Minimum Sizes
Recreational Bass Measures 2023
1st to 31st January – Two size bass (42cm or over) per fisher per day
1st February to 31st March – Catch and release only
1st April to 31st December – Two size bass (42cm or over) per fisher per day
No bass can be taken by fixed nets.
Handling Bass: Bass must be handled carefully to ensure a high survival rate of released fish. Anglers are advised to carry forceps or long-nosed pliers to assist removal of hooks and to support fish in the water until they are able to swim off.
Minimum Sizes that apply in the North Western Inshore Fisheries District
The below apply to all fishers in the NWIFCA district
Please note this does not apply to species that are subject to landing obligation.
Minimum sizes are split into two schedules according to NWIFCA Byelaw 1
Schedule One
Schedule 1 applies to all persons fishing in the North Western Inshore Fisheries Committee District’s waters.
Fish Species
| Species | Minimum Conservation size |
| Black seabream (Spondyliosoma cantharus) | 230 mm |
| Brill (Scophthalmus rhombus) | 300 mm |
| Conger eel (Conger conger) | 580 mm |
| Dab (Limanda limanda) | 150 mm |
| Flounder (Platichthys flesus) | 250 mm |
| Thick-lip grey mullet (Chelon labrosus) | 200 mm |
| Lemon sole (Microstomus kitt) | 250 mm |
| Red mullet (Mullus surmuletus) | 150 mm |
| Any Ray or Skate | 450mm between wing tips |
| Sole (Solea solea) | 240 mm |
| Turbot (Psetta maxima) | 300 mm |
| Witch flounder (Glyptocephalus cynoglossus) | 280 mm |
Mollusc
| Species | Minimum Conservation Size |
| Winkle Winkle (Littorina littorea) | must not pass through a gauge having a square aperture of 16 mm on each side. |
Schedule 2
Schedule 2 also applies to all persons fishing in the District’s waters, unless fishing under the authority of a fishing vessel licence issued by the Marine Management Organisation or devolved UK fishery administration.
Fish Species
| Species | Minimum Conservation Size |
| Bass (Dicentrarchus labrax) | 420 mm |
| Blue ling (Molva dypterygia) | 700 mm |
| Cod (Gadus morhua) | 350 mm |
| Haddock (Melanogrammus aeglefinus) | 300 mm |
| Hake (Merluccius merluccius) | 270 mm |
| Herring (Clupea harengus) | 200mm |
| Horse mackerel (Trachurus trachurus) | 150 mm |
| Ling (Molva molva) | 630 mm |
| Mackerel (Scomber scombrus) | 200 mm |
| Megrim (Lepidorhombus spp.) | 200 mm |
| Plaice (Pleuronectes platessa) | 270 mm |
| Pollack (Pollachius pollachius) | 300 mm |
| Red seabream (Pagellus bogaraveo) | 330 mm |
| Saithe (Pollachius virens) | 350 mm |
| Whiting (Merlangius merlangus) | 270 mm |
Mollusc
| Species | Minimum Conservation Size |
| Bean solen (Pharus legumen) | 65 mm |
| Carpet shell (Venerupis corrugata) | 38 mm |
| Warty venus (Venus verrucosa) | 40 mm |
| Donax clam (Donax spp.) | 25 mm |
| Hard clam (Callista chione) | 60 mm |
| Queen scallop (Aequipecten spp.) | 40 mm |
| Razor clam (Ensis spp.) | 100 mm |
| Scallop (Pecten maximus) | 110 mm |
| Short necked clam (Venerupis phillipinarum) | 40 mm |
| Surf clam (Spisula solida) | 25 mm |
| Octopus (Octopus vulgaris) | 750 grams |
Crustacea
| Species | Minimum Conservation Size |
| European lobster (Homarus gammarus) | 87 mm |
| Crawfish (Palinurus spp.) | 95 mm |
| Norway lobster (Nephrops norvegicus)
|
70 mm Total length
|
Minimum Sizes that apply to the Whole District
| Cockles (Cerastoderma edule) | Shall not pass through a square opening of 20 mm |
| Mussels (Mytulis edulis) | 45 mm* |
| Whelk (Buccinum undatum) | 65 mm* when caught from pots
45mm* |
*Longest part of the Shell
If you are a commercially licensed vessel please visit the Marine Management Organisation (MMO) website for additional minimum landing sizes.