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.

Minimum Conservation Reference Sizes (MCRS) in UK waters – GOV.UK (www.gov.uk)