Rod Fishing Season in Scotland by Salmon Fishery District

Please note the following points:

Annual close times 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 table below confirms the start and end of the salmon season for rod fishing (both dates inclusive). It is also worth noting the following points:

  • There is no fishing for salmon or sea trout on a Sunday.
  • Catch and release became mandatory across Scotland in 2015 until 1st April each year (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 other freshwater fish.
Salmon Fishery DistrictStart of Rod SeasonEnd of Rod Season
1. Annan25th February15th November
2. Argyll11th February31st October
3. Arnisdale11th February31st October
4. Ayr11th February31st October
5. Beauly11th February15th October
6. Bladenoch11th February31st October
7. Brora1st February15th October
8. Caithness
Forss11th February31st October
Thurso and Stroma11th January5th October
Wick11th February31st October
Dunbeath11th February15th October
Berriedale11th February31st October
9. Carron11th February31st October
10. Clyde and Leven11th February31st October
11. Conon
Alness and Alt Graad11th February31st October
Conon and Balnagown11th February30th September
12. Cree1st March14th October
13. Crowe and Shiel (Loch Duich)11th February31st October
14. River Dee (Aberdeenshire)
River Dee1st February15th October
River Carron and River Cowie11th February31st October
15. River Dee (Kirkcudbright)11th February31st October
16. Deveron11th February31st October
17. Don11th February31st October
18. Doon11th February31st October
19. Eachaig1st May31st October
20. Esk
Bervie25th February31st October
North and South Esk16th February31st October
21. Findhorn11th February30th September
22. Fleet (Sutherlandshire)25th February31st October
23. Fleet (Kirkcudbright)25th February31st October
24. Forth1st February31st October
25. Girvan25th February31st October
26. Glenelg11th February31st October
27. Helmsdale11th January30th September
28. Inner (Jura)25th February31st October
29. Irvine and Garnock
River Irvine25th February15th November
River Garnock25th February31st October
30. Kishorn11th February31st October
31. Kyle of Sutherland11th January30th September
32. Laggan and Sorn (Islay)25th February31st October
33. Loch Long (Luingi and Elchaig)11th February31st October
34. Lochaber11th February31st October
35. Lossie25th February31st October
36. Luce25th February31st October
37. Mull11th February31st October
38. Nairn11th February7th October
39. Ness15th January15th October
40. Nith25th February30th November
41. North and West
Hope and Polla12th January30th September
Grudie or Dionard11th February31st October
Inchard11th February31st October
Laxford11th February31st October
Inver11th February31st October
Kirkaig11th February31st October
42. Northern
Halladale12th January30th September
Kinloch (Kyle of Tongue11th February31st October
Naver and Borgie12th January30th September
Strathy12th January30th September
43. Orkney Islands25th February31st October
44. Shetland Islands25th February31st October
45. Skye11th February15th October
46. Spey11th February30th September
47. Stinchar25th February31st October
48. Tay
Tay15th January15th October
River Earn1st February31st October
River Eden5th February31st October
49. Tweed1st February30th November
50. Ugie10th February31st October
51. Urr25th February30th November
52. Wester Ross11th February31st October
53. Western Isles
Loch Roag11th February16th October
East Lewis11th February31st October
Clayburn25th February31st October
Fincastle25th February31st October
Resort11th February31st October
Mullanageren25th February31st October
Howmore25th February31st October
54. Ythan11th February31st October

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