Inland Fisheries

Inland Fishing FAQs

Q	Do I need a licence to fish?
A	All anglers MUST hold a valid angling licence issued by the Department of Agriculture Fisheries and Forestry and you must purchase a licence before you fish anywhere on the Island. Licences are available for periods of a season, a week or a day. To fish any of the Water Authority reservoirs you must hold a Reservoir licence, and a separate licence is required for fishing any other water. Rod licence checks are routinely carried out by Fisheries Officers to protect the fishery interests.
Q	How much does a licence cost?
A	Licence fees are amended usually on an annual basis and approved by Tynwald. Click here for prices for the 2008 season.
Q	I've bought an other waters licence, can I fish anywhere on the Island?
A	On the Isle of Man, river access is at the courtesy of the landowner whose permission should be obtained. There are a few short stretches of stream that are in private club ownership and therefore not available to the public. Details are attached here. The streams within the seventeen National Glens are open to all. There is also a private commercial fishery which can be fished with an Other Waters licence (Riverside Fishery, Patrick Road, St. Johns, telephone 801715 for details)
Q	What can I fish for?
A	Wild brown trout are abundant in all the streams and rivers on the Island, the takeable size being 18 cms and over. Fishing for migratory fish tends to be most productive during the late summer and autumn, with salmon and sea trout usually captured during or after spate conditions. The Reservoirs are stocked on a weekly basis with rainbow trout reared at the Government's Fish Hatchery throughout the fishing season. Wild brown trout are also frequently caught in the larger reservoirs.
Q	How many fish can I catch?
A	On reservoirs, there is an overall bag limit of 4 trout per day and anglers must not continue to fish by catch-and-release once the daily bag limit has been reached. Senior citizens (age 65yrs & over) and eligible disabled persons may opt to purchase a reservoir adult season licence at a concessionary price with a reduced bag limit of 2 trout per day (click here for eligibility criteria). For river angling, there is a daily bag limit of 6 fish, of which no more than 2 may be salmon or sea trout.

Q	When are the reservoirs open?
A	During the fishing season, angling on the reservoirs is allowed between the hours of 0600 or sunrise, whichever is the later, and 30 minutes after sunset or 2230, whichever is the earlier.
Q	How often are the reservoirs stocked?
A	Six of the reservoirs are stocked on a regular basis throughout the angling season with rainbow trout reared at the Departments fish hatchery at Cornaa, Maughold. Approximately 25,000 trout are stocked out each season. To allow the fish to acclimatise to their new environment, a section of each reservoir is closed for 24 hours following the introduction of new fish. The closure zones are clearly marked and details are displayed on notice boards at each site.
Q	What methods can I use to fish the reservoirs?
A	Fishing in the Clypse and Kerrowdhoo reservoirs, which adjoin each other in Onchan, is by fly-fishing only. Other methods are permitted on the other reservoirs, with the exception of organic bait which can only be used on Eairy Dam.
Q	Can I fish from a boat on the Reservoirs?
A	For Health and Safety reasons, boat angling is not permitted on any of the reservoirs.
Q	Do children need a licence?
A	Licences are free for children aged under 14yrs on 31st December in the year the licence is issued. However these children must still hold a licence, issued at zero rate of duty, and be accompanied by an adult. Concessionary licences are available at reduced rates for students. Students are persons who have not attained 19 years of age by 31st December in the year the licence is issued.
Q	When does the fishing season commence?
A	The Reservoir season opens on the 10th March and continues until the 31st October. The season on Other Waters commences on the 1st April and continues until the 30th September for trout. You can however fish for salmon and sea trout until the 31st October, with a SEASON licence only.
Q	Are there any licence restrictions for fishing for migratory fish?
A	During the month of October, you can only fish for salmon and sea trout if you hold an Other Waters season licence. Week and Day licences are NOT valid for the month of October for fishing streams.
Q	Do I have to complete a catch return?
A	The Department of Agriculture Fisheries and Forestry has recently introduced a catch return initiative for river angling. You will find the form attached to the Other Waters licence. If you have fished the rivers during the season, even if you have not succeeded in catching any fish, you are asked to complete the form and return it to the Fisheries section via the Freepost address printed on the form. One can be downloaded here. Links for summary information from previous catch returns can be found at the bottom of the page.
Q	Where can I buy a licence?
A	Licences are available at the DAFF offices in Rose House, Circular Road, Douglas; at the tourist Information Centre in the Sea Terminal Building and can also be purchased from most Post Offices. Several of the tackle shops on the Island also sell licences. The concessionary reservoir adult season licences, which senior citizens (aged 65yrs & over) and eligible disabled persons may opt to purchase, can only be bought at the DAFF offices in Rose House or at the Post Offices (click here for eligibility criteria).
Q	Are there any other rules I should be aware of?
A	The Inland Fisheries Act 1976, the Inland Fisheries Regulations 1983 (click here to download a summary), and the Inland Fisheries (Duties) Regulations 2007 (click here to download a copy) provide for general rules for angling in both reservoirs and rivers. If you are still unsure, please contact the Inland Fisheries Section on 812224 or 686044 for clarification.
Q	Can I fish for migratory salmonids from the shore?
A	Under Isle of Man Sea Fisheries legislation, it is an offence to fish for migratory salmonids in the sea, estuary or from any fore-shore.
Q	Is the fish hatchery open to visitors?
A	Yes the Fish Hatchery is open to visitors on a Wednesday during the school Easter and Summer holidays only. Please telephone DAFF on 686044 or the Hatchery on 812224 for further information.
Q	Is coarse fishing available?
A	The Department does not maintain any facilities for coarse fishing, as these are non-indigenous to the Island. There are small pockets of coarse fish in a number of the small dubs and quarries, however these are private fisheries.
Q	Can I sell the fish I catch on rod and line?
A	It is now an offence under the Inland Fisheries (Duties) Regulations 2007 to sell, offer or expose for sale any fish to which a licence issued under these regulations applies.
Q	Are there any other web-based sources of advice on freshwater fishing in the Isle of Man?
A	The Isle of Man Fly Fishers website (click here) contains a forum, which you can visit for advice from local anglers.