Angling at Movanagher Canal
The canal stretch is easy to reach and is a popular coarse fishery. Pike, perch, roach and bream are abundant. There are good fishing opportunities during high flow conditions on the river. Roach/bream hybrid specimens can be caught. Pike weighing up to 14kg have been recorded.
Movanagher Canal fishery closed
The fishing stands at Movanagher Canal coarse fishery are closed due to health and safety concerns and to protect anglers and members of the public.
Any re-opening of the fishery will depend on the review of the Public Angling Estate which is under way. Anyone found fishing there may face enforcement action.
Health and safety review
DAERA Inland Fisheries commissioned work to review the health and safety arrangements for Movanagher canal roadway. They are now assessing the report.
A number of health and safety concerns were raised in the report. There are also recommendations to make sure that both staff and members of the public are kept safe whilst visiting the site - and to bring it up to modern safety standards.
It is likely that vehicular access will be restricted some time in the future along the lane. It will be restricted to staff members only, or those delivering goods to the site, to minimise the health and safety risks. The public will still have pedestrian access along the canal road.
The fishing stands along this stretch were built many decades ago. They do not meet the standard for the safety of anglers using them. To meet standards it is likely that the number of stands at the site will need to be cut and other improvements carried out to those remaining.
DAERA Inland Fisheries have started to engage with local angling interests on these issues and will keep permit holders updated via the website.
| Nearest town | Kilrea |
|---|---|
| Area/length | 1 km |
| Species | Pike, perch, roach, bream, and hybrids |
| Season | All year round |
| Methods | All lawful methods including ground bait and maggots for coarse fish |
| Daily bag limit | One pike per person/four coarse per day |
| Size limit | Pike of 4kg and over and coarse greater than 25cm must be returned to the water |
| Boats | Fishing from boats is not allowed |
| Licence | DAERA coarse rod licence: Coarse rod licence prices from DAERA |
| Permit | DAERA coarse permit: Coarse angling permit prices from DAERA |
| Facilities for people with disabilities | See below |
Facilities for people with disabilities
There is access for anglers with difficulty walking from the car park at the lock gates. It is not accessible to wheelchairs. Three wheelchair accessible fishing stands are provided near parking areas.
General information
Car parking is now allowed on the canal bank road at Movanagher. Fishing is not allowed from the west bank between the canal and the river. There are three car parks at the canal bank. It is an ideal venue for competitions with 43 stands available.
How to get there
From Kilrea, take the B64 signposted towards Ballymoney for 1.49 miles over the Bann Bridge to McLaughlin’s Corner. Turn left, then immediately left again, onto Vow Road. Travel for 2.23 miles to the approach road for Movanagher Fish Farm on the left.