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🌊 North Western IFCA Sea Fishing Conditions and Regulations 2025

The North Western IFCA manages sea fishing regulations across the North West coast of England, including the Irish Sea coastline from the Scottish border down to the River Dee. These rules protect fish stocks, ensure sustainability, and preserve marine life.

🌤 Live Weather & Tide Times – Default

DefaultWeather

Conditions now: Overcast clouds
Temperature: 12.54°C
Wind: 0.89 m/s

Upcoming Tides for Default :

For optimal results, it’s typical to fish from 1 to 2 hours before high tide and continue until the tide begins to ebb.

Other useful information

🌊 Current tide: Neap Tide – weaker currents
🌙 Moon Phase: 🌒 Waxing Crescent
🎣 Fishing Conditions: 😐 Fair (1/10)

Data updates hourly. Source: OpenWeather

🐟 Species Size Limits & Bag Regulations

The table below lists the minimum sizes, bag limits, open seasons, and whether the species can be caught on a lure:

🐠 Species📏 Min Size🎣 Bag Limit🗓️ Season🪝 Lure Caught?
Bass42cm2/day (outside Feb-Mar)Catch & release only Feb-Mar✅
Blue Ling70cmNoneOpen❌
Cod35cmNoneOpen✅
Haddock30cmNoneOpen❌
Hake27cmNoneOpen❌
Herring20cmNoneOpen❌
Horse Mackerel15cmNoneOpen❌
Ling63cmNoneOpen❌
Mackerel20cmNoneOpen✅
Megrim20cmNoneOpen❌
Plaice27cmNoneOpen❌
Pollack30cmNoneOpen✅
Red Seabream33cmNoneOpen✅
Saithe35cmNoneOpen✅
Whiting27cmNoneOpen❌
Black Seabream23cmNoneOpen✅
Brill30cmNoneOpen❌
Conger Eel58cmNoneOpen❌
Dab15cmNoneOpen❌
Flounder25cmNoneOpen❌
Thick Lipped Mullet20cmNoneOpen✅
Lemon Sole25cmNoneOpen❌
Red Mullet15cmNoneOpen✅
Skate & Rays45cm wingtipNoneOpen❌
Turbot30cmNoneOpen❌
Witch28cmNoneOpen❌

🛑 Protected Species

The following species are protected and must be released immediately if caught:

  • 🦈 Tope – must be returned immediately; no parts can be taken.
  • 🦈 Angel Shark – protected under the Wildlife and Countryside Act.
  • 🛡️ White Skate – protected under the Wildlife and Countryside Act.
  • 🐟 Allis Shad – protected; must be released.
  • 🐟 Twaite Shad – protected; must be released.
  • 🐠 Giant Goby – protected; must be released.
  • 🐠 Couch’s Goby – protected; must be released.
  • 🐋 Bluefin Tuna – strictly protected; catch and release only under licensed programs.

🚫 Local Restrictions

Currently, no additional local restrictions are listed for the North Western IFCA beyond national regulations.

⚠️ Disclaimer

Regulations are correct to the best of our knowledge. Always check the official North Western IFCA website for the latest updates.

👉 Return to the UK Sea Fishing Regulations Tool