South Western Fisheries Management Region
Guide To The South Western Fisheries Management Region
The South Western Fisheries Management Region is the responsibility of the South Western Regional Fisheries Board (SWRFB). It is mostly comprised of the Couties Cork and Kerry and stretches from Knockadoon Head to Kerry Head.
Angling in Cork and Kerry is a very special experience. It is an area of spectacular beauty with over 1000 kilometres of coastline ranging from rugged inlets to sweeping bays, over a hundred fishable Loughs and miles upon miles of superb salmon, sea trout and brown trout rivers. The environment is fresh, clean and virtually unspoiled and the gentle warmth of the Gulf Stream ensures a comfortable climate for year round angling.
The top Salmon rivers of the south western fisheries management region include, the River Bandon, the River Brown Flesk, the River Roughty, and the River Sheen. Lough Currane in Waterville County Kerry, is regarded by many as one of the truly great sea trout fisheries.
Rivers Of The South Western Fisheries Management Region
| Adrigole | Ardsheelane | Argideen |
| Bandon | Bride (South) | Brinny |
| Brown Flesk | Butterstown | Caha |
| Caragh | Carhan | Cloonee |
| Coomeelan | Coomhola | Croanshagh (Glanmore) |
| Cummeragh | Dawros (Kenmare) | Dripsey |
| Feohanagh | Ferta | Finnihy |
| Flesk | Foherish | Glashaboy |
| Glengarriff | Glennahoo | Ilen |
| Inny | Kerry Blackwater | Laney |
| Laune | Lee | Little Maine |
| Maine | Martin | Mealagh |
| Milltown | Owenacurra | Owenascaul |
| Owenboy | Owencashla | Owenmore |
| Owennagearagh (Sheep) | Owneykeagh | Owvane |
| Roughty | Roxboro (Dungourney) | Scarid |
| Sheen | Shournagh | Sneem |
| Sullane | Upper Lee | Waterville |
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 anglers 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
