A price freeze for 2018/19 means it is as inexpensive as ever for residents and visitors to fish the Island’s scenic and well-stocked reservoirs.
The reservoir angling season begins on 10 March 2018.
Licences cover fishing at six reservoirs – Ballure, Clypse, Cringle, Kerrowdhoo, Sulby and West Baldwin – for the season to 31 January 2019.
A licence for the whole season costs £208 for adults and £78.80 for a young person aged 14 to 18, the same price as last year, the Department of Environment, Food and Agriculture (DEFA) has announced.
Day and week licences are also frozen in price.
Under-14s must carry a licence but can obtain them free of charge.
Geoffrey Boot MHK, Minister for Environment, Food and Agriculture, said:
‘The Programme for Government pledges to ensure more people get out and enjoy our fantastic surroundings.
‘The Island’s outstanding natural beauty and well-stocked reservoirs attract many local and visiting anglers.
‘By freezing licence prices this year, we are making sure angling remains attractive and affordable.’
The reservoirs are stocked with rainbow trout by Troutlodge, which leases DEFA’s hatchery at Cornaa.
DEFA closely monitors the size and condition of trout that go into reservoirs.
All rainbow trout stocked this season will be at least 2lb in weight and, for added interest, 2,400 larger ‘trophy’ fish will be placed in reservoirs.
Licences go on sale Monday 19 February and can be bought via the Government website, from the Isle of Man Government Welcome Centre at the Sea Terminal and from DEFA headquarters at St John’s.
Season licences at a concessionary rate, for those 65 and over or registered as disabled, can also be bought at Post Offices but are not available online as eligibility must be proved.
For information on recreational fishing, visit the inland fisheries page.
