When do I need a rod licence?
You need a valid rod licence if you are aged 13 or over and fish for salmon, trout, freshwater fish, smelt or eel in Wales, England (except the river Tweed) and the Border Esk region of Scotland.
- Junior licences (age 13-16) are now FREE but you must register
- Senior (aged 65 or older) and disabled concessions are available (see below)
You can get a disabled licence if you’ve got a Blue Badge, or you get Disability Living Allowance or Personal Independence Payment.
You must always carry your rod licence when you’re fishing or you could be prosecuted and fined up to £2,500.
How can I buy a rod licence?
- You can buy your rod licence online www.gov.uk/get-a-fishing-licence
- At your local Post Office
- Over the phone - call the Environment Agency on 0344 800 5386 (find out about call charges)
We are aware that some websites are offering to buy or check licence applications on your behalf. Getting your licence direct from GOV.UK is cheaper, quicker and a lot simpler. Take extra care when using a search engine that you don’t stray onto other sales sites.
Lines open:
1 March to 30 June, Any day (including bank holidays), 8am to 8pm 1 July to 28 February, Monday to Friday, 8am to 6pm (not open on bank holidays).
Rod licence prices and new products (1 April 2017 to 31 March 2020)
What’s new?
- Free junior licence (age 13-16) from 1st April 2018
- A full licence now runs for 365 days from date of purchase
- A 3-rod licence is now available for coarse angling
- Option to upgrade from a short-term licence to a full 365 day licence (within a 14-day window)
|
Licence category |
Type of licence |
Duty |
Product changes |
|
Coarse and Trout |
Full |
£30 |
365 day licence. |
|
|
Full (concessionary) senior and disabled |
£20 |
|
|
|
Short term 1 day |
£6 |
Option to upgrade to a full 365 licence discounting the 1 or 8 day fee. |
|
|
Short term 8 day |
£12 |
|
|
|
Junior (13 – 16yrs) |
Free |
Free junior licence. |
|
|
3 rod licence |
£45 |
New product and 365 day licence. |
|
|
3 rod licence (concessionary) |
£30 |
New product and 365 day licence. |
|
Salmon and Sea Trout |
Full |
£82 |
365 day licence. |
|
|
Full (concessionary) senior and disabled |
£54 |
|
|
|
Short term 1 day |
£12 |
Option to upgrade to a full 365 licence discounting the 1 or 8 day fee. |
|
|
Short term 8 day |
£27 |
|
|
|
Junior (aged 13-16) |
Free |
Free junior licence. |
Overseas customers
You can buy a licence online before your visit to Wales. You must keep your confirmation email and take it with you when you go fishing. Otherwise you will need to buy a licence on arrival in Wales. The licence should state the address at which you are staying during your visit.
Income raised in Wales from rod licence sales (c. £1.2 million in 2016) helps fund the Fisheries service we provide to anglers in Wales.