You need a valid Environment Agency Rod Licence if you are aged 12 or over and fish for salmon, trout, freshwater fish, smelt or eel in England (except the River Tweed), Wales, and the Border Esk and its tributaries in Scotland.
Please note a licence gives you the right to use a fishing rod and line, but does not give you a right to fish. You must have the permission of the owner or tenant of the fishing rights before starting to fish.
If you are coarse fishing with three or four rods, you need two licences.
Other ways to buy your rod licence
Buy your rod licence online (some other websites may charge an additional fee, please ensure you use the Post Office when buying online)
- Buy your rod licence at your local Post Office (England and Wales and selected Post Offices in Scotland)
- Buy your rod licence over the phone – 0844 800 5386 (lines are open from 8.30am to 8 pm daily from March to September excluding Bank Holidays except Good Friday and Easter Monday and 8.30 am to 6 pm from October to February, Monday to Saturday)
-
Buy your rod licence by direct debit - 03708 506 506 (lines are open 8 am to 6 pm Monday to Friday)
Buy your rod licence by retained agent – please contact our customer contact centre to find which locations also sell our rod licences – 03708 506 506
Overseas Customers
Overseas customers wishing to buy a full, senior concession or short term rod licence in advance of their visit, should purchase them via the website. In the event that you do not receive the full licence in the post (and we do not issue short term licences purchased online), it is essential that you keep your confirmation email as your proof of purchase and use this when you go fishing. If you are applying for a disabled concessionary licence, please contact us directly, either via our website or by calling us on our general enquiries number. You can find our contact details by clicking the ‘Contact us’ link at the top of this page.
All other overseas customers wishing to use a rod and line to fish will need to buy a licence on their arrival in England or Wales using the address they are staying at during their visit.
Rod licence prices 1 April 2012 to 31 March 2013
| Category |
Non-migratory trout, char, freshwater (coarse) fish, smelt and eels |
Salmon and migratory (sea) trout AND non-migratory trout, char, freshwater (coarse) fish, smelt and eels |
| Full season |
£27 |
£72 |
| Senior concession (aged 65 or over) and disability concession** |
£18
|
£48
|
|
Junior concession (aged 12 to 16) |
£5 |
£5 |
| Children under 12 |
Free |
Free |
| 8 day |
£10 |
£23 |
| 1 day |
£3.75 |
£8 |
** You can apply for a disability concession rod licence if you have a Blue Badge parking concession or receive Disability Living Allowance. Please provide us with your Blue Badge Number or National Insurance Number when buying your licence.
- Full and concessionary rod licences expire on 31 March each year.
- One day rod licences are valid for 24 consecutive hours.
- Eight day rod licences are valid for 192 consecutive hours from the start time and date.
Frequently asked questions
Remember!
- It is an offence to fish for freshwater fish and eels without a valid rod licence.
- If you are caught you may be fined up to £2,500.
- If you fish without a rod licence you are cheating other anglers.
- Money raised through rod licence sales is invested in fisheries work to benefit all anglers.
