Natural Resources Wales (NRW) have introduced a new set of byelaws (from Jan 2020) to help protect the salmon and sea trout stocks in Wales
The byelaws can be summarised as follows:
Salmon
- All salmon must be released with minimum injury and delay
- No worm fishing for salmon
- Fly and spin only
- Shrimp and prawn fishing allowed from 1st September to the end of permitted baits period (note; the end date varies from river to river, shrimp and prawn baits are not allowed on the River Wye and tributaries at any time)
Sea trout
- All sea trout must be released with minimum injury and delay before 1st May on the rivers: Tywi, Taf, Western Cleddau, Eastern Cleddau, Teifi, River Dyfi, Rhymney, Usk, Tawe, Loughor, Gwendraeth, Aeron, Ystwyth, Dysynni, Taff , Ely, Afan, Neath, Artro, Glaslyn, Dwyryd, Seiont, Nevern.
No bait fishing for sea trout during this period
- All sea trout greater than 60cm (approx. 5lb12oz) must be released with minimum injury and delay on all catchments all year.
- Bait fishing for sea trout allowed only outside catch and release period, with small hook gape size 8mm (approximately size 8) and a single worm
Hooks
- All hooks for salmon and sea trout must be barbless or debarbed
- No trebles on spinners. spoons or plugs (singles only with a maximum 13mm gape)
- Up to 3 barbless singles may be used on a plug
- Flies – small trebles allowed up to 7mm gape (approximately size 8)
- If larger singles or doubles must be debarbed/barbless
- Tandem and ‘secret’ weapon flies are allowed – up to 4 points, trebles must be less than 7mm, all hooks must be barbless
NRW have updated our web pages with the new byelaws and can be found at https://naturalresources.wales/guidance-and-advice/business-sectors/fisheries/?lang=en