Do I need a fishing licence?

Fishing licence prices

These are the current rod fishing licence fees for England and Wales shown on GOV.UK. Junior licences (ages 13 to 16) are free.

You count as disabled for the cheaper 12 month licence if you have a Blue Badge, or get Personal Independence Payment (any rate) or Disability Living Allowance.

Example

You plan to fish for coarse fish on 5 separate days this year. Five 1 day licences would cost 5 x £7.30 = £36.50. A 12 month licence costs £36.80, only 30p more, and covers you for the whole year.

Which licence you need

• Trout and coarse. For non-migratory trout and all freshwater fish, including smelt and eel.
• Salmon and sea trout. For salmon and sea trout, and it also covers trout and other freshwater fish.

With a salmon and sea trout licence, you must send in a yearly catch return (a record of what you caught), even if you did not fish.

How many rods you can use

• Trout and coarse (2 rod): 1 rod for trout in rivers, streams, drains and canals. Up to 2 rods for trout in reservoirs, lakes and ponds. Up to 2 rods for other freshwater fish.
• Trout and coarse (3 rod, 12 months only): as above, but up to 3 rods for freshwater fish other than non-migratory trout.
• Salmon and sea trout: 1 rod in rivers, streams and canals, and up to 2 rods in reservoirs, lakes and ponds. You can use up to 3 rods for other freshwater fish.

How to buy

1. Buy online on GOV.UK, or call 0344 800 5386 (Monday to Friday, 8am to 6pm).
2. Choose your start date. You can buy up to 30 days before you want it to start.
3. Get your licence. By email or text it arrives within an hour. By post it takes up to 10 working days.

Things to know

• A licence is not permission to fish. You also need permission from the landowner or fishery owner, including on private lakes and club waters.
• You must follow national and local fishing byelaws.
• A carer helping someone fish does not need a licence unless they fish too.
• The River Tweed in England is not covered, but the whole Border Esk region is, including the part in Scotland.

If you live in Scotland or Northern Ireland

• Scotland: you do not need a licence to fish with a rod and line, except in the Border Esk region. You only need permission from the landowner or angling club.
• Northern Ireland: you need a rod licence plus a permit or day ticket. These come from DAERA or the Loughs Agency, depending on where you fish. An English, Welsh or Scottish licence does not count there.

Related guides

• When are the next bank holidays?
• Does my dog or cat need a microchip?
• How do I report fly-tipping?

Where these figures come from

• Rod fishing licence: buy a licence (prices)
• Types of licences and rod limits
• When you need a licence
• Fishing in Scotland and Northern Ireland
• Angling licences and permits in Northern Ireland (nidirect)