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You must have a rod fishing licence for England and Wales if you鈥檙e fishing for salmon, trout, freshwater fish, smelt or eel with a rod and line in:

• England (except the River Tweed)
• Wales
• the Border Esk region, including the parts of the river that are in Scotland

This includes if you are fishing on private land, such as angling club waters or private fishing lakes.

There are different rules for fishing in the rest of Scotland and Northern Ireland.

Children under 13 do not need a licence.

Licences for children aged between 13 and 16 are free. You鈥檒l still need to get a junior licence.

Other permissions you need

You need permission from the land or fishery owner to fish in the area, as well as a rod fishing licence.

The permission you need is usually a fishing permit.

For example, to fish in locks or weirs on the River Thames you need a lock and weir fishing permit.

Trout, coarse fish and eel licence

This lets you fish non-migratory trout and all freshwater fish.

You must use your licence in one of the following ways. You can choose to fish with:

• 1 rod for non-migratory trout in rivers, streams, drains and canals
• up to 2 rods for non-migratory trout in reservoirs, lakes and ponds
• up to 2 rods for freshwater fish

You can also buy a 12-month licence that lets you use 3 rods for freshwater fish.

The place where you fish may have additional rules about how many rods you can use there.

Salmon and sea trout licence

This lets you fish salmon, sea trout, non-migratory trout and all freshwater fish.

You must use your licence in one of 3 ways. You can choose to fish with:

• 1 rod for salmon, sea trout and non-migratory trout in rivers, streams and canals
• up to 2 rods for salmon, sea trout and non-migratory trout in reservoirs, lakes and ponds
• up to 3 rods for freshwater fish

You must report a catch return every year even if you did not fish.

The place where you fish may have additional rules about how many rods you can use there.

Rods that are not affected by licence limits

The following rods are not affected by licence limits unless they have hooks attached:

• spod rods (used to propel bait into water)
• marker rods (used to mark out lines)

You can buy a 1-day, 8-day or 12-month licence online.

Fees

You can buy a licence up to 30 days before you want it to start.

There are no discounted prices for a 1-day or an 8-day licence.

If your licence starts on or before 31 March 2025

Licence type	Trout and coarse up to 2-rod	Trout and coarse 3-rod	Salmon and sea trout
1-day	拢7.10	Not available	拢13.20
8-day	拢14.30	Not available	拢29.70
12-month	拢35.80	拢53.70	拢90.40
12-month - (66 or over or disabled)	拢23.80	拢35.80	拢60.20
12-month - junior (13 to 16 years old)	Free	Free	Free

If your licence starts on or after 1 April 2025

Licence type	Trout and coarse up to 2-rod	Trout and coarse 3-rod	Salmon and sea trout
1-day	拢7.30	Not available	拢13.50
8-day	拢14.70	Not available	拢30.50
12-month	拢36.80	拢55.30	拢93.10
12-month - (66 or over or disabled)	拢24.50	拢36.80	拢62.00
12-month - junior (13 to 16 years old)	Free	Free	Free

You need different permissions or licences to fish in most of Scotland and Northern Ireland.

Buy a licence online

You鈥檒l need:

• a debit or credit card
• your Blue Badge or National Insurance number, if you have a disability and you鈥檙e applying for a 12-month licence
• the other person鈥檚 details (such as date of birth), if you鈥檙e buying for someone else

Eligibility for disabled licences

You can get a 12-month disabled licence if one of the following applies:

• you have a Blue Badge
• you get Personal Independence Payment (any rate)
• you get Disability Living Allowance

Give your Blue Badge or National Insurance number (or child reference number if you鈥檙e under 16) when you apply.

Other ways to buy a licence

You can also buy a licence by calling the Environment Agency.

Get a junior licence

You can or call the Environment Agency.

If you have not received your 12-month licence

Contact the Environment Agency if you do not get your licence within 15 working days.

Extend a licence

To change a 1-day or 8-day licence to a 12-month licence, call the Environment Agency within 14 days of the licence expiry date. You鈥檒l need to buy a new licence but you鈥檒l get a refund for the first one you bought.

Replace a licence or update your details

Contact the Environment Agency:

• if you have questions about your licence
• to replace a licence
• to update your details if you鈥檝e changed your name or address

Fishing in Scotland

You do not need a licence to fish with rod and line anywhere in Scotland apart from in the Border Esk region.

You only need permission from the landowner or an angling club.

As the Border Esk flows into England you need to buy a rod fishing licence for England and Wales to fish any part of it. This includes the parts of the river and its tributaries that are in Scotland.

Fishing in Northern Ireland

You must have a from a Northern Irish agency to fish in Northern Ireland.