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Fishing licence in Ireland: what anglers need

At sea and for trout, pike and coarse fish you need no state licence, though some waters need a permit. Only salmon and sea trout need the state licence with a logbook.

Checked on 13.10.2026 against official sources. Not legal advice.

Go to the official licence page
Sea
free
Freshwater
partly

Do you need a licence for sea fishing in Ireland?

At sea you can fish for almost all species without a licence or permit. Only salmon and sea trout need the state licence.

Source: Inland Fisheries Ireland, Irish Fishing Regulations (fishinginireland.info), abgerufen 13.

Do you need a licence for freshwater fishing in Ireland?

For trout, pike and coarse fish you need no state licence, but some waters require a local permit. In the Shannon area you need the Midland Fisheries Group permit for the Suck, Inny, Brosna, Little Brosna and Camlin, but not for the main River Shannon. For salmon and sea trout you need a licence and logbook, and on most waters a permit as well.

Source: Inland Fisheries Ireland, Irish Fishing Regulations, abgerufen 13.10.2026

How much is a fishing licence in Ireland?

Salmon and sea trout licence 2026: annual all districts €100.00, district licence €64.00, 21 days €50.00, 1 day €36.00, juvenile (annual) €10.00, Erne Estuary €26.00, Foyle area extension €84.00. Midland Fisheries Group permit 2026: annual €45.00, 21 days €25.00, senior (annual) €25.00.

Source: Inland Fisheries Ireland, Licence-Shop store.fishinginireland.info und Permit-Shop permits

Where do you buy a fishing licence for Ireland?

Online in the Inland Fisheries Ireland shop. The licence and logbook arrive by email; you print them and carry them while fishing. Tags are posted, so allow up to four working days. Permits are sold in the IFI permit shop.

Source: Inland Fisheries Ireland, store.fishinginireland.info, abgerufen 13.10.2026

What about children, teens and seniors?

The juvenile salmon and sea trout licence is for anglers up to and including 17 (IFI notice 2022). For trout, pike and coarse fish there is no state licence and so no age rule. The Midland permit has a senior price.

Source: Inland Fisheries Ireland, Salmon and Sea Trout Licences for 2022: On Sale Now

What applies to visitors from abroad?

Visitors follow the same rules and prices as residents. You may not bring live bait such as maggots or worms from Great Britain or other non-EU countries in a personal capacity; from the EU only if not packed in soil or plant material.

Source: Inland Fisheries Ireland, Irish Fishing Regulations (Importation of Bait), abgerufen 13.10

Which catch and take-home rules apply?

In freshwater at most 2 rods and no live bait fish. Pike: kill at most 1 per day, none over 50 cm. Coarse fish: at most 4 per day, none over 25 cm. Eel fishing is closed. Sea trout: at most 3 under 40 cm in 24 hours on open rivers. Sea bass 2026: 2 per day from 42 cm, catch and release only from 1 February to 31 March. Pollack since 1 June 2026: at most 3 per day, then catch and release only.

Source: Inland Fisheries Ireland, Irish Fishing Regulations (Bye-laws 806/2006, 809/2006, C.S. 335

What else should you know?

In 2026, 72 rivers are open for salmon and sea trout: 32 with harvest and 40 catch and release only; the rules apply from 3 April 2026. Every salmon kept, and every sea trout over 40 cm, needs a tag and a logbook entry. Return the logbook and unused tags within 7 days of expiry, and no later than 19 October.

Source: gov.ie, 72 Rivers open for Salmon Angling in 2026 (Pressemitteilung, Inhalt per Suchauszug

Not confirmed yet

The juvenile age limit comes from the 2022 IFI notice and was not reconfirmed for 2026. The list of the 32 open and 40 catch and release rivers was not checked one by one. The gov.ie page was only read via a search excerpt.

Do you know more or have an official source? Let us know.

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Sources (4)

Not legal advice. Rules and prices change; the linked authority and the local water permit are what count. Found a mistake? Write to [email protected].

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