Rod Fishing Season in Scotland by Salmon Fishery District
Please note the following points:
- Annual close times also apply to each river and specify when fishing is not permitted. However, the rod fishing season extends into part of the annual close time, as set out below. Outwith the annual close time, fishing is allowed by all legal methods, subject to any other local or national restrictions.
- The following table denotes the start and end of the salmon season for rod fishing (both dates inclusive)
- There is no fishing for salmon or sea trout on a Sunday.
- Catch and release became mandatory across Scotland in 2015 until 1st April (1st May in the Esk District).
- There are a number of other mandatory and voluntary conservation measures in place across Scotland. Importantly, this includes specific river categorisations in line with the Conservation of Salmon (Scotland) Regulations 2016. Please ensure that you are familiar with the broad statutory conservation measures for each district by consulting the list of rivers.
- The fishing season for brown trout is from 15th March to 6th October inclusive, subject to any local rules in place.
- There is no close time for grayling or coarse fish.
Salmon Fishery District | Start of Rod Season | End of Rod Season |
1. Annan | 25th February | 15th November |
2. Argyll | 11th February | 31st October |
3. Arnisdale | 11th February | 31st October |
4. Ayr | 11th February | 31st October |
5. Beauly | 11th February | 15th October |
6. Bladenoch | 11th February | 31st October |
7. Brora | 1st February | 15th October |
8. Caithness | ||
|
11th February | 31st October |
|
11th January | 5th October |
|
11th February | 31st October |
|
11th February | 15th October |
|
11th February | 31st October |
9. Carron | 11th February | 31st October |
10. Clyde and Leven | 11th February | 31st October |
11. Conon | ||
|
11th February | 31st October |
|
11th February | 30th September |
12. Cree | 1st March | 14th October |
13. Crowe and Shiel (Loch Duich) | 11th February | 31st October |
14. River Dee (Aberdeenshire) | ||
|
1st February | 15th October |
|
11th February | 31st October |
15. River Dee (Kirkcudbright) | 11th February | 31st October |
16. Deveron | 11th February | 31st October |
17. Don | 11th February | 31st October |
18. Doon | 11th February | 31st October |
19. Eachaig | 1st May | 31st October |
20. Esk | ||
|
25th February | 31st October |
|
16th February | 31st October |
21. Findhorn | 11th February | 30th September |
22. Fleet (Sutherlandshire) | 25th February | 31st October |
23. Fleet (Kirkcudbright) | 25th February | 31st October |
24. Forth | 1st February | 31st October |
25. Girvan | 25th February | 31st October |
26. Glenelg | 11th February | 31st October |
27. Helmsdale | 11th January | 30th September |
28. Inner (Jura) | 25th February | 31st October |
29. Irvine and Garnock | ||
|
25th February | 15th November |
|
25th February | 31st October |
30. Kishorn | 11th February | 31st October |
31. Kyle of Sutherland | 11th January | 30th September |
32. Laggan and Sorn (Islay) | 25th February | 31st October |
33. Loch Long (Luingi and Elchaig) | 11th February | 31st October |
34. Lochaber | 11th February | 31st October |
35. Lossie | 25th February | 31st October |
36. Luce | 25th February | 31st October |
37. Mull | 11th February | 31st October |
38. Nairn | 11th February | 7th October |
39. Ness | 15th January | 15th October |
40. Nith | 25th February | 30th November |
41. North and West | ||
|
12th January | 30th September |
|
11th February | 31st October |
|
11th February | 31st October |
|
11th February | 31st October |
|
11th February | 31st October |
|
11th February | 31st October |
42. Northern | ||
|
12th January | 30th September |
|
11th February | 31st October |
|
12th January | 30th September |
|
12th January | 30th September |
43. Orkney Islands | 25th February | 31st October |
44. Shetland Islands | 25th February | 31st October |
45. Skye | 11th February | 15th October |
46. Spey | 11th February | 30th September |
47. Stinchar | 25th February | 31st October |
48. Tay | ||
|
15th January | 15th October |
|
1st February | 31st October |
|
5th February | 31st October |
49. Tweed | 1st February | 30th November |
50. Ugie | 10th February | 31st October |
51. Urr | 25th February | 29th November |
52. Wester Ross | 11th February | 31st October |
53. Western Isles | ||
|
11th February | 16th October |
|
11th February | 31st October |
|
25th February | 31st October |
|
25th February | 31st October |
|
11th February | 31st October |
|
25th February | 31st October |
|
25th February | 31st October |
54. Ythan | 11th February | 31st October |