Licences are required for game and coarse fishing and can be obtained from:
- Four Seasons, 47 Main Street, Newcastle, Tel 028437 25078
- Castlewellan Forest Park Office, Tel 028437 78664
- Hugh Kelly, Market Street, Downpatrick Tel 02844 612193
- Stewart & Gibson, 25-27 Main Street, Ballynahinch Tel
Click here to purchase fishing permits online
DCAL waters are managed by Department of Culture, Arts and Leisure
Sea angling boat trips can be arranged at Strangford and Newcastle Harbours
Ballylough Lake, Castlewellan
Managed by Castlewellan and Annsborough Angling Club
Ballylough is a fly only lough offering bank fishing for both brown and rainbow trout while Writes Lough is smaller and allows all legal methods. Some 90% of bank space is available and fishing can be good all season depending on hatches.
Game: rainbow and brown trout. Season: 1st March - 31st October.
Methods: Fly fishing only
Bag Limits: normally 4
Permit/licence: Game rod licence required for over 18's. Day ticket required from Castlewellan & Annsborough Angling Club, call The Chestnut Inn, Castlewellan 028 437 78247
Parking: Lay-By at Lough
Directions: Annsborough, near Castlewellan
Castlewellan Lake
Managed by DCAL. Contact Mr Peter Lynch (Department of Culture, Arts & Leisure) 028437 78937
Game: Brown and Rainbow trout
Season: 1st March - 31st October
Methods: spinning and work. Fly only from own boat.
Bag Limits: 4 fish per rod per day; max takeable size 10"
Licence/permit: Game rod licence required by over 18's; DCAL game fishing permit required (Juvenile permit by under 18's) From Castlewellan Forest Park 028437 78664
Parking: in Forest Park Car Park
Directions: Castlewellan Forest Park.
Lough Island Reavy, Castlewellan
Managed by Belfast Angling Association
93 hectare reservoir Tel 028 4065 0537
Game: Brown Trout, some pike and perch.
Season: 1st April - 30th Sept.
Methods: Fly Fishing only
Bag Limits: 3 fish per rod per day.
All fish under 12" must be returned to the water.
Permit/Licence: No Sunday Fishing. Game rod licence needed for over 18's. 6 permits per day available.
Parking: Roadside
Directions: between Castlewellan and Kilcoo on Rathfriland Road.
Shimna River, Newcastle
Managed by Shimna Angling Club & DCAL
Game: salmon and sea trout.
Season: 1st March - 31st October.
Methods: Fly, spinning and worm
Bag Limits: 2 salmon or sea trout per rod per day - no size limits.
Permit/Licence: Game rod licence for over 18's.
Permit through Shimna Anglers from Four Seasons Sport Tackle in Newcastle. Sold on Mondays for the week.
Parking: At Islands Park, Bryansford Road, Newcastle.
Directions: River flows between Tollymore Park and the Sea at Newcastle. The Shimna River holds the Irish Record for Sea Trout.
Lough Money Downpatrick
Managed by DCAL
Contact: Mr Peter Lynch, Department of Culture, Arts and Leisure.
Tele 028 4377 8937
Game: Rainbow trout. Bank fishing and wading from firm shores.
Season: all year.
Methods: All lawful methods - ground baits and maggots not permitted.
Bag Limits: There is a bag limit of 4 rainbow trout.
Permit/Licence: Rod licence required for over 18's.
Game Fishing Permit from DCAL.
Parking: Car parking at Ballyalton end of Lough.
Directions: from Downpatrick take Ballyhornan Road, turn left onto Ballyculter Road. Lough Money situated on left.
Quoile Basin, Downpatrick
Managed by DCAL
Contact: Mr Peter Lynch Dept of Culture Arts and Leisure.
Tel 028 4377 8937
Coarse and Game: pike, perch, rudd, eels and brown trout.
Season: all year for pike, perch, rudd and eels, 1st March - 31st October for trout.
Method: coarse fish - all lawful methods (no bait digging allowed)
brown trout, fly fishing, spinning and worms.
Bag Limits: 2 pike per day
Permit/Licence: DCAL coarse fishing rod licence for over 18's.Brown trout juvenile game.
Parking: Use Quoile Countryside Centre.
Directions: follow Strangford Road from Downpatrick, turn left at sign for Quoile Countryside Centre.
Moneycarragh River, Dundrum
DUNDRUM ANGLING CLUB
Species - Sea Trout, Salmon
Season: 1st Match - 31st October
Licence Authority: Fisheries Conservancy Board
Day Ticket: There are six day tickets available which run from 9.00am for twenty four hours.
Day Ticket Outlet: The Spar, 133 Main Street, Dundrum 028 437 51656
The Moneycarragh is a small (3-5m) river best known for its sea trout and the occasional salmon. The sea trout fishing is at its best from June to September while the opportunity of a salmon is at its peak from September to the end of the season. Fly fishing, spinning and worming are the permitted methods and a ghillie can be arranged with prior notice.
Links
DCAL Angling
Armagh and Down
Northern Ireland Tourist Board
Rivers Agency for Northern Ireland
The Countryside Access & Activities Network for N.Ireland
