- The coarse fishing season closes between 15th March and 15th June each year in England and Wales
- Neither Ireland nor Scotland has a close season for freshwater fishing (outside of salmon and trout in Scotland)
- The sea has no close season when it comes to fishing
The coarse fishing season for all freshwater rivers and streams in England and Wales is closed between March 15th – June 15th each year. This close season coincides with spawning behaviour and is designed to protect habitats and species during this crucial period each year.
So whilst you can’t fish rivers and streams during the close season, the majority of canals are free to fish all year-round and privately-owned lakes and reservoirs don’t have to abide by these laws.
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When can you fish in the UK?
That entirely depends on what type of fishing you are doing and where you are in the UK. The coarse fishing close season runs from March 15th to June 15th every year in England and Wales, which means that rivers, streams and some canals are off-limits. The majority of privately owned lakes can still be fished in that timeframe, but you need to check the individual water legislation.
If you’re in Scotland, the only region that has a freshwater fishing close season (outside of salmon and trout) is the Border Esk region where the River Esk runs into Cumbria. It is also the only area in Scotland that requires a fishing license.
The majority of canals can be fished all year round, but be sure to check local bylaws in your area.
And – for the saltwater lure fishing fans out there – the sea around the UK has no close season. So if you’re willing to brave the weather, you can fish all year round.
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When is the river fishing season?
The river season runs from June 16th to March 14th. The close season for coarse fishing on rivers is between March 15th to June 15th. A 3-month timeframe gives the habitat and fish time to recover and typically marries up with the breeding season for the core freshwater species.
Can you fish the river on March 15th?
No, you cannot fish rivers on March 15th or June 15th. The official close season is bookended by those dates and March 14th and June 16th are the re-opening dates for river fishing each year.
When can you fish in lakes?
Lakes don’t necessarily follow the same coarse fishing close season as the rest of the rivers and streams as some are privately owned. That means the rules and regulations about fishing seasons are left to the owner’s discretion. So always check a private water’s close season and whether they adhere to anything in particular.
When can you fish in canals?
Like enclosed lakes the majority of canals can be fished all year round as they don’t follow the same restrictions as rivers when it comes to coarse fishing. You can find all the stretches of the canal that are off-limits in the traditional close season in this PDF created by the Canal River Trust.
However, this isn’t the case with all canals and some do follow the same close season as UK rivers. Don’t forget to check if you need a Waterway Wanderers permit too.
Why is there a closed season for coarse fishing?
There is a close season for coarse fishing to allow the fish and habitat time to recover and to ensure the fish can spawn effectively. This ensures the survival of the species and that the fishing stocks remain ‘healthy.’
During this period Environment Agency and private water workers can undertake some fishery management. This includes:
- Checking fish stock levels
- Testing the water quality
- Looking for invasive species that could upset the balance of the ecosystem
You can find out more about how the Environment Agency spends time (and your fishing license money) in their annual report.
What can you fish during the closed season?
So during the close season, you can fish:
- The majority of canals
- Certain privately owned lakes
- Certain reservoirs or fisheries don’t need to abide by the same rules
What about the fishing season in Scotland?
Scotland has no close season when it comes to fishing for freshwater fish outside of salmon and trout. However, salmon and trout are special interest fish and are highly sought after. As such there are many statutory conservation regulations set up to ensure their survival.
- There’s no fishing for salmon or sea trout on a Sunday
- Catch and release is mandatory across Scotland until April 1st each year (and May 1st in the Border Esk region)
- The standard fishing season for brown trout runs from 15th March to October 6th, but this is subject to local laws
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FAQs
Can you fish canals all year round?
The majority of canals can be fished all year round and don’t take part in the coarse fishing close season. However there are certain stretches of canals – that are sites of specific scientific interest – that do take part in the close season from March 15th – June 15th, listed by the Canal and River Trust here.
When does the coarse fishing season end?
The coarse fishing season ends of March 14th at 23:59 every year and runs until June 15th at 23:59. This is to allow rivers time to reawaken and for freshwater fish to spawn effectively. Anyone contravening these laws is committing an offence.
Is there a closed season for coarse fishing?
Yes there is a close season for coarse fishing and it runs between March 15th – June 15th. So each year you can fish up until March 14th 23:59 and recommence on June 16th at 00:01 should you wish. Although that is a little extreme.
This close season coincides with the spawning behaviour of pike, perch and predators in the early months and fish like barbel and chub in the warmer months of May and June.
When is the pike fishing season in the UK?
The pike fishing season is the same as the coarse fishing season and runs from March 15th – June 15th each year. Pike tend to spawn between March and May each year and the close season is designed to protect stocks during a critical time in the year. Checkout our pike fishing tips to help you catch more of these freshwater predators.
Does the sea have a close season for fishing?
The sea does not have a close season and you can fish for saltwater fish all year round in the UK. Whilst the winter months can be more of a challenge physically and emotionally you can still fish for any saltwater fish year round.
Harry
Hi, I'm Harry. A keen, albeit exceedingly average fisherman. I've spent the last few years trawling London's waterways with - if I'm being kind - varied success and would love to help you avoid the mistakes I have made.
