Best Places to Fish in the UK & Ireland

But which are the best fishing spots in the UK? I have compiled a list of excellent options for fishing no matter where you are in Britain and Ireland so that you know where to go, what you can expect to find and why each place is good for fishing. I have also provided some basic fishing laws for each country; ensure that you double check these before going on your fishing trip as not only do these differ per country, but they can also differ per body of water, making it incredibly important to know the correct rules for your location.

Fishing in England

Regulations 

There are quite a lot of laws on fishing in the UK and they may vary depending on which country you are in. In England, to fish, you must have a rod licence if you are over the age of 13 and you need written permission to fish on privately owned land or you can be fined. Furthermore, it is important to know the close seasons for your area, for example, in England and Wales you are unable to coarse fish on any river from 15th March to 15th June.
It is also important to know what the daily catch limit is and it is strictly illegal to sell rod caught salmon or sea trout; if you are found doing so, you can be fined!

Locations

Now onto what bodies of water are best for fishing in England! Being the biggest Lake in England, Lake Windermere is great for fishing as it has a wide variety of fish to choose from. The best time of year for fishing here is during autumn and winter and both bank and boat fishing are good options. In the summer months the lake is very busy with people taking part in watersports so it is important to be careful when fishing during this time of year.

In regards to which river is the best to fish in, the River Test in Hampshire is renowned for fly fishing due to it being one of the main chalk streams in the UK, making it a paradise for the ecosystem and wildlife. Chalk streams are special as the water is often very cold, clear, and filtered through underground springs and chalk. 

As for fishing on the coast, Whitby in North Yorkshire is great for fishing all year round for both commercial and pleasure alike. While you are not allowed to fish in the harbour you can fish off of the piers; and can expect to catch fish such as cod, mackerel, and occasionally bass.

Fishing in Wales 

Regulations

The basic fishing laws are the same for England and Wales however it is important to check local laws in both places before deciding to go fishing.

Locations

The largest Lake in Wales, Llyn Tegid has a wide variety of species of fish meaning it’s no surprise that it can be considered an anglers firm favourite. This lake is actually a preferred location in the winter for fishermen due to more successful catch results.

The River Wye is one of the best places in the UK to fish for Barbel, and has the best Salmon fishing outside of Scotland. The River Wye is 250km and for the majority of its length it defines the border of England and Wales before flowing into the Severn in Chepstow. 

The Isle of Anglesey offers some of the best sea fishing in the UK as you can either fish from the beaches of deep water rock fishing and has an array of fish species. Not to mention it’s 130 miles of coastline meaning there are loads of possible locations for you to choose to fish, however if you want to make the most of shore fishing, Moelfre offers some excellent mackerel, grey mullet and sea bass fishing. Moelfre is a former fishing village on the North-East coast of the island.

Fishing in Scotland 

Regulations 

The fishing laws differ slightly in Scotland to Wales and England. In Scotland you do not need to have a rod licence for fishing apart from if you want to fish on the border Esk as this river flows into England. However, you do need written permission from the land owner or an angling club to fish and you will often have to pay a fee, the amount varies depending on location.

Locations 

Being one of the big 4 salmon fishing rivers in Scotland, the River Spey offers some of the best fishing in Scotland, as well as some of the best Salmon fishing in Europe. It is the fastest flowing river in Scotland and perfect for fly fishing; the water flows down from the Cairngorm mountains meaning it can stay high in the early summer as well.

It is difficult to choose a singular Loch for fishing in Scotland due to the number of options available, many of them with a wide variety of fish. Loch Drunkie is one of the best lakes, renowned for brown trout and pike fishing, the open season is from mid-march to mid-October. It is one of the smaller freshwater Lakes in Scotland; located in the Trossachs national park in the Stirling Council area, therefore you can expect to see some stunning views of mountains while enjoying your pastime.

It is indisputable that Scotland’s West Coast is an incredible spot for fishing but where exactly? The Isle of Skye has a coastline nearly 50 miles long; known for its incredibly clear waters and fantastic scenery which is why I have chosen it as a must for coastal fishing. You can expect to catch salmon, sea trout and mackerel. Depending where exactly you are on the island you can also potentially find pollock, bass and coalfish. Not only this but you might stand a chance of seeing wildlife such as dolphins and basking sharks.

Fishing in Northern Ireland 

Regulations 

In order to fish in Northern Ireland you must have a rod licence, not only this but you also need either a day pass or permission from the landowner. As always, it is important to check the close season for the area you would like to fish in as they may differ depending on lough or county. To specify you need a licence for freshwater fishing but not sea fishing (unless fishing for salmon or sea trout) and there is also a catch and release limit.

Locations

Lough Erne consists of 2 different parts, Upper and Lower Lough Erne. While both are great for fishing I have chosen Lower Lough Erne in County Fermanagh as it is bigger than its counterpart; it is extremely popular for its coarse and mayfly fishing. Where you can fish for perch, rudd, bream, pike and more.

The Lower River Bann is very popular for its salmon and eel stocks. The types of fish you may catch include salmon, sea trout, brown trout and pike. It flows between the two counties of Antrim and Londonderry, flowing North East towards Coleraine.

Up in the North one of the best coastlines is Portrush in County Antrim. Near where the River Bann flows into the sea, the coastline at Portrush is rich in a variety of different fish, such as conger, catfish, cod pollock and many more. You can even find some less traditional species such as porbeagle and tope sharks. Not to mention it has an abundant amount of fish meaning you won’t struggle to catch.

Fishing in the Republic of Ireland 

Regulations

In Ireland again the laws are slightly different. Firstly, a rod licence is necessary as well as a permit which may vary as well as the cost. Furthermore, salmon and sea trout are a protected species so you will need a specific licence to fish for them. The different licences are national and district. With a national licence you can fish in all fishery boards however with a district licence, it only covers one specific area.

Locations

One of the best rivers to fish is the River Boyne in County Kildare also flowing through counties, Offaly, Meath and Louth. It is one of the most prolific Brown Trout fisheries in Ireland. In summer and autumn you may also find salmon and sea trout. It is from late June to late September which is the best time of year to come to this river to fish.

The Lakes of Killarney are amazing for fishing and I know that this is slightly cheating as it consists of 3 Lakes. Lough Leane (Lower Lake), Muckross Lake (middle lake) and Upper Lake. These lakes are all very popular for fly fishing and with a range of different species including, salmon, brown trout, perch, charr, herring and many more.

If you fancy fishing coastal fishing Mullaghmore in County Sligo offers some of the best fishing and views of the rugged coastline. You can fish year round off of the beach on Mullaghmore pier. If you want to boat fish off the coast you can potentially find blue shark and then Bluefin tuna in late autumn. Of course the more popular fish can be found here as well, including cod, pollack, coalfish, wrasse etc.

Want to fish in Ireland? Then hire a fishing boat in County Sligo!