bait collecting is prevented. The most publicised area where bait digging has been banned, under Section 29 of the Wildlife and Countryside Act, is in Budle Bay.
There is talk of a licence being required for commercial bait collectors who set traps below the highwater mark for peeler crab.
3.6 Are there any restrictions on what fish you can catch?
Alis Shad are protected. It is illegal to catch & land them. Salmon, and Sea Trout require a National River Authority rod licence even if caught in the sea. Without a licence they must be released.
Pete Marrow writes: "The above is not the case in
Scotland. Fishing for salmon and sea trout from the foreshore is a rather grey area legally in Scotland."
3.7 Where are the bass nursery areas?
In 1990 MAFF set up 34 bass nursery areas, where boat fishing for bass (both commercially and recreationally) is either banned or restricted. There are no restrictions on shore fishing.
Here are the affected areas:
- All year ban on boat bass fishing
- Isle of Grain Power Station
- Kingsnorth Power Station (River Medway)
- Fleet (Dorset)
- Plymouth Rivers
- Aberthaw Power Station
- Boat bass fishing banned June 1 to Sept 30
- Dee Estuary
- Heysham Power Station
- Boat bass fishing banned May 1 to Oct 31
- Bradwell Power Station
- Chichester Harbour
- Langstone Harbour
- Portsmouth Harbour
- Southampton Water
- Fawley Power Station
- Poole Harbour
- River Exe
- River Teign
- River Torridge
- River Taw
- Burry Inlet
- The Taf, Tywi and Gwendraeth Estuary
- Milford Haven
- River Dyfi
- River Mawdadach
- Dwyryd/Glaslyn Estuary
- Conwy Estuary
- Boat bass fishing banned May 1 to Nov 30
- Boat bass fishing banned May 1 to Dec 31
- River Dart
- Salcombe Harbour
- River Avon (Devon)
- River Yealm
- River Fowey
- Fal Estuary
- Percuil River
- Halford River
The exact limits of these areas and any additional local restrictions can be obtained from your local fisheries office.
3.8 Charter Boats & Certificates of Compliance
All boats carrying fare paying passengers are now required to follow codes of practice (C.O.P.) set out by the government. The boats are surveyed and have to meet the requirements of their licence that covers insurance, safety equipment and the operating range of the boat. Boats that have met the standard will display a Certificate of Compliance showing they have met the conditions set out in the C.O.P.
- Certificate of Compliance, category 1
This means that the boat can sail at any time, in any weather, any distance.
- Certificate of Compliance, category 2
Boats with this licence can sail at any time, in any weather, up to 60 miles from a designated safe haven.
- Certificate of Compliance, category 3
This licence allows boats to sail in favourable weather, at any time, up to 20 miles from a designated safe haven.
- Certificate of Compliance, category 4
The boat can sail up to 20 miles from a designated safe haven, in favourable weather and in the hours of daylight (one hour before sunrise until one hour after sunset).
- Certificate of Intent.
Boats with this certificate have until April 1998 to pass the final survey for a compliance certificate. It may mean that a boat currently with a category 3 licence is undergoing the work to upgrade to category 2. Check the exact details with the skipper.
- Local Authority Certificate.
The exact conditions for these licences vary from authority to authority. Generally the boat is restriced to go within 3 miles of shore and has working safety equipment.
It has been pointed out to me by Peter Heaslewood that not all of the above regulations apply in the case of licenced commercial fishing boats or for boats which have a DTI Load-Line Licence.
Before booking any charter boat, it is best to check with the skipper that the boat is licenced and ask to see the certificate. If you use an unlicenced craft and any accident happens, you are likely to be uninsured and you may find that the safety equipment on board (if any) is inadequate.
