Licences
The Isle of Man licence structure is unlike that of the UK. Here one licence is all you need to fish the eight Water Authority stillwaters and a separate one to fish elsewhere.
These licences are freely available from the majority of Post Offices or from the Department of Agricluture Fisheries and Forestry. They are also on sale at the Isle of Man Welcome Centre at the Sea Terminal, Douglas and from several of the tackle shops. Fishing Licence duties for 2008 are as follows:
| Season Begins | Season Ends | Season | Week | Day | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Resevoir | 10th March 2008 | 31st October 2008 | Adult | £130 | £46 | £14.50 |
| Student (14-18) | £50 | £20 | £8 | |||
| Child (upto 13 yrs) | Free | |||||
| Resevoir Season Concession (65+/disabled) 2 fish bag limit | £90 | Proof of eligibility required | ||||
| Other Waters | 1st April 2008 | 30th September 2008 - Trout | Adult | £50 | £20 | £8 |
| Student (14-18) | £20 | N/a | £5 | |||
| 31st October 2008 - Salmon & Sea Trout Only | Child (upto 13 yrs) | Free | ||||
Concessions
While these prices are very reasonable they are not to be ignored. There are a lot of River and Reservoir Watchers to whom your permit must be shown on request and ultimately they have the legal power to confiscate tackle and even arrest you. But they are a friendly bunch and if your paperwork is in order they are a mine of information.
Because there is no limit to the number of licences issued you do not need to buy one before you visit.
Seasons are different for the reservoirs and streams and details appear on your licence.
Fishing on reservoirs starts in March and goes through to the end of October. The season on the streams begins in April and for trout continues to the end of September. After this there is another month's fishing for migratory fish only.
Etiquette is best summed up merely by asking you to be considerate to other anglers. It is tempting for example but not at all appreciated, to edge closer to a successful reservoir angler. Equally while you and an angler thirty yards along a river bank may have an interesting shouted conversation, please remember not everyone else wants to take part in it!
On the streams there is just not space for more than one angler to fish a pool, unless by invitation, and the chances are you will hardly meet anyone else.
It's common sense not to leave litter or lengths of nylon about and these, coupled with sensible parking and the good manners of watercraft will ensure a warm welcome.
Catch and Release
Please remember you are not obliged to kill every fish you catch. More to the point there are catch limits and when you have reached these you must stop. On the reservoirs the daily limit is four fish, on the streams you can take four trout and two migratory fish and this is also per day.
Fish to be returned should be landed in a knotless net (please make sure you carry one) and be handled as little as possible. Ideally they should be unhooked while still in the water and held upright, facing the current if on moving water until they swim off.
