Licence guide · England & Wales
UK Fishing Licence 2026: Prices, Rules and How to Buy
Anyone aged 13 or over needs an Environment Agency rod licence to fish freshwater in England and Wales. The standard 2 rod trout and coarse licence costs £36.80 a year, a day licence costs £7.30, and you can buy one online at gov.uk in about five minutes. Sea fishing needs no licence, Scotland uses permits instead, and Northern Ireland has its own DAERA system.
Published by the GilledIt editorial team · Last reviewed 2026-07-06 · Prices checked against gov.uk for the 2026 licence year
2026 prices
How much is a fishing licence?
A UK fishing licence costs £36.80 a year for the standard trout and coarse 2 rod licence, £7.30 for a single day, or £14.70 for 8 days.
A salmon and sea trout licence is £93.10 a year. Anglers aged 66 or over and disabled anglers pay £24.50 for the 2 rod annual, and juniors aged 13 to 16 fish free after registering.
| Licence | Price | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Trout and coarse, 2 rods (annual) | £36.80 | The standard licence for most anglers |
| Trout and coarse, 3 rods (annual) | £55.30 | Common for carp anglers fishing three rods |
| Salmon and sea trout (annual) | £93.10 | Also covers trout and all freshwater fish |
| 8 day licence | £14.70 | Ideal for a fishing holiday |
| 1 day licence | £7.30 | Try before you commit |
| Concession, 2 rods (annual) | £24.50 | Aged 66 or over, and disabled anglers |
| Junior (13 to 16) | Free | Registration required at gov.uk |
Set by the Environment Agency for the 2026 licence year; prices are reviewed every April. Buy at gov.uk/fishing-licences or at any Post Office. Licence fees fund fish stocking, habitat work and enforcement.
Concessions
Fishing licence over 60: what actually changes
There is no fishing licence discount at 60 in England and Wales, and no free licence for older anglers at any age. The concession starts once you are 66, cuts the 12 month 2 rod licence from £36.80 to £24.50, and applies to 12 month licences only. Northern Ireland is different: DAERA concession rates start at 60, with the season rod licence dropping to £5.00.
| 12 month licence | Standard | Aged 66 or over | Saving |
|---|---|---|---|
| Trout and coarse, 2 rods | £36.80 | £24.50 | £12.30 |
| Trout and coarse, 3 rods | £55.30 | £36.80 | £18.50 |
| Salmon and sea trout | £93.10 | £62.00 | £31.10 |
Aged 60 to 65
Full price in England and Wales: £36.80 for the standard 2 rod annual. No age based discount exists below 66, however close your birthday is.
Aged 66 or over
The concession applies once you are 66, on 12 month licences only. gov.uk is explicit that there are no discounted prices for 1 day or 8 day licences, so short licences cost the same at any age.
Disabled anglers (England and Wales)
The same concession applies at any age with a Blue Badge (or meeting its criteria), Personal Independence Payment at any rate, or Disability Living Allowance. Worth checking well before your 66th birthday.
Scotland and Northern Ireland
Scotland has no rod licence at any age, only permits. Northern Ireland starts its concessions earliest: DAERA season licences drop to £5.00 from age 60.
Who needs a licence
Everyone aged 13 or over fishing for freshwater fish, trout, salmon, smelt or eels in England and Wales. It applies on rivers, canals, stillwaters and private lakes alike. The licence covers the fish, not the venue, so a day ticket never replaces it.
Who is exempt
Under 13s fish free with no paperwork. Sea anglers need no rod licence for shore or boat fishing unless targeting salmon or sea trout in tidal water. Scotland has no rod licence at all: you need the fishery owner's permission or a permit instead.
The cost of skipping it
Fishing without a licence carries a maximum fine of £2,500 in England and Wales, with typical penalties of £250 to £500. Environment Agency bailiffs patrol rivers, canals and stillwaters, and many fisheries check licences at the gate.
Around the UK
Scotland, Northern Ireland and Ireland
Scotland
No rod licence exists. You need permission or a permit from the fishing rights owner, and salmon fishing is managed by District Salmon Fishery Boards with a Sunday prohibition.
Scotland permits guideNorthern Ireland
DAERA licences apply: a season rod licence is £17.00for coarse (two rods) or game (one rod), £5.00 from age 60, usually alongside a permit for the specific water. The Foyle and Carlingford areas are licensed by the Loughs Agency.
Northern Ireland guideRepublic of Ireland
No licence is needed for coarse or sea fishing. Salmon and sea trout anglers need a state licence, typically around 40 euro for the season.
UK fishing licence: common questions
A trout and coarse 2 rod licence costs £36.80 for 12 months. A 3 rod licence is £55.30, a salmon and sea trout licence is £93.10, an 8 day licence is £14.70 and a 1 day licence is £7.30. Concessions for anglers aged 66 or over and disabled anglers pay £24.50 for the 2 rod annual. Juniors aged 13 to 16 fish free after registering.
Yes, if you are 13 or older and fishing for freshwater fish, trout, salmon, smelt or eels in England or Wales. It applies on rivers, canals, lakes and private waters alike. Sea fishing from shore or boat needs no rod licence. Scotland has no rod licence system (you need a permit from the fishing rights owner) and Northern Ireland runs its own DAERA licence.
Buy online at gov.uk/fishing-licences in about five minutes: choose licence type and duration, enter your details and pay by card. You can start fishing straight away with the digital confirmation. You can also buy in person at any Post Office.
Fishing without a valid rod licence in England and Wales is a criminal offence with a maximum fine of £2,500. In practice most offenders receive penalties of £250 to £500, and Environment Agency bailiffs do patrol and prosecute. The licence costs less than a single fine, so it is never worth the risk.
Yes. The rod licence applies to the fish, not the land, so private lakes and commercial day ticket fisheries in England and Wales still require one on top of the day ticket. The only exception is a small number of fish farms with a specific exemption, which rarely applies to recreational anglers.
Under 13s need no licence at all. Anglers aged 13 to 16 need a junior licence, which is free but must be registered at gov.uk. From 17 upwards the full licence rules apply.
No. Scotland has no rod licence system. Instead you need written permission or a permit from whoever owns the fishing rights, bought from the fishery, estate, club or a local tackle shop. Salmon and sea trout fishing is managed by District Salmon Fishery Boards. See our full Scotland permits guide for the details.
Yes. Northern Ireland uses the DAERA system: a season rod licence costs £17.00 whether you fish coarse (two rods) or game (one rod), dropping to £5.00 from age 60. You usually need both a licence and a permit for the water you fish. The Foyle and Carlingford areas are licensed separately by the Loughs Agency.
No. There is no free fishing licence for older anglers in England and Wales, and no discount at 60 either. The concession starts once you are 66, and it is a discount, not a free licence: £24.50 instead of £36.80 for the 12 month 2 rod licence. In Northern Ireland, though, DAERA concession rates do start at 60.
Between 60 and 65 in England and Wales you pay the full price: £36.80 for the standard 2 rod annual licence. Once you are 66 the concession applies: £24.50 for 2 rods, £36.80 for 3 rods, or £62.00 for salmon and sea trout. In Northern Ireland the DAERA season licence drops to £5.00 from age 60.
Yes, at any age in England and Wales. You qualify for the concession rate of £24.50 (2 rods, 12 months) if you have a Blue Badge or meet its criteria, or receive Personal Independence Payment at any rate, or Disability Living Allowance. If you are under 66 and assumed no discount existed, this is the route worth checking.
Yes. Age never removes the requirement in England and Wales: everyone aged 13 or over needs a rod licence for freshwater fishing, whatever their age. The only thing that changes at 66 is the price of the 12 month licence.
Want the long form version with buying walkthroughs and renewal details? Read the full UK fishing licence guide. Day ticket costs on top of the licence are covered in our UK fishing statistics.
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