Fishing from the boat

Many crews bring a rod, and the Shannon and the Erne are famous for their coarse fish and pike. Fishing from a moored cruiser at dusk is one of the quiet pleasures of a trip. The rules differ north and south of the border, so check which side you are on.

In the Republic: mostly free, some permits

In the Republic of Ireland you do not need a state licence to fish for coarse fish, pike or brown trout. A state licence is needed only for salmon and sea trout (Fishing in Ireland, FAQ, regulations).

Free does not always mean everywhere:

• On the main River Shannon no permit is needed for coarse fish, pike or trout. In the Shannon region, some waters controlled by Inland Fisheries Ireland are part of the Midland Fisheries Group and need a permit for trout, pike and coarse fish (Midland Fisheries Group permit).
• Trout fishing on the big lakes, including Lough Derg, Lough Ree, Lough Allen and Lough Corrib, is free (FAQ).
• Some rivers, canal stretches and club waters sell day tickets. Your hire company or a local tackle shop will know; Silverline, for example, says permits are needed on the River Suck, the Grand Canal and Lough Erne (Silverline guide).

Catch limits in the Republic

Most anglers return what they catch, and the bye-laws make that the norm:

• Coarse fish: you may keep no more than 4 a day, and none longer than 25 cm (Bye-law 806 of 2006).
• Pike: you may keep 1 a day, and none longer than 50 cm (Bye-law 809 of 2006).
• Never move live fish from one water to another: moving live roach is banned outright (Bye-law 561 of 1973).

Inland Fisheries Ireland began reviewing these bye-laws in 2025, so check its website for changes before you go (IFI consultation, with links to the current texts).

In Northern Ireland: licence and permit

On the Erne, the Lower Bann and Lough Neagh you need both a rod licence and a permit or day ticket. The licence covers your rod and the kind of fish (game or coarse); the permit gives you the right to fish a particular water. A fishing licence from the Republic or from Great Britain is not valid in Northern Ireland. Rod licences are needed by anyone over 12 in the DAERA area, and by all ages in the Loughs Agency area in the north-west (nidirect).

Upper Lough Erne and part of Lower Lough Erne belong to DAERA's Public Angling Estate, and licences and permits can be bought online or from tackle shops. On Lower Lough Erne the trout season runs from 1 March to 30 September (Lower Lough Erne angling map).

Fishing from a cruiser

• From a cruiser, fish only when moored, never while under way and never inside a lock.
• Keep the channel and the jetty clear: lines across a mooring or a lock approach are a hazard for everyone.
• Lifejacket on if you fish from the deck or a dinghy. A dinghy on a big lake is a small boat on a big water: check the forecast and tell someone where you are going (Water Safety Ireland).
• Overhead power lines: keep at least 30 m away when casting (Special Marine Notice 1/2026).
• Take your line and hooks home. Discarded line kills swans and other birds.
• Check, Clean, Dry nets, waders and boats between waters to stop the spread of invasive species.

Thinking of a boat of your own for the loughs? Which boat for Irish inland waters covers the small open boats anglers use, and boats for sale lists small boats, RIBs and outboards on buz.ie, our own marketplace (run by the same team as Jetty Hop).

When boats meet anglers

If you are cruising, slow down and pass anglers wide: wash and propellers spoil their swim and can catch their lines. Waterways Ireland asks skippers to keep their wash down near anglers (Special Marine Notice 1/2026).

Find out more

Inland Fisheries Ireland's Fishing in Ireland site has guides to every major water in the Republic. In Northern Ireland, see nidirect and the Loughs Agency. The rules here are a summary; the bye-laws and the permit conditions are what count.