Rod Licence - is it worth paying the extra?

[Kerne]

Very much a newbie to this fishing lark. I've just bought a telescopic rod and a reel and, on a weekend camping in the Gower, got a couple of mackerel fist time out. Hooked! (excuse the pun!)

What I'd like to know is is it worth getting the licence that allows you to catch salmon and sea trout? Do you need this if you fish in tidal estuary waters where these fish run? Any advice? I'm never going to be an accomplished, dedicated angler but I want to catch stuff for the pot whenever I can.

All advice appreciated.

 

[Lurch]

You don't need any kind of licence for sea dangling unless you are trying to catch migratory fish. If you are fishing a tidal stretch for mullet for example you don't need a licence.
If you are fishing rivers or inland waters you need a rod licence in England & Wales, only if you are targeting migratory fish do you need the more expensive licence.

 

[Kepis]

You don't need any kind of licence for sea dangling unless you are trying to catch migratory fish. If you are fishing a tidal stretch for mullet for example you don't need a licence.
If you are fishing rivers or inland waters you need a rod licence in England & Wales, only if you are targeting migratory fish do you need the more expensive licence.

Correct on all points, but i would add regarding this statement

If you are fishing a tidal stretch for mullet for example you don't need a licence..

This very much depends on where the defining line is drawn as to the point where a tidal river becomes classified as fresh water, you really need to speak with a local EA office to determine this and it's also worth checkiong the bylaws for your area too, two of the rivers i fish are classed as fresh water, but still have a tidal flow many many miles up stream, the Arun for instance, is still tidal approx 20 miles (inc all the twists and turns in it course) from it's mouth at Littlehampton (only 10 miles as the crow flies though), the other point worth mentioning is almost all fresh water fishing in England is controlled by clubs or syndicates, very little of it is free fishing, so a quick check either on the web or by popping into a tackle shop will soon see on the right path as to who controls the fishing and if you can buy a day ticket or have to join a club to fish the water, fishing without a membership is viewed as poaching as the clubs pay a lot of money for the fishing rights and it's controlled and protected by them quite strictly, certainly my club, will not hesitate to prosecute those caught poaching on our waters.

Just my 2p's worth.

 

[Kerne]

Cheers; folks. I can't imagine myself game fishing on expensive rivers either legally or illegally. I just want the odd fish for the pot and wondered whether the salmon and sea trout licence was worth it. probably not, in my case. Most of my fishing is likely to be coastal.

 

[Samon]

do we need licenses to lay cray fish pots and eel traps?

 

[nuggets]

Whats the differance between catching a mackerel and a salmon or sea trout `if` caught in the sea ??? would it be illegal to land the salmon or trout with out a licence ???? ain,t mackerel migratory as well -???

 

[British Red]

do we need licenses to lay cray fish pots and eel traps?

Oh hell yes

 

[Samon]

Oh hell yes

Umm.. Lame.

 

[spiritwalker]

salmon and sea trout fall under freshwater hence the need for a license even if you do land them in saltwater they are a neddy no no you are expected to release them if caught by accident. Also you need the migratory license which is relatively big bucks compared with the normal coarse license. Stick to your macky bass etc whereby you can land them for free under the magna carta

 

[British Red]

Umm.. Lame.

Depends on your point of view. Inexpert use of crayfish traps spreads disease from red signals to native species.

 

[Samon]

Depends on your point of view. Inexpert use of crayfish traps spreads disease from red signals to native species.

really? I thought trapping and eating all the red crays was promoted due to their destructiveness..

 

[British Red]

Nope. A lot of evidence suggests that large red signals actually increases their numbers as they predate their own species. Traps used by the unwary also transfer disease from one spot to another. These are the reasons licences are required

 

[JonathanD]

Nope. A lot of evidence suggests that large red signals actually increases their numbers as they predate their own species. Traps used by the unwary also transfer disease from one spot to another. These are the reasons licences are required

Ditto that. Most of the devastation caused is by people that don't understand what they are doing and just lay cray traps regardless.

 

[Ch@rlie]

not wishing to hijack the topic from rod licenses...
for crayfish and the facts you may like to know check defra website, a quick search and here you go. http://archive.defra.gov.uk/foodfarm/fisheries/freshwater/crayfish.htm

 

[Samon]

Nope. A lot of evidence suggests that large red signals actually increases their numbers as they predate their own species. Traps used by the unwary also transfer disease from one spot to another. These are the reasons licences are required

ah ok, so is the sea the the only place we can fish (a few species of fish) without a licence then?

 

[nitrambur]

ah ok, so is the sea the the only place we can fish (a few species of fish) without a licence then?

In England and Wales, yes

 

[underground]

Something worth remembering is... the only fish you'll need to worry about, are those you can catch. Salmon and Sea Trout are a bit challenging anyway so don't get too vexed!
If you're close to the sea, you lucky, lucky b***ers, if not, a rod licence is pretty cheap anyway - but don't forget that Coarsefish are not always 'for the pot' - e.g big carp, etc....

 

[FGYT]

as a note

Mudeford/Christchurch (Dorset) harbour does need a Rod licence even up to the mouth of the inlet its in the local Bye laws

always best to check the local tackle shops for local info

 

[suburban bushwacker]

Here's the link for where you can fish licence free in the Thames estuary

Tight lines
SBW

 

[EdS]

do we need licenses to lay cray fish pots and eel traps?

and absolutely no eel trapping what so ever. They are now an endangered species.