Fishing Near Ballymoney

Ballymoney Borough has genuinely good game and coarse fishing, with several distinct waters within easy reach of the town.

Ballymoney River

Renowned for trout fishing — salmon, sea trout, and brown trout, taken by fly, worm, or spinning. Season runs 1 March–31 October, with a 10-inch minimum for trout and a 2-fish daily bag limit for salmon. Requires a Fishery Conservancy Board game licence and DCAL game fishing permit.

Ballymoney Burn

A small river flowing through the town itself — the only fishable river on the east bank of the Lower Bann, with brown trout, sea trout (dollaghan), and salmon. Best trout fishing is around Balnamore. No formal angling club operates here, but ghillie services are available locally.

Agivey Bridge

A genuine mix of game and coarse fishing — trout, pike, roach, perch, bream, hybrids, and eels — open all year, all legal methods permitted.

Altnahinch Reservoir

At the head of the River Bush, in exposed peaty moorland with solid banks good for shore fishing. Brown and rainbow trout, fly fishing/spinning/worm fishing, 4-fish daily bag limit, no boats permitted. Season runs 1 March–20 October.

Licences and permits

All of the above require the relevant Fishery Conservancy Board licence and permit — available in Ballymoney town centre, on Main Street near the Town Hall. Check current requirements before you fish, as licensing bodies and permit systems change.