Salmon and Sea Trout Season

Salmon and sea trout are the migratory fish of many coastal British, European, North American and North Atlantic countries returning, each year, mostly to the rivers and tributaries of their origin in order to spawn.

Permits for salmon and sea trout are invariably more expensive, especially on the Tweed and the Till with their long uninterrupted history of fine fishing. There, fishing is usually from a boat and the hire arrangement is like to include the services of a gillie (or boatman) who can provide expert advice and tuition.

Permits for the Coquet and Aln tend to be reasonably priced but the Tyne is establishing itself as the finest salmon river in England and Wales, after recovery from pollution and is becoming more expensive to fish and demand for fishing is still on the increase.

The season for salmon on the English rivers is 1 February to 31 October but, a "catch and release" byelaw obliges the return of any salmon caught before 16 June.

There is no "catch and release" for sea trout and the season is from 3 April to 31 October. With the Tweed and the Till subject to Scottish fisheries law, the salmon rod season is from 1 February to 30 November (except Sundays).

There is no statutory "catch and release" on the Tweed and Till but a voluntary code requires the return of every other spring salmon caught by rod and line. The largest salmon are caught in the autumn and on the whole, the Tyne has the largest average weights for salmon.