EA Rod Licences

When you need a licence

You need a fishing rod licence to fish for salmon, trout, freshwater fish, smelt and eel with a rod and line in England (except the River Tweed), Wales and the Border Esk region of Scotland.

You must always carry your rod licence when you’re fishing or you could be prosecuted.
Children under 12 don’t need a licence. However, if you take a child under 12 fishing and hold the rod or help hold it you must buy a licence for yourself.

Types of licence

There are 2 types of licences:
trout, coarse fish and eel licences that let you fish for non-migratory trout, char, coarse fish, eel and smelt
salmon and sea trout licences that let you fish for salmon, sea trout and all of the fish in the licence above