Pike & Coarse Fish Bye Laws (Ireland)

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The Shannon Fisheries Region is one of Ireland's most prominent Pike & Course fishing areas. Pike thrive in the large undisturbed waters with large stocks of course fish such as Roach, Rudd, Skimmer Bream & Perch.

Best results are achieved by fishing on the surface / subsurface along weed banks in the summer, while deeper fishing will yield good results in the colder winter months. Course angling is permitted all year with best results in spring and autumn.

The Shannon catchment holds excellent stocks of Bream, Tench, Roach, Perch and Rudd.

IN THE INTEREST OF CONSERVATION, IT IS RECOMMENDED THAT ALL PIKE BE RETURNED ALIVE TO THE WATER.

The following laws have been introduced to conserve our pike and course fish stocks. Breaches of these laws could lead to the confiscation of rods, boats and tackle. Heavy fines can also be imposed.

In the Pike and Course Angling Laws "course fish" means any fresh water fish other than Pike, Salmon, Trout, Eels or Minnow:

CONSERVATION OF PIKE BYE-LAW NO. 805, 2006

It is prohibited to kill more than 1 pike in any one day.
It is prohibited to kill any pike greater than 50cm in length.
It is prohibited for any person to have in their possession more than 1 whole pike greater than 50cm or more than 0.75kgs of pike flesh
(i) It is prohibited for a person to have in his or her possession more than 12 course fish for use as bait in fishing for pike
Where a person has more than 4 course fish in his or her possession for use as bait in fishing for pike, the person, in respect of fish in excess of that number and subject to the paragraph (i) above must have-
(a) Obtained the fish from a tackle dealer or fish bait supplier registered with the Regional Fisheries Board in whose fisheries region the dealer or supplier carries on business

AND

(b) Obtained and retained a receipt of their purchase

CONSERVATION OF AND PROHIBITION ON SALE OF COURSE FISH BYE-LAW NO 806,2006

A person shall not take and kill by any means more than 4 course fish on any one day
A person shall not take and kill by any means any course fish greater than 25cm in length measured in a straight line from tip of the snout to the fork in the tail.
Any course fish taken inadvertently in contravention of this bye law must be handled carefully and returned without avoidable injury to the waters from which they have been taken.
It is prohibited for any person, other than in the Louth area or Moville area, to sell or offer for sale any course fish caught by any means
"Louth area" has the meaning assigned to it by section 31 of the British-Irish Agreement Act 1999 (no.1 of 1999)
"Moville area" has the meaning assigned to it by section 2 of the Foyle Fisheries Act 1952 (no.5 of 1952)
It is prohibited to use or attempt to use live fish as bait in fishing in fresh water
It is prohibited to transfer for any purpose live Roach (Rutilus rutilus) from any waters to any other waters.
It is prohibited to fish for Pike or Course Fish by any means whatsoever other than by Rod and Line.
A person may not attempt to fish for Pike or Course Fish in freshwater with more than two (2) rods at any time.