ANGLERS are being reminded the 2024 coarse fishing close season gets underway today (Friday).

The Environment Agency explained spring and early summer months provide a period for freshwater fish such as dace, barbel and chub to spawn, allowing the fish to lay and fertilise their eggs.

During this time, anglers are prohibited from fishing for these species in rivers, streams and drains, as well as some canals and stillwaters, so that breeding adults are given the chance to recover and thrive.  

To ensure anglers respect the no fishing period, riverbanks will see a return of Operation Clampdown, which sees Environment Agency officers and Angling Trust volunteers conduct regular patrols along rivers targeting close season offences.

The programme has been running for 12 years and has had great success. Last year officers carried out 677 close season patrols, detecting 102 close season offences, and a further 181 fishing-related offences.

The coarse fish close season applies to rivers, streams, drains and some canals, as well as certain stillwaters within specified ‘sites of special scientific interest’ (SSSI).

Anglers who are keen to fish throughout this period can do so on most stillwaters and canals, depending on fishery rules.

To report illegal fishing call 0800 80 70 60. Information can also be reported anonymously to Crimestoppers on 0800 555 111.