Angling River Bush day ticket - rules, directions
There are named pools on each of the day ticket stretches and anglers are expected to follow fishing etiquette and move from pool to pool. Below is a short guide to the rules when angling on the River Bush day ticket stretches.
Rules
| Area/length | Town beat - 300 metres between the road bridges in Bushmills - three rods available. |
|---|---|
| Area/length | New beat - 457 metres from the downstream road bridge in Bushmills - three rods available |
| Area/length | Leap beat - 560 metres upstream of the salmon station to the Salmon Leap falls - six rods available. |
| Species | Salmon, brown trout and sea trout. |
| Season | 1 March to 20 October Angling is only allowed between 8.00 am to 10.00 pm |
| Methods for Town beat | Fly, worm and shrimp with spinning when the water level is on the green on the marker post situated on the arch of the upstream road bridge in Bushmills. |
| Methods for New beat | Fly and worm at all times with spinning when the water level is on the green on the marker post situated on the arch of the upstream road bridge in Bushmills. |
| Methods for Leap beat | Fly and worm only with spinning when the water level is in the green at the marker post on the west bank immediately downstream of the Salmon Leap falls. |
| Daily bag limit | Salmon - catch and release policy for all salmon angling on the River Bush at all times. |
| Daily bag limit | Trout – four Brown Trout per day. |
| Size limit | Trout under 25.4 cm in length must be returned unharmed to the water. |
| Licence/Permit/Day Ticket | You need a DAERA rod licence and day ticket to fish these stretches - follow the link for more information. |
| Restrictions |
Spinning is not allowed when the red section is visible on the marker posts erected at the head of each stretch. Prawns may not be used. All foul hooked fish must be returned gently to the river. The catch return for each ticket must be filled in and returned when finished fishing (see below for further details). |
| Enforcement |
You must give your name and date of birth when asked by an authorised DAERA officer to allow the officer to carry out a licence/permit/day ticket check. |
|
Facilities for people with disabilities |
There's access for wheelchairs from the car park to the bridge pool on the town beat. |
The full information is available in the angling regulations section.
Recording catches
It is very important that fish caught by anglers downstream (on the New and Town stretches) are recorded to give an accurate count of all fish that return to the river in any year. Catches are also recorded for the Leap stretch.
Information is collected on all angling and details of fish caught should be recorded in full. Even when nothing is caught a nil return is needed, stating the date and which stretch was fished.
Anglers should Make an angling catch return online or use the post box on the front gate of the station - or post to DAERA Inland Fisheries.
There are named pools on each of the day ticket beats and anglers are expected to follow fishing etiquette and move from pool to pool.
How to get there
From Ballymoney
Take the B66 to Bushmills through Dervock, turn left over the bridge in Bushmills, and left again into the Salmon Station. Or, take the B62, through Ballybogey for 6.83 miles, turn right onto the B17 to Bushmills. Turn right into Bridge Street and right again just before the bridge into the salmon station.
From Portrush
Take the A2 to Bushmills. Turn right after the school at the T-junction into Priestland Road and then first left after Saint Cuthbert’s Roman Catholic Church into Bridge Street. Turn right just before the bridge into the Salmon Station.
Benvardin Bridge
On the B67 between Ballycastle and Coleraine.
Dervock
On the B66 between Ballymoney and Bushmills.
Armoy
On the A44 between Ballymena and Ballycastle.
Stranocum Bridge
On the B147 between Ballymoney and the B67. Access along the river bank has been made easier by the stiles and foot sticks over most of the distance between the downstream limit and Armoy.