Cast A Line And Join The Adventure

What could be more relaxing than a day’s fishing? A few peaceful hours away from the rat race spent alone in tranquil surroundings or perhaps an adrenalin-fuelled battle with nature is more your style. ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

Whichever you prefer, now is the time to start planning for the new season and take advantage of the wonderful fishing opportunities across Wales. ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

Rob Evans, Freshwater Fisheries Advisor for Natural Resources Wales (NRW), said: ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

“Whether you’re an experienced angler or a complete novice, Wales has something to offer everyone who wants to cast a line. ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

“Fishing provides a healthy recreational activity for both young and old to enjoy and the variety of physical activity involved in different types of angling makes it a sport for everyone.” ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

Visit Wales has designated 2016 as the Year of Adventure, and is encouraging both visitors and residents of Wales to try something new and fishing is an ideal way of getting involved. ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

Rob explained: ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

“For the experienced angler there’s always something new to try – whether it’s one of our breathtaking lakes like Llyn Tegid in Snowdonia and Llangorse in the Brecon Beacons or our wonderful rivers like the Teifi in west Wales and the Wye in the east. ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

“And for those new to the sport there are hundreds of community-based angling clubs across Wales providing good value angling and plenty of information online providing help and guidance for anglers of all abilities.” ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

Tony Rees, of Angling Cymru, added: ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

“It is important that anglers purchase a rod licence and fishing permit as it is this money that will fund projects for improvement to fishing and fish stocks. ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

“Licence fees also help to fund introductions for new anglers through qualified coaches in Wales, for more information visit www.anglingcymru.org.uk” ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

NRW sell approximately 55,000 rod licences sold annually in Wales raising some £1.2 million. All revenue is received by NRW and spent on providing a fisheries service in Wales, and the good news is that there has been no increase in the cost of the licence again. ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

Rob said: ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

“Whether you are an experienced fisherman or new to the sport you will need a rod licence to fish and the 2016 licences can be purchased on-line, over the counter at all Post Offices and by telephone. ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

“If you are under 12 years old you will not need a licence and concessions are available for older as well as less abled anglers. ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

“In 2015 NRW reported more than 120 people for a variety of fishing offences, the majority of which related to fishing without a rod and line licence. ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

“We take illegal fishing seriously and we have the legal powers to apprehend individuals, seize any illegal equipment connected to the offence and report them for fisheries offences. If anyone else sees any illegal fishing or something suspicious they should call our hotline on 0800 80 70 60. All information is used in our fight against illegal fishing and poaching.” ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​