This guide covers rod fishing licences for England and Wales, including the Border Esk region. The River Tweed is excluded, and different arrangements apply in the rest of Scotland and Northern Ireland. Check GOV.UK licence requirements and obtain the fishery owner’s permission as well.
If you fail to fish with a fishing rod licence you can be prosecuted and fined up to £2500.
Always carry your fishing rod licence with you when fishing.
In this article, we are going to explain what type of fishing rod licence you require and cover some of the main rules that you should be aware of.
What type of Fishing Rod Licence do I need
You will need to purchase a fishing rod licence to fish for the following species with a rod and reel setup.
- salmon
- trout
- freshwater fish
- smelt or eel
If you are fishing in the River Tweed in England you will not require a fishing rod licence.
If your child is under the age of 13 you will not need to purchase a fishing rod licence.
If your child is 13 to 16 they will require a Junior Fishing Rod Licence which is free.
Types of Fishing Rod Licence
Trout, coarse fish and eel fishing rod licence
This fishing rod licence is designed to allow you to fish for non-migratory trout and all freshwater fish. Freshwater fish would include species such as Carp, Tench, Bream and Rudd.
If you are planning on heading down to your local lake and fish using a floater rod, this is the fishing rod licence you will require. I find this is not as clear as it could be on the official government website.
Many anglers fish in different manners such as fishing with two rods, this fishing rod licence allows for one of the following uses.
- 1 rod for non-migratory trout in rivers and canals
- up to 2 rods for non-migratory trout in lakes and reservoirs
- up to 2 rods for freshwater fish
Some carp anglers, for instance, will fish using 3 rods and so the above fishing rod licence will not be sufficient. You would have to purchase two-rod fishing licences to cover all three of these rods, but the best approach is to purchase a 12-month rod licence that will allow for up to 3 rods. You will see later that these 12-month licences are better value for money compared to the daily ones.
As a side note, you should always check with your local fishery to see how many rods they allow per angler. I have seen over the years many smaller and popular venues restrict the number of rods you are allowed to fish with, this eases the pressure on the fish and allows everyone to fish comfortably.
Salmon and sea trout fishing rod licence
This fishing rod licence is designed to allow you to fish for salmon, sea trout, non-migratory trout and all freshwater fish.
Much like the trout, coarse fish and eel licence, this fishing rod licence allows for one of the following uses
- 1 rod for salmon, sea trout and non-migratory trout in rivers and canals
- up to 2 rods for salmon, sea trout and non-migratory trout in lakes and reservoirs
- up to 3 rods for freshwater fish
You will see that this fishing rod licence allows for three rods for freshwater fish, if you are going to purchase a 12-month fishing rod licence I would opt for the first trout, coarse fish and eel licence as this will cover three rods and is much better value for money.
As a side note, in your fishing, you may use a marker and a spod rod. These rods are solely designed to bait and mark the area where you are fishing respectively and are not counted towards licence limits unless they have hooks attached. Check the official rod-limit guidance.
Fishing rod licence prices and how to buy
Once you know which licence you need, check the current fees and purchase options on GOV.UK. Prices can change, so use that official table before paying.
You can buy an adult or junior licence online or call the Environment Agency on 0344 800 5386. Licences are available for one day, eight days or twelve months; the three-rod coarse option is a twelve-month licence.
Junior licences for ages 13 to 16 are free. Reduced twelve-month fees are available for anglers aged 66 or over and eligible disabled anglers; check the official eligibility rules when applying.
Choose the duration and rod allowance that suit your fishing, then check the fishery’s own rules before you head out. A licence does not replace permission or a day ticket.
