Sea Trout license/guidelines (basic Question)

Hi

I have read the messages on this board regarding Sea Trout licenses and from what I understand it is, "from sea shore you dont need a license but if you catch a Sea Trout put it back". Sorry to paraphrase but if that is correct that most of what I need to know. I am only fishing from the sea shore even in these baltic conditions.

I have read sites like http://www.fishinginireland.info/salmon ... icence.htm which seem to not say the same as what I have read here and as they sell the licenses I would consider them bias .

Thanks & And a happy christmas
Shane

Hi

I have read the messages on this board regarding Sea Trout licenses and from what I understand it is, "from sea shore you dont need a license but if you catch a Sea Trout put it back". Sorry to paraphrase but if that is correct that most of what I need to know. I am only fishing from the sea shore even in these baltic conditions.

I have read sites like http://www.fishinginireland.info/salmon ... icence.htm which seem to not say the same as what I have read here and as they sell the licenses I would consider them bias .

Thanks & And a happy christmas
Shane

thats about right,if you are fishing from the shore and you hook a seatrout then it must be returned if you don,t have a licence,but there are some areas,like clew bay where the fish must be returned,licence or not, as the area is a protected area.so it might be worth checking your local fisheries website to get more info.

If you are targeting sea trout from the shore you must be in possession of a valid salmon licence. A fisheries officer may form the opinion that you are targeting sea trout based on the location and bait, method, etc. you are using, and may request you to produce a salmon licence. There are a few very localised areas where this occurs, generally in places with high numbers of sea trout and where angling for sea trout from the shore is a regular activity.
If you are not targeting sea trout you do not need a licence, but you must return any sea trout caught.

By the way, sea trout can only be targeted during the freshwater angling season, as the licence must be returned within 7 days of the end of the season. So Jan 1st to October 12th in the ROI is the "season" in the sea.

it might be worth checking your local fisheries website to get more info.

Those websites are often not the clearest, a direct email with specific questions will get you answers, eventually.

Jan 1st to October 12th in the ROI is the "season" in the sea.

Start dates I think can vary from area to area - its February in the Moy estuary - again a direct email will clear that up.

u can get ur local liecence that gives u an area u must fish in with that liecence or u can get an 1 for the whole or ireland but its dearer obviously

it might be worth checking your local fisheries website to get more info.

Those websites are often not the clearest, a direct email with specific questions will get you answers, eventually.

Jan 1st to October 12th in the ROI is the "season" in the sea.

Start dates I think can vary from area to area - its February in the Moy estuary - again a direct email will clear that up.

Estuaries are different, the season there is the same as that in the river which flows into the estuary. I was referring to the open sea i.e. fishing from the shore away from any rivers or estuaries.

Estuaries are different, the season there is the same as that in the river which flows into the estuary. I was referring to the open sea i.e. fishing from the shore away from any rivers or estuaries.

That I didnt know - something else the official websites dont make clear! I thought the start date referred to the entire area covered by the district licence, which in our case goes quite a way along the open coast. I'll be sending another direct email question myself...

guys i've had problems with fishery officers in the past at fairly local marks, so i emailed their head office to to get a clear picture of the rules. this was the response from the nrfb.ie


RE: Angling at Doagh Isle and Five Finger Strand
This is a recognized sea trout fishery and as such a State Salmon & Sea Trout Licence is normally required. Anglers have been known to say they are fishing for sea fish here when they are patently fishing for sea trout using Sandeel, Maggots and spinning etc on light fishing gear! Different to an angler fishing a beach caster and mackerel, crab, lug and ragworm baits! As such Fishery Officers will ask for a state licence when approaching anglers and will prosecute anglers in possession of, or fishing for sea trout without a valid licence.



The rivers feeding into this estuary are also closed for angling for salmon and large sea trout (over 40cm). This means you will have to return any salmon or large sea trout caught back to the water unharmed. I have attached files giving details of these angling regulations and licence prices. If you are purchasing a District Licence (€64) you will require a Letterkenny District Licence since this falls in the Letterkenny District.



We have a Guide to Sea Angling in the Donegal Region that we can forward if you if you send a request and email your address to info@nrfb.ie
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on receiving this email i i then sent this one back to get a few things cleared up

Subject: RE: Angling at Doagh Isle and Five Finger Strand
hello lindsey, and thank you for your reply to my email, one thing i would like to ask is, as i am a sea angler and only use beach casters and the types of baits that you stated ie; mackerel, crab, lug and ragworm baits. then am i still required to have the license, as the spice's i fish for is the like's of thorn back ray's, plaice flounder and so on, but not game fish ie; sea trout. would be greatfull for any information on this...thank you, Don...
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here is the response to my email:-

Hi Don,
If you’re fishing as such the fishery officers will know that you are fishing for sea fish and you will not require a licence.
Let me know how the fishing goes. There’s so few shore anglers in Donegal and so much fishing it’s hard to get info on the same. I’m mainly a fly fisherman nowadays but still do a bit of shore fishing now and again.

Happy fishing,

Hi

Thanks, got it now. They would be greatly over estimating my skill if they thought I could target a sea trout. As raging optimism is typically my main tackle and the day is made if I get a bass. Mostly use sand ell or lug. Gave up on peeler crab cause it seems cruel when you have the sizzors out and they are staring at you.

Anyway thanks again, this is a great forum.

Anglers have been known to say they are fishing for sea fish here when they are patently fishing for sea trout using Sandeel, Maggots and spinning etc on light fishing gear! Different to an angler fishing a beach caster and mackerel, crab, lug and ragworm....

They'd have a job applying that logic below the Galway-Dublin axis - sandeels and light gear are standard bass tactics down there.

Anyway, I always get a district licence as its hard enough to avoid the sea trout round here...