Western Fisheries Management Region

Guide To The Western Fisheries Management Region

The Western Fisheries Management Region comprises all the inland river systems on Irelands Atlantic Coast from Pigeon Point near Westport, Co. Mayo, through Co. Galway, to Hags Head just south of the Cliffs of Moher in Co. Clare. Situated at Europe's westernmost extremity, Ireland is widely regarded as the last unspoiled fishing location in Europe. The region is administered by the Western Regional Fisheries Board (WRFB).

Bathed in the warm waters of the North Atlantic Drift (an off shoot of the Gulf Stream) Ireland's Western Fisheries Management Region is an undiscovered game anglers.

The top Salmon rivers of the region include, the River Bundorragha (Delphi Fishery), the River Cashla (Costello Fishery), the River Corrib (Galway Fishery), and the River Erriff.

Rivers Of The Western Fisheries Management Region

Salmon Angling Regulations 2011

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 Inland Fisheries Ireland office 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.
- anglers fishing with a one day licence have a bag limit of one fish (only one tag is issued)
- 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 Licence

Anglers can obtain their licence from Inland Fisheries Ireland, any rod licence distributor or online at www.salmonlicences.ie. 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 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 to the close of the season.
- A business reply envelope will be provided for return of the logbook and unused tags to the relevant Inland Fisheries Ireland office.
- 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 Inland Fisheries Ireland.
- 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 Logbook

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 Inland Fisheries Ireland office.

Returning Logbooks 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 Inland Fisheries Office 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.

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.

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 with Section 69 of the Inland Fisheries Act, 2010 (No. 10 of 2010), the Wild Salmon and Sea Trout Tagging Scheme Regulations in force at the time and the Salmon and Sea Trout Conservation Bye-laws.