BASS Compliance Direction

Page review/updated 10/03/2026

Content of page last updated (10th March 2026).

BASS REGULATIONS 2026

This page scrolls down and contains:

  • General information on bass restrictions that apply to both commercial and recreational fishers
  • Details about bass nursery areas including charts and when they are active

Commercial and Recreational Restrictions:

Article 10 of Council Regulation (EU) 2020/123, The Sea Fisheries (Amendment) Regulations 2026,  The Bass (Specified Areas) (Prohibition of Fishing) Order 1990,  The Bass (Specified Areas) (Prohibition of Fishing) (Variation) Order 1999 detail the restrictions for catching bass for both Commercial and Recreational fisheries.

The Marine Management Organisation also publish Bass Fishing Guidance.

Recreational Fishing                                                                                

The bass fishing rules for recreational fishers are as follows:

  • From 1st February to 31st March, it is catch-and-release only.
  • From 1st January to 31st January, and between 1st April to 31st December, three bass may be retained, per person, per day.
  • Bass retained between the dates must measure at least the Minimum Conservation Reference Size of 42cm in length.
  • No bass can be taken by fixed or drift nets.

The above rules apply when fishing from a boat or from the shore.

  • No fishing for bass or fishing for any species of sea-fish using sand eel as bait from a vessel in a bass nursery area during specified periods (please see further details below).

Commercial Fishing

The commercial restrictions relating to bass are as follows:

It is prohibited to retain bass in February and March.

During January and during the period from 1st April to 31st December in each calendar year, commercial vessels may fish for, retain, tranship, relocate, or land bass with the following gear and within the following limits, providing authorisation has been granted by the MMO.

  • Demersal trawls and seines:  a maximum 20% by weight of all marine organisms PER TRIP. Unavoidable bycatch 10 tonnes per vessel per year.
  • Hooks and lines: catches not exceeding 8 tonnes per year.
  • Fixed gillnets: a bycatch of 5.4 tonnes per year.
  • Commercial fishers require a specific authorisation by the MMO to catch and retain bass.
  • All of other gears including drift nets: all bass catches prohibited.
  • Commercial bass fishing from the shore is also prohibited.

Bass Nursery Areas

There are restrictions on fishing for bass in nursery areas at certain times of year, which apply to both commercial and recreational fishers.

Within the D&S IFCA’s District, fishing for bass (Dicentrarchus labrax), or fishing for any species of sea-fish using sand-eels (Ammodytidae) as bait, by any fishing boat within any part of the areas detailed below is prohibited during the period specified in relation to each area.

River Exe: Fishing for bass, or fishing for any species of sea fish using Sand Eels (Ammodytidae spp) as bait, by any fishing boat within any part of the River Exe Bass Nursery Area is prohibited between 30th April and 1st November.

River Teign: Fishing for bass, or fishing for any species of sea fish using Sand Eels (Ammodytidae spp) as bait, by any fishing boat within any part of the River Teign Bass Nursery area is prohibited between 30th April and 1st November.

River Dart: Fishing for bass, or fishing for any species of sea fish using Sand Eels (Ammodytidae spp) as bait, by any fishing boat within any part of the River Dart Bass Nursery Area is prohibited between 30th April and 1st January.

Salcombe Harbour and the Kingsbridge Estuary: Fishing for bass, or fishing for any species of sea fish using Sand Eels (Ammodytidae spp)as bait, by any fishing boat within any part of the Salcombe Harbour and Kingsbridge Estuary Bass Nursery Area is prohibited between 30thApril and 1st January.

River Avon: Fishing for bass, or fishing for any species of sea fish using Sand Eels (Ammodytidae spp) as bait, by any fishing boat within any part of the River Avon Bass Nursery Area is prohibited between 30th April and 1st January.

River Yealm: Fishing for bass, or fishing for any species of sea fish using Sand Eels (Ammodytidae spp) as bait, by any fishing boat within any part of the River Yealm Bass Nursery Area is prohibited between 30th April and 1st January.

Plymouth Rivers Tamar and Plym: Fishing for bass, or fishing for any species of sea fish using Sand Eels (Ammodytidae spp) as bait, by any fishing boat within any part of the Plymouth Rivers Bass Nursery Area is prohibited all year.

River Taw and River Torridge: Fishing for bass, or fishing for any species of sea fish using Sand Eels (Ammodytidae spp) as bait, by any fishing boat within any part of the River Taw and River Torridge Bass Nursery Areas is prohibited between 30th April and 1st November.

ENFORCEMENT 

Any person found breaching the legislation outlined above may be subject to enforcement action including receiving a Financial Administrative Penalty (FAP) or court proceedings. 

The D&S IFCA Compliance and Enforcement Strategy can be read here.

Page updated – 10th March 2026