Last reviewed: 30 September 2026. This guide covers spearfishing in the Republic of Ireland. Rules can change by year, species and location. Check the linked official sources before each trip, especially for bass, pollack and shellfish.
Do you need a licence to spearfish in Ireland?
For most marine fish species in the Republic of Ireland, no general recreational sea-fishing licence or permit is required. This is separate from any certification required for the speargun itself. The absence of a fishing-licence requirement does not remove restrictions on species, size, catch limits, fishing methods or locations. IFI fishing-licence guidance.
Rubber-band and gas-powered spearguns
If the speargun you possess is powered by a gas cylinder then it is deemed a firearm and you must have a valid firearms certificate issued by An Garda Síochána for it.
However, if it is powered by conventional rubber bands it is not considered a firearm. It can be held without a firearms certificate and be imported without a licence.
Quick answer for spearfishers
- The SFPA says diving for sea fish is not generally prohibited, but species, size and catch restrictions still apply. Ask Inland Fisheries Ireland (IFI) about a species or method if uncertain. SFPA diving FAQ
- Recreational catch is for personal use, not sale. Check local restrictions, protected areas and current conservation measures before fishing. SFPA recreational FAQ
As spearfishers, we choose our catch carefully and take only what we need to feed ourselves and our families. Respecting size limits, leaving young fish to grow and avoiding unnecessary catches helps protect fish stocks. Our aim is to hunt responsibly and sustainably, with respect for the sea and the life it supports.
Fish commonly encountered when spearfishing in Ireland
This practical selection covers fish encountered around Irish coastal reefs, kelp beds and sandy ground. Where the SFPA publishes a minimum conservation reference size, it is shown below.
| Fish | Scientific name | SFPA minimum size |
|---|---|---|
| Sea bass | Dicentrarchus labrax | 42 cm |
| Pollack | Pollachius pollachius | 30 cm |
| Ballan wrasse | Labrus bergylta | N/A |
| Thick-lipped grey mullet | Chelon labrosus | N/A |
| Saithe / coalfish | Pollachius virens | 35 cm |
| Cod | Gadus morhua | 35 cm |
| Ling | Molva molva | 63 cm |
| Mackerel | Scomber scombrus | 20 cm |
| Plaice | Pleuronectes platessa | 27 cm |
| Flounder | Platichthys flesus | N/A |
| Common sole | Solea solea | 24 cm |
| Turbot | Scophthalmus maximus | N/A |
| Brill | Scophthalmus rhombus | N/A |
| Garfish | Belone belone | N/A |
N/A means no minimum size is listed for that species in the SFPA table.
Bass and pollack have additional rules: see the sections below for seasons and catch limits. A general daily spearfishing catch limit has not been confirmed here for the other fish; this does not mean catches are unlimited. Recreational catch must not be sold.
This is a coastal spearfishing selection rather than an exhaustive species list. For the full list of published minimum sizes, see the SFPA minimum conservation reference size table.
Bass and pollack: special 2026 rules
European sea bass
IFI's published 2026 guidance lists a 42 cm minimum size and a two-fish bag limit during January and from 1 April to 31 December. From 1 February to 31 March, it lists catch-and-release fishing only. Spearfishing cannot meet a requirement to release a fish unharmed: do not shoot bass during a catch-and-release-only period that applies to your fishing area. IFI's current 2026 guidance.
Pollack
Minimum size: 30 cm. Daily catch limit: three pollack per person. Article 12 of Council Regulation (EU) 2026/249 limits recreational catches retained in ICES subareas 6 and 7 to three pollack per person per day. The Pollack Fishing Conservation Bye-Law No. 1028 of 2026 gives national effect to these measures from 1 June 2026. EU regulation, Article 12 · IFI pollack announcement · SFPA sizes
Shellfish and crustaceans encountered in Irish coastal waters
| Species | Scientific name | SFPA size limits |
|---|---|---|
| European lobster | Homarus gammarus | 87–127 mm carapace length (minimum and maximum) |
| Brown / edible crab | Cancer pagurus | 140 mm carapace width |
| Spider crab | Maja squinado | 130 mm male; 125 mm female |
| Velvet crab | Necora puber | 65 mm |
| Crawfish / spiny lobster | Palinurus spp. | 110 mm |
| King scallop | Pecten maximus | 100 mm; 110 mm in ICES VIIa north of 52°30′N (the Irish Sea along Ireland’s east coast, north of approximately Kilmuckridge, Co. Wexford) |
| Razor clam | Ensis spp. | 100 mm; 125 mm in the North Irish Sea |
| Common octopus | Octopus vulgaris | 750 g minimum weight |
For other shellfish and the complete published size list, see the full SFPA minimum conservation reference size table.
Lobster and crab recreational quantities
For recreational fishing, the limit is one lobster and five crabs in any 24-hour period. The season runs from 1 May to 30 September. Catch is for personal consumption and must not be sold. SFPA recreational pot-fishing notice · S.I. No. 31/2016.
European lobster must measure 87–127 mm carapace length. The SFPA instructs fishers to return undersized, oversized, V-notched, or mutilated or damaged-tail lobster alive without delay. The SFPA explains measurement from the back of either eye socket to the rear edge of the carapace. Brown crab is 140 mm; spider crab 130 mm male / 125 mm female; velvet crab 65 mm. Return any undersized animal promptly. SFPA lobster control notice, September 2026 · SFPA crab and lobster guidance
Egg-bearing and V-notched lobsters
If a female lobster is carrying eggs beneath her tail, return her gently to the water alive to protect the next generation. This is responsible conservation practice. A V-notch is a small V-shaped mark cut into a tail fan to protect breeding stock. V-notched lobsters and lobsters with mutilated tails (any damage to the tail that could hide a previous V notch) must be returned alive immediately; they must not be retained. BIM lobster conservation guidance · SFPA V-notch rules.
Scallops, other bivalves and food safety
The king scallop minimum is 100 mm, or 110 mm in ICES VIIa north of 52°30′N (the Irish Sea along Ireland’s east coast, north of approximately Kilmuckridge, Co. Wexford). The SFPA source does not specify a universal personal 24-hour scallop limit. Other shellfish areas can have local management measures; check the location and current notices. SFPA size table.
Bivalves can accumulate harmful bacteria and marine biotoxins. The SFPA classified areas page links to production maps and the Marine Institute's open/closed status. Its shellfish safety guidance explains the health risks and what commercial A, B and C classifications mean.
Official places to check for updates
- SFPA: minimum conservation reference sizes — current common fish, mollusc and crustacean size table.
- SFPA: recreational fishing and SFPA: non-commercial pots — recreational questions and lobster/crab pot figures.
- Inland Fisheries Ireland: bass and Inland Fisheries Ireland: pollack — annual measures for rod-and-line sea fishing. Ask IFI directly where a rule's application to spearfishing is unclear.
- SFPA: classified bivalve areas — shellfish production information and live status link.
This is a practical summary of sources available on 30 September 2026, not a substitute for the current legislation or an individual ruling from the relevant authority. Some SFPA size tables cover commercial fisheries as well as recreational activity. Where a method-specific catch quantity or entitlement could not be confirmed, we have said so explicitly.