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Bord Iascaigh Réigiúnach an Iarthuaiscirt

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Pike and Coarse Fish Bye Laws

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 coarse 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 Coarse Angling Bye laws “coarse fish” means any fresh water fish other than pike, salmon, trout , eels or minnow;

CONSERVATION OF PIKE BYE-LAW NO. 809, 2006

• It is prohibited to kill more than 1 pike in any one day,
• It is prohibited to kill any pike greater than 50 cm in length,
• It is prohibited for any person to have in their possession more than 1 whole pike greater than 50 cm or more than 0.75 kgs of pike flesh.
• (i) It is prohibited for a person to have in his or her possession more than 12 coarse fish for use as bait in fishing for pike
• Where a person has more than 4 coarse 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 fish tackle dealer or fish bait supplier registered with the Regional 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 COARSE FISH BYE-LAW NO. 806, 2006

• A person shall not take and kill by any means more than 4 coarse fish on any one day.
• A person shall not take and kill by any means any coarse fish greater than 25 cm in length measured in a straight line from the tip of the snout to the fork of the tail.
• Any coarse 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 coarse 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 coarse fish by any means whatsoever other than by rod and line
• A person may not attempt to fish for pike or coarse fish in freshwater with more than two (2) rods at any one time

A copy of the full Bye Laws governing the above regulations are available from the North Western Regional Fisheries Board – info@nwrfb.com or +353 (0)96 22788

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