Shannon Fisheries Management Region

Guide To The Shannon Fisheries Management Region

The Shannon Fisheries Management Region is under the control of the Shannon Regional Fisheries Board (SHRFB), which presides over the Inland Fisheries of the Shannon catchment, the River Feale catchment in north Co Kerry and the rivers of Co Clare flowing westwards to the Atlantic. It's extensive area of over 7,000 sq. miles

The top Salmon rivers of the shannon fisheries management region include, the River Feale, the River Mulcair, the River Shannon, and the River Suck.

Rivers Of The Shannon Fisheries Management Region

Allaghaun	Annageeragh	Annagh (Clare)
Arigna	Ballintotty	Ballinure
Ballyfinboy	Ballyharda	Bilboa
Boyle	Breedoge	Breensford (Ballykeeran)
Brosna	Bunowen (Ahascragh)	Bunratty
Camcor	Camlin	Camogue
Cappagh	Cashen	Castlegar (North)
Castlegar (South)	Clodiagh	Cloon
Cloonard	Clydagh	Creegh
Croagh	Cross	Dead
Dealagh (Kilshanny)	Deel	Doonbeg
Feale	Feorish	Fergus
Gageborough	Galey	Hind
Inagh (Cullenagh)	Inny	Island
Kilcormac Silver	Kilcrow (Killimor)	Kildeema (Bealaclugga)
Killeglan	Killian	Kilmastulla
Lisduff	Little Brosna	Loobagh
Lung	Maigue	Morningstar
Mulcair (Mulkear)	Neenagh	Newport
Ollatrim	Owennayle	Owveg
Rath	Rine (Quin)	Shannon
Shiven	Slievenohera	Smaghraan
Smearlagh	Suck	Tang
Tirur	Tullamore	Tullamore Silver
Woodford	Yellow

Salmon Angling Regulations 2010

Includes information on bag limits, mandatory Catch & Release, rivers which are open and closed, gill tags, and returning your completed logbook and unused tags to your Regional Fisheries Board by 19th October of the relevant year.

Bag Limits

There is an angling bag limit of 10 salmon (any size) or sea trout (over 40 cm) on rivers where you may catch and retain salmon. The bag limits are subject to any quota allocated to a river and its tributaries.

Subject to the maximum annual bag limit of ten fish an angler may take:

- A season bag limit of 3 fish in the period 1 Jan to 11 May,
- A daily bag limit of 3 fish from 12 May to 31 August and a daily bag limit of 1 fish from 1 September to the end of the season.
- The Bye-law also provides for the use of single hooks and prohibits the use of worms as bait once the specified number of fish have been caught in the specified periods
- Please note that no sea trout of any size caught in the Western Region or the Clew Bay area of the North Western Region can be retained.

After the daily bag limit has been taken, anglers are permitted to fish catch and release, using single barbless hooks and there is a ban on the use of worms.

Catch and Release Rivers

On rivers where catch and release is permitted:

- There is a ban on the use of worms.
- Anglers must use single barbless hooks.
- The fish must be handled carefully and should not be removed from the water prior to release.

Closed Rivers

On all other rivers angling for salmon (any size) and sea trout (over 40cm) is prohibited.

Obtaining A License

Anglers can obtain their licence from Regional Fisheries Board headquarters, any rod licence distributor or online at Salmon Licenses Online. On payment of the rod licence fee, the angler will be given:

- The relevant rod licence.
- A logbook.
- Up until the 11th May, no more than 3 tags can be issued. On 12th May onwards the balance of the 10 tags shall be issued in batches of 4 and 3 on presentation of a logbook showing that at least one of the previous tags has been used.
- On 12th May onwards for a new licence no more than 4 tags to be issued on the first allocation, the balance of the tags will be issued in batches of 3 and 3 on presentation of a logbook showing that at least one of the previous tags has been used.
- 1 gill tag where a one day ordinary licence shall be issued up until 11th May, 3 gill tags from 12th May to 31st August and 1 gill tag from 1st Sept to the close of the season.
- A business reply envelope will be provided for return of the logbook and unused tags to the relevant Regional Fisheries Board.
- A plastic wallet for the logbook.

The Tag

The tag to be used by anglers is a blue or brown plastic self-locking device. Each tag is embossed with a code identifying the region (or river and district) in which the tag was issued, the year in which the tag can be used and a tag number.

Fishermen should carefully note the following concerning the use of these tags:

- Each rod licence holder will be issued tags for his/her use only. Tags are not transferable between licence holders.
- These tags shall not be re-used.
- One tag shall be attached to each salmon (any size) and sea trout (over 40 cm) caught and retained.
- Tags must be attached immediately on landing the fish.
- Tags shall be attached through the gill opening and mouth and double locked around the gill cover.
- Additional tags shall be issued on presentation of logbook information showing that the licence holder has used the gill tags issued to him or her, subject to bag limits.
- Lost and accidentally destroyed tags may be replaced upon presentation of a signed declaration completed by the angler and signed by an Authorised Officer of a Regional Fisheries Board.
- Gill Tags shall only be removed from the fish at the time of processing in accordance with the Tagging Scheme Regulations. For the purposes of this scheme processing includes: smoking, marinating or cooking the fish, gutting and freezing the fish or cutting any steaks, cutlets or portions of the fish.

The Log Book

On receipt of tags the angler will also receive a logbook. Details of the gill tags issued to an angler will be entered into the angler’s logbook by the issuing agent.

Each fisherman shall:

- Have the logbook in his/her possession while fishing for salmon or sea trout.
- Record all details of their catch in their logbook immediately after tagging the fish.
- Make a catch record even if the fish is released.
- Record details of any lost or damaged tags.
- Declare lost or damaged logbooks to the relevant Regional Fisheries Board.

Returning Log Books And Unused Tags

In accordance with the Wild Salmon and Sea Trout Tagging Regulations anglers are required by law to return their completed logbook (even if there is no catch recorded) and all unused tags to the issuing Regional Fisheries Board by the 19th October of the relevant year. A business reply envelope is provided for this purpose.

Anglers are required to obtain proof of postage and to retain such proof for 12 months.

Anglers are prohibited from selling salmon (any size) or sea trout (any size) caught by rod and line.

These guidelines have been prepared for information purposes only and do not purport to be a legal interpretation. The holder of a rod licence should familiarise himself or herself with Part 3 of the Fisheries (Amendment) Act, 1999 (No. 35 of 1999), the current Wild Salmon and Sea Trout Tagging Scheme Regulations and the Salmon and Sea Trout Conservation Bye-laws.

Brown Gill Tags

A system of Brown GILL Tags is in place on certain rivers where it is considered necessary in the interests of conserving salmon stocks to closely monitor the angling quotas to ensure that river based quotas are not exceeded.

Anglers should use a BROWN GILL TAG in addition to their BLUE GILL TAG on the rivers listed below. Please contact the relevant Regional Fishery Board to request information on how to obtain additional BROWN GILL TAGS.

Please note that the daily and annual bag limits still apply.

License Costs

- All Districts (i.e. all Regions) Annual: €120 (incl. €60 conservation stamp).
- Juvenile (under the age of 18 years) All Districts Annual: €18 (incl. €9 conservation stamp)
- One District, Annual: €58 (incl. €29 conservation stamp).
- All districts, 21 Days: €46 (incl. €23 conservation stamp).
- All districts, 1 Day: €32 (incl. €16 conservation stamp).
- Area Extension €76 (incl. €38 conservation stamp).
- Special Local Licence €90 (€24 for reduced rate).
This licence covers the Erne in Ballyshannon and the River Lackagh in Letterkenny. A person to whom a salmon rod (annual) ordinary licence has been granted for that year, the licence duty payable in respect of such special local licence is reduced by €66 (reduced to €24).

Remember you can buy your license online at Salmon Licenses Online

License Distributors

David O'Malley Fishing Tackle
33 Dominic Street
Mullingar
+353 (0)44 93 48300

Ger Bond
43 Wickham St
Limerick
+353 (0)61 316809

Jim Halpin
24 Church Street
Listowel
+353 (0)68 22392/24040/23461

John O'Doherty, O'Doherty's News Shop
12A Musgrave Street
Limerick
+353 (0)61 316637

Liz Landers
Landers Outdoor World, Unit 4 Mile Height
Tralee
+353 (0)667126644

Michael Dee
Westend Filling Station, Killarney Road
Newcastle West
+353 (0)69 62318

Mr John Cunningham
Birchwood, Kilclare, Durrow
Tullamore
+353 (0)57 9331851

Mr John Dowling
Pet Barn, Bishops Street
Newcastle West
+353 (0)69 62859/61877

Mr Kevin Mc Sherry
Open Season, 45 Pearse Street
Nenagh
+353 (0)67 31774

Mr MJ Tierney
17 Abbey Street
Ennis
+353 (0)65 6829433

Mr R.F. Duthie
The Olde Forge
Banagher
+353 (0)57 9151504

Patrick Guerin
The Kingfisher Angling Centre
Castleconnell
+353 (0)61 377407

Pauline Ryan
The Shoe Shop, New St
Abbeyfeale
+353 (0)68 31411
ABBEYFEALE ANGLERS ASSOCIATION

Richard Curtin
The Country Dresser, Station Road
Adare
+353 (0)61 396915

Salmon Licenses Online

Shannon Regional Fisheries Board
Ashbourne Business Park, Dock Road
Limerick
+353 (0)61 300238