Isle of Man - Giving you Freedom to Flourish

Inland Fisheries

Freshwater Fishing FAQs

Q	Do I need a licence to fish?
A	All anglers MUST hold a valid angling licence issued by the Department of Environment, Food and Agriculture and anglers must purchase a licence before fishing anywhere on the Island, including rivers, reservoirs and any stillwater, whether in public or private ownership. Licences are available for periods of a season, a week or a day. To fish any of the 6 Water and Sewerage Authority reservoirs stocked with rainbow trout you must hold a Reservoir licence, and a separate Other Waters licence is required for fishing elsewhere for salmon, migratory trout, trout, rainbow trout and eels. From March 2012, a season Coarse Fish licence will be available. Please fish responsibly and make sure you comply with all the Regulations - rod licence checks are routinely carried out by Fisheries Officers to protect the fishery interests. When fishing on rivers and stillwaters anglers must seek permission from the owner / occupier.
Q	How much does a licence cost?
A	Licence fees are amended usually on an annual basis and approved by Tynwald. The 2013 fishing licence duties were approved in December 2011 and details can be found in the Schedule to the Inland Fisheries Regulations 2011.
Q	I've bought an Other Waters licence, can I fish anywhere on the Island?
A	On the Isle of Man, fishing access to rivers and stillwaters is at the courtesy of the landowner whose permission should be always obtained. There are a few short stretches of stream that are in private club ownership and therefore not available to the public. The streams within the seventeen National Glens are open to all. There is also a private commercial fishery which can be fished with either a Reservoir or 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 25cms 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. Wild brown trout are also occasionally caught in the larger reservoirs. Anglers may fish for eels in the rivers with an Other Waters licence, however all eels must be returned alive to the water they were captured from.
Q	How many fish can I catch?
A	On reservoirs, there is an overall bag limit of 4 fish 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 fish per day. The eligibility criteria for Concessionary Reservoir licences can be found in the 2011 Inland Fisheries Regulations. Please note that from November to January inclusive on the reservoirs, there is an overall bag limit of 2 fish for *all* anglers. From April 2012 for anglers in possession of an Other Waters licence, there is a daily bag limit of 3 fish, of which no more than 1 may be a salmon or a sea trout. Please check the Inland Fisheries Regulations 2011 for full details of all the rules relating to freshwater angling.
Q	Which are the Isle of Man Water and Sewerage Authority Reservoirs?
A	The six reservoirs are Clypse, Kerrowdhoo, Cringle, Sulby, Ballure and West Baldwin. To fish these for rainbow trout and trout, anglers must be in possesion of a reservoir or concessionary reservoir licence.
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	The six reservoirs (Clypse, Kerrowdhoo, Cringle, Sulby, West Baldwin & Ballure) are stocked on a regular basis throughout the angling season with rainbow trout. Approximately 25,000 rainbow trout are stocked out each season. Please note that stocking does not normally continue after 1st November. To allow the fish to acclimatise to their new environment, a section of most reservoirs is closed for 24 hours following the introduction of new fish. These closure zones are clearly marked and details are displayed on notice boards at each site. Guidance on the stocking programme can be downloaded from the link below.
Q	What methods can I use to fish the reservoirs?
A	Fishing in the Clypse and Kerrowdhoo reservoirs, which adjoin each other on the outskirts of Douglas, is by traditional fly-fishing only. Fly fishing and spinning methods are permitted on the other reservoirs. Bait fishing is prohibited.
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. 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 January of the following year. The season on Other Waters commences on the 1st April and continues until the 30th September for trout and eels. You may fish for salmon and sea trout until the 31st October, with a SEASON Other Water licence only. The Coarse Fish Season runs from 1 January until 31 December each year, although please note that private fisheries may impose their own close season.
Q	Are there any licence restrictions for fishing for migratory fish?
A	During the month of October, you may 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 Environment, Food and Agriculture has introduced a catch return initiative for reporting catches of salmon, migratory trout and trout. You will find the form attached to the Other Waters licence. If you have fished 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. A river catch return 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 online via the Government's Online Services, or from the DEFA offices in Thie Slieau Whallian, Foxdale Road, St John's and can also be purchased from most Post Offices. 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 DEFA Offices or from a Post Office. The criteria for eligibility are specified in the Inland Fisheries Regulations 2011. Coarse fish licences are only available to purchase online.
Q	Can I buy a licence on-line?
A	From 2009, fishing licences (with the exception of reservoir concessionary licences) are available to purchase via Online Services on the Isle of Man Government website. You will have to register with Online Services to use this service. From March 2012, coarse fish licences will be available for purchase via Online Services only.
Q	Are there any other rules I should be aware of?
A	The Inland Fisheries Act 1976 and the Inland Fisheries Regulations 2011 provide for general rules for angling in both reservoirs and rivers. If you are unsure of any of the Regulations, or would like further information, please do not hesitate to contact the Inland Fisheries Section on 685857 for clarification, before you start fishing. A Code of Conduct is available to provide guidance to anglers on the relevant rules and regulations.
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 foreshore.
Q	Is coarse fishing available?
A	The Department does not currently maintain any facilities for coarse fishing, although there is known to be small pockets of coarse fish in a number of the small dubs and quarries, which are classed as private fisheries. Perch are known to be present in Eairy Dam, and from March 2012 a coarse fish licence will allow coarse fishing in Eairy Dam and other private or commercial coarse fisheries, but not in the reservoirs or any river.
Q	Can I sell the fish I catch on rod and line?
A	It is an offence under the Inland Fisheries Regulations 2011 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.
Q	How can I contact the Fisheries Directorate with questions, comments and ideas?
A	The various contact details for the Inland Fisheries section are listed below. The Department has recently established a Manx Recreational Anglers Forum which meets twice a year to discuss and take forward initiatives relating to recreational angling. Anglers are welcome to contact Forum members direct or via the Department. Copies of the most recent minutes from Forum meetings are available below. Postal address: Department of Environment, Food and Agriculture Fisheries Directorate Thie Slieau Whallian Foxdale Road, St Johns IM4 3AS Counter opening times Mon – Thurs, 9am – 5pm Fri, 9am – 4.30pm Enquiries Tel: (01624) 685857, Fax: (01624) 685851 Email address: fisheries@gov.im Website: www.gov.im/daff/fish/inland