New Code Of Practice 2023
IMPORTANT – Please read the new Code of Practice for the river Stinchar.
River category
The Scottish Government has designated the Stinchar as a ‘Category 3’ river for 2023. This means that it is an offence to kill any salmon for the protection of the species.
Legal requirements
Salmon and sea trout season – 25th February to 31st October inclusive.
1. Anglers must:
- Release all salmon and grilse throughout the season.
- Release all unseasonable and gravid fish e.g., kelts, baggots and rawners.
- Return to the water, any badly bleeding or any fish which dies after being caught.
- Carry proof of current, written permission for inspection purposes.
- Use a knotless landing net bag.
All farmed salmon and pink salmon, if caught must be killed.
2. Owners of salmon fishing rights must:
- Ensure that all their anglers comply with 1, 1-5 above.
- Complete a Return of Scottish Salmon and Sea Trout Rod Catches Form. This must be completed and returned to Marine Scotland, Inchbraoch House, South Quay, Ferryden, Montrose DD10 9UA as soon as possible after the end of the fishing season and not later than 31st December each year.
Failure to return a completed form within the required timescale, or to make a false statement is an offence. The maximum penalty is £1000.
3. Conservation measures and best practice
- All sea trout and whitling must be released.
- Avoid deep and damaging hooking by using: –
- One treble or single hooks only on Rapala-type lures
- One single hook only on “flying C” lures.
- Barbless or circle hooks when worming
4. Safe landing and handling requirements
Before you set off, make sure you have the following tackle for safe catch and release:
Suitable tackle – Use fishing tackle that is capable of landing salmon quickly to avoid exhausting them before release.
Barbless hooks – for quick release and minimised risk of bleeding when removing the hooks, always use a barbless hook. A size 8 (or preferably smaller) is recommended.
A knotless net – use a wide, soft knotless net to minimise damage by allowing the fish to lie flat as well as reducing damage to its scales.
Tip: to assist with a swift release make sure you have a tool, such as long-nosed forceps, at hand for prompt hook removal. Also, if you plan on recording or taking a photograph of your catch, make sure that you keep all the equipment close to hand so that this can be done quickly.
Landing the fish
It’s vital not to lift the fish out of the water; research has shown that salmon which are exposed to air, even for a short period, have a significantly reduced survival rate.
Certainly do not lift the salmon by the tail or gill cover, as this can cause internal damage as well as damage to tendons.
Recording your catch
If you want to take a photograph of your catch, keep the fish in the water or at least slightly above it and support the fish gently under its belly. When handling the salmon, always do so with wet hands to avoid damaging (burning) the fish’s outer boundary layer of mucus – which protects it against disease and parasites. If you must weigh the fish, then weigh with the fish enclosed in the net or use a weigh net.
A tape measure or wading stick can be marked to record approximate length – this should be done while the fish is kept in the water. This can also be used against a chart to measure approximate weight.
Recovery and unhooking the fish
Gently remove the hook by hand or with forceps when the fish is quiet. If it is deeply embedded, then cut the leader as close as possible to the hook. Generally, fish can be released and survive with the hook still attached and this will cause less damage to the fish than if the embedded hook is removed.
Recovery may take some time, but it is vital for fish to be allowed to recover before they are released into clean, steady water.
These Legal requirements and Conservation measures will be reviewed annually.
Many thanks for your cooperation and tight lines!
