Sea Trout Angling Regulations

State Licence Required? Yes - Always Required
Local Permit Required? Usually
Open/Closed Season Yes
January 1 (some fisheries) to September 30 - October 12
Bag Limits Daily: 1 fish over 40cm (Jan 1 - May 11), 3 fish over 40cm (May 12 - Aug 31), 1 fish over 40cm (Sep 1 - close). 3 sea trout under 40cm per day. Maximum 10 salmon/sea trout (over 40cm) per year.
Size Limits Varies by fishery. Sea trout over 40cm must be tagged like salmon.

Season Details

Opens January 1st on some fisheries, remainder open February-May. Most close September 30th, some remain open until October 12th.

Bag Limits

Daily: 1 fish over 40cm (Jan 1 - May 11), 3 fish over 40cm (May 12 - Aug 31), 1 fish over 40cm (Sep 1 - close). 3 sea trout under 40cm per day. Maximum 10 salmon/sea trout (over 40cm) per year.

Size Limits

Varies by fishery. Sea trout over 40cm must be tagged like salmon.

Method Restrictions

On catch and release fisheries: no worms, barbless hooks only. Sea trout over 40cm treated same as salmon for tagging and logging.

Additional Rules

No killing of sea trout in: Galway/Connemara/Ballinakill Districts, Kerry District (Waterville area). State Licence required. All sea trout over 40cm kept must be tagged and logged.

View on IFI Website

Important: Regulations change regularly. There may also be local regulations that vary depending on the water you are fishing. Always check with IFI or enquire locally before fishing.