Inland Fisheries Ireland (IFI) has opened the second draw for anglers wishing to catch and keep salmon from Cork’s Lower River Lee in 2024.
‘Brown tag’ regulations came into force on the river from 1 February and will remain in place until 30 September, when the salmon fishing season ends.
A total of 218 brown tags will be available, and will be distributed to anglers with a rod licence via four draws through the 2024 angling season.
Up to a quarter of the available number of brown tags can be issued at one time. The first draw was held at the end of January, and a second issue of 55 brown tags will be selected through the online lottery on Thursday 4 April.
These measures are part of the Wild Salmon and Sea Trout Tagging Scheme (Amendment) Regulations 2023, recently signed into law by the Minister for the Environment, Climate and Communications, Eamon Ryan.
Anglers interested in entering the April draw can apply via the IFI website until midnight on Sunday 31 March.
Successful anglers who receive the tags via the lottery system must place them on the fish along with a blue tag as proof it was lawfully caught and may be retained for private use.
Anglers not allocated a brown tag are permitted to fish for salmon on a catch-and-release basis on the Lower River Lee, where the salmon is returned safely to the same waterbody.
Anglers must use catch-and-release methods only, involving single or double barbless hooks. Use of worms as bait is not permitted.
Full application details are available through the above link, by phoning IFI’s Macroom office on (026) 41221 or by email to [email protected].
