New measures aim to boost angling on the River Nith. Permit prices remain stable. Discount fees are expanded.
Councillors want to boost angling and chose to keep Sunday and grayling tickets. These tickets make the fishing season longer. The Dumfries Common Good Fund Sub Committee approved these ideas. Fishing on the River Nith is at a low point.
Last year, they only sold 93 tickets which made just £7063 for the council. Sales fell almost 25 percent from the year before when 121 permits sold. Ten years ago, the income was more than double; it made £16,432 for the council.
They could have raised permit prices for inflation. Visitor day tickets might have gone up to £48. Some councillors said this was a bad idea because sales are already going down. One councillor was not shocked by low sales, saying it costs a lot for a day of fishing.
Another councillor wondered about the fish and asked if catch and release helped fish numbers. He wondered if they did not help, if that was why tickets are down. One councillor dislikes catch and release while also thinking £48 is too much.
He said they should rethink pricing, as they need more income because sales fell since Covid. Season tickets are now £166.50 for adults in the region. They are £8 for juniors and £83 for some others. Daily tickets are £37.50 for resident adults. Junior and some others are free, up to one per week.
Visitor season tickets cost £267 for adults. Junior visitor tickets cost £8.50. Day tickets are £45.50 until August 31. After that, they will be £54.50. The fishing season begins February 25. Salmon season ends November 30, 2025.