Inland Fisheries Ireland (IFI) has opened the first draw in 2026 for anglers wishing to catch and keep a salmon from Kerry’s River Roughty catchment.
‘Brown tag’ regulations apply to the river catchment as of 3 April and will remain in place until 31 August, after which the catchment will revert to catch-and-release only fishing until the season ends.
Anglers interested in entering the first lottery draw for a brown tag can apply through the IFI website until midnight on Thursday 30 April.
Commenting, Sean Long, South-Western River Basin District Director at IFI said: “The numbers of wild Atlantic salmon returning to our rivers is declining. The risk of over-fishing puts stocks in further jeopardy.
“Brown tag measures for salmon and sea trout are required on the Roughty River to conserve stocks and avoid accidental over-harvesting.
“Where there is a modest harvestable surplus with a risk of over exploitation, this brown gill tag system is introduced to closely manage the angling quotas.”
A total of 95 brown tags will be available in 2026. They will be distributed to anglers with a valid rod licence via two draws during the season.
The first draw will be held on Tuesday 5 May, when 50 brown tags will be available. The remaining tags will be distributed via a second draw on 1 July.
Anglers may only receive one brown tag per season for use on the River Roughty catchment.
Those who receive the tags through 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 only permitted to fish for salmon in the Roughty River catchment on a catch-and-release basis, using single or double barbless hooks.
The use of worms as bait is not permitted and the salmon must be returned safely to the same waterbody.
For more information, contact IFI’s Macroom office on (026) 41221, or at [email protected]" data-tooltip-position="top">[email protected].
