You need a valid Environment Agency Rod Licence if you are aged 12 or over and fish for salmon, trout, freshwater fish, smelt or eel in England (except the River Tweed), Wales, and the Border Esk and its tributaries in Scotland.
Please note/ A licence gives you the right to use a fishing rod and line, but does not give you a right to fish. You must have the permission of the owner or tenant of the fishing rights before starting to fish. If you are coarse fishing with three or four rods, you need two licences.
Other ways to buy your rod licence
Overseas Customers
Overseas customers wishing to buy a full, senior concession or short term rod licence should purchase them via the website. It is unlikely that you will receive the full licence in the post, and short term licences are not issued, so it is essential that you keep your confirmation email as your proof of purchase and use this when you go fishing. If you are applying for a disabled concession licence, please contact us directly, either via our website or through our general enquiries number, details can be found at the top of this page by clicking the ‘contact us’ link.
All other overseas customers wishing to use a rod and line to fish will need to buy a licence on their arrival in England or Wales using the address they are staying at during their visit.
Rod licence prices 1 April 2012 to 31 March 2013
| Category |
Non-migratory trout, char, freshwater (coarse) fish, smelt and eels |
Salmon and migratory (sea) trout AND non-migratory trout, char, freshwater (coarse) fish, smelt and eels |
| Full season |
£27 |
£72 |
| Senior concession (aged 65 or over) and disability concession** |
£18
|
£48
|
|
Junior concession (aged 12 to 16) |
£5 |
£5 |
| Children under 12 |
Free |
Free |
| 8 day |
£10 |
£23 |
| 1 day |
£3.75 |
£8 |
** You can apply for a disability concession rod licence if you have a Blue Badge parking concession or receive Disability Living Allowance. Please provide us with your Blue Badge Number or National Insurance Number when buying your licence.
- Full and concessionary rod licences expire on 31 March each year.
- One day rod licences are valid for 24 consecutive hours.
- Eight day rod licences are valid for 192 consecutive hours from the start time and date.
Frequently asked questions
Remember!
- It is an offence to fish for freshwater fish and eels without a valid rod licence.
- If you are caught you may be fined up to £2,500.
- If you fish without a rod licence you are cheating other anglers.
- Money raised through rod licence sales is invested in fisheries work to benefit all anglers.
