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Follow national and local rules (byelaws) when freshwater fishing with a rod and line in England and Wales

• Overview

  You must follow national and local rules (byelaws) when freshwater fishing…

• When and where you can fish

  ‘Close seasons’ are seasons when you cannot fish for some types of fish on…

• Fish size and catch limits

  You’re only allowed to keep a certain amount of the fish you catch. These…

• Tackle you can use

  There are rules on how many rods you can use at a time, and the types of…

North West and Border Esk byelaws are statutory rules (regulated by law) and regulations explaining who can fish, where, when and what fish you can take.

• Updated: 8 February 2024

How catch limits are set and how to get involved in setting them. This includes current catch limits and closed fishing areas.

• Updated: 23 July 2015

UK fishers demonstrating environmental, social, and economic benefits from quota use to be awarded additional quota.

• Updated: 2 April 2025

This page outlines the requirements and construction standards for fishing vessels

• Updated: 30 October 2023

South West byelaws are statutory (regulated by law) rules and regulations explaining who can fish, where, when and what fish you can take.

• Updated: 12 February 2021

How data on landings statistics are collected and processed by fisheries administrations in the UK.

• Updated: 29 January 2021

All references to Area VII are to Area VII within British Fishery Limits only. Details of the approach to managing the over 15 metre Area VII crab and scallop fishing sector to keep the fishery within UK effort limits.

• Updated: 22 January 2025

Anglia rod fishing byelaws are statutory (regulated by law) rules and regulations explaining who can fish, and where, when and what fish you can take.

• Updated: 12 February 2021

Rod fishing byelaws are rules and regulations explaining who can fish, where, when and what fish you can take in England.

• Updated: 12 December 2023