Salmon open seasons and method restrictions
Catch and release restrictions
On all rivers, all salmon must be returned with minimum injury and with minimum delay.
Read advice on how to practise salmon catch and release.
Salmon open seasons and methods
River/catchment | Open season | Method restrictions |
---|---|---|
Isle of Anglesey (all rivers on the Isle of Anglesey) | 1 May to 17 November |
Fly: 1 May to 17 November Spin: 1 May to 17 November Shrimp and prawn: 1 September to 7 November |
Aeron | 1 April to 17 October |
Fly: 1 April to 17 October Spin: 1 April to 17 October Shrimp and prawn: 1 September to 7 October |
Afan | 20 March to 17 October |
Fly: 20 March to 17 October Spin: 20 March to 17 October Shrimp and prawn: 1 September to 30 September |
Artro | 20 March to 17 October |
Fly: 20 March to 17 October Spin: 20 March to 17 October Shrimp and prawn: 1 September to 7 October |
Eastern and Western Cleddau | 1 April to 17 October |
Fly: 1 April to 17 October Spin: 1 April to 17 October Shrimp and prawn: 1 September to 7 October |
Clwyd | 20 March to 17 October |
Fly: 20 March to 17 October Spin: 20 March to 30 September Shrimp and prawn: 1 September to 30 September |
Conwy (upper) Upstream of Ty'n y Cai pool (confluence with Lledr) and tributaries |
20 March to 17 October |
Fly: 20 March to 17 October Spin: 20 March to 17 October Shrimp and prawn: 1 September to 7 October |
Conwy (lower)* Downstream of Ty'n y Cai pool to estuary *Lower reaches of the River Conwy with an extended season are defined as being from the estuary upstream as far as Ty’n y Cai pool at the confluence with the Lledr (NGR SH798542) but: excluding the length of river between the weir upstream of the Cae Maelor confluence (NGR SH799608) and the upstream side of the B5106 roadbridge at Llanrwst (NGR SH798614), and excluding the length of river between the gauging station cables at Cwmllanerch (NGR SH802582) and the upstream side of the railway bridge (NGR SH802595) |
20 March to 31 October |
Fly: 20 March to 31 October Spin: 20 March to 31 October Shrimp and prawn: 1 September to 7 October |
Dee | 3 March to 17 October |
Fly: 3 March to 17 October Spin: 1 June to 17 October Shrimp and prawn: 1 September to 30 September |
Dwyfor | 20 March to 17 October |
Fly: 20 March to 17 October Spin: 20 March to 17 October Shrimp and prawn: 1 September to 7 October |
Dwyryd Upstream Glan yr Afon footbridge Maentwrog and tributaries |
20 March to 17 October |
Fly: 20 March to 17 October Spin: 20 March to 17 October Shrimp and prawn: 1 September to 7 October |
Dwyryd Downstream of Glan yr Afon footbridge Maentwrog |
20 March to 31 October |
Fly: 20 March to 31 October Spin: 20 March to 31 October Shrimp and prawn: 1 September to 7 October |
Dyfi Upstream of Dyfi Bridge Machynlleth and tributaries |
20 March to 17 October |
Fly: 20 March to 17 October Spin: 20 March to 17 October Shrimp and prawn: 1 September to 7 October |
Dyfi Downstream of Dyfi Bridge Machynlleth (main river only) |
20 March to 31 October |
Fly: 20 March to 31 October Spin: 20 March to 31 October Shrimp and prawn: 1 September to 7 October |
Dysynni |
20 March to 17 October |
Fly: 20 March to 17 October Spin: 20 March to 17 October Shrimp and prawn: 1 September to 7 October |
Glaslyn |
20 March to 17 October |
Fly: 20 March to 17 October Spin: 20 March to 17 October Shrimp and prawn: 1 September to 7 October |
Gwendraeth Fawr and Fach |
20 March to 17 October |
Fly: 20 March to 17 October Spin: 1 September to 7 October Shrimp and prawn: 1 September to 7 October |
Lleyn Peninsula Includes rivers Erch, Rhydhir, Soch and their tributaries, and all other rivers and their tributaries that enter the sea between SH460373 and SH430525. It does not include rivers Llyfni and Dwyfor and their tributaries. |
1 May to 31 October |
Fly: 1 May to 31 October Spin: 1 May to 31 October Shrimp and prawn: 1 September to 16 October |
Loughour |
20 March to 17 October |
Fly: 20 March to 17 October Spin: 20 March to 17 October Shrimp and prawn: 1 September to 7 October |
Mawddach |
20 March to 17 October |
Fly: 20 March to 17 October Spin: 20 March to 17 October Shrimp and prawn: 1 September to 7 October |
Neath |
20 March to 17 October |
Fly: 20 March to 17 October Spin: 20 March to 17 October Shrimp and prawn: 1 September to 30 September |
Nevern |
1 April to 17 October |
Fly: 1 April to 17 October Spin: 1 April to 17 October Shrimp and prawn: 1 September to 7 October |
Ogmore and Ewenny |
20 March to 17 October |
Fly: 20 March to 17 October Spin: 20 March to 17 October Shrimp and prawn: 1 September to 30 September |
Ogwen Downstream of Bont Coetmor Bridge Bethesda |
20 March to 31 October |
Fly: 20 March to 31 October Spin: 20 March to 31 October Shrimp and prawn: 1 September to 7 October |
Ogwen Upstream of Bont Coetmor Bridge Bethesda |
20 March to 17 October |
Fly: 20 March to 31 October Spin: 20 March to 31 October Shrimp and prawn: 1 September to 7 October |
Seiont Upstream of Pont Rhythallt, Llanrug |
20 March to 17 October |
Fly: 20 March to 17 October Spin: 20 March to 17 October Shrimp and prawn: 1 September to 7 October |
Seiont Downstream of Pont Rhythallt, Llanrug |
20 March to 31 October |
Fly: 20 March to 31 October Spin: 20 March to 31 October Shrimp and prawn: 1 September to 7 October |
Severn (in Wales) |
1 February to 7 October |
Fly: 1 February to 7 October Spin: 1 February to 7 October |
Rheidol |
1 April to 17 October |
Fly: 1 April to 17 October Spin: 1 April to 17 October Shrimp and prawn: 1 September to 7 October |
Taf |
1 April to 17 October |
Fly: 1 April to 17 October Spin: 1 April to 17 October Shrimp and prawn: 1 September to 7 October |
Taff, Ely and Rhymney |
20 March to 17 October |
Fly: 20 March to 17 October Spin: 20 March to 17 October Shrimp and prawn: 1 September to 30 September |
Tawe |
20 March to 17 October |
Fly: 20 March to 17 October Spin: 20 March to 17 October Shrimp and prawn: 1 September to 7 October |
Teifi |
1 April to 17 October |
Fly: 1 April to 17 October Spin: 1 April to 17 October Shrimp and prawn: 1 September to 7 October |
Tywi |
1 April to 17 October |
Fly: 1 April to 17 October Spin: 1 April to 17 October Shrimp and prawn: 1 September to 7 October |
Usk |
3 March to 17 October |
Fly: 3 March to 17 October Spin: 1 June to 17 October Shrimp and prawn: 1 September to 15 September |
Wye (Main river and all tributaries) |
3 March to 17 October |
Fly: 3 March to 17 October Spin: 3 March to 31 August |
Ystwyth |
1 April to 17 October |
Fly: 1 April to 17 October Spin: 1 April to 17 October Shrimp and prawn: 1 September to 7 October |
Non listed rivers in West Wales Fisheries District |
1 April to 17 October |
Fly: 1 April to 17 October Spin: 1 April to 17 October Shrimp and prawn: 1 September to 7 October |
Other rivers |
20 March to 17 October |
Fly: 20 March to 17 October Spin: 20 March to 17 October Shrimp and prawn: 1 September to 7 October |
Using lures, baits, rods and lead
Read about using lures and baits.
Read about using rods and lead.
Hooking salmon other than in the mouth
You must immediately return all salmon to the water without delay.
Ban on sale of rod caught salmon
It is an offence to sell, barter or exchange for goods or services rod-caught salmon.
Wales rod and line byelaws
Read the confirmation instrument for the Wales Rod and Line (Salmon and Sea Trout) Byelaws 2017.
Read the Wales Rod and Line (Salmon and Sea Trout) Byelaws 2017.
Read the confirmation instrument for the Cross border Dee and Wye byelaws 2017.
Read the Cross border Dee and Wye byelaws 2017.
Read the River Wye Rod and Line (Salmon and Sea Trout) Byelaws 2021.
Read the confirmation instrument for the River Wye in Wales 2021.
Read the River Usk Rod and Line (Salmon and Sea Trout) Byelaws 2021.
Read the confirmation instrument for the River Usk in Wales 2021.
Read the River Severn Rod and Line (Salmon and Sea Trout) Byelaws 2021.
Read the confirmation instrument for the River Severn in Wales 2021.