Coarse Fishing Season

Coarse fish are fished entirely for sport (non-edible fish) and are returned to the river, except for grayling, which is really a game fish.

In Northumberland, coarse fishing is largely limited to the river Tyne although the Tweed (and its tributary the Till) and the Blyth are both noted for their fine grayling fishing.

The common varieties of coarse fish in Northumberland are grayling, perch, pike, roach, dace, gudgeon and eels. The season for coarse fishing on Northumberland rivers is 16 June to 14 March (ie Close season 15 March - 15 June).

Clubs controlling still waters and owners of still waters may dispense with the close season.