Fishing to resume and all tackle shops to open next week in England

Fishing tackle shops in England will be allowed to open as normal under the Government’s Winter Covid Plan, which introduces a revised three-tier system from Wednesday) December 2.

The situation surrounding fishing retailers was not entirely clear when the Government first revealed the plan, but clarification sought by the Angling Trust, the representative body for anglers in England and Wales, makes it clear that they can open in all three tiers.

They are no longer restricted to click/call and collect provided they adhere to the appropriate regulations such as social distancing and the wearing of masks.  Fisheries, including those offering accommodation in tiers one and two, can operate as normal while applying the necessary safety conditions.

Match fishing, which had been banned during the latest lockdown, can resume as long as appropriate risk assessments are in place. However, anglers and organisers will need to follow the Angling Trust guidelines to ensure compliance.

Travel guidance in the Winter Plan means that match organisers will need to revise any planned competitions that could result in participants entering or leaving tier three areas.

Night fishing will continue to be permitted under the reintroduced tier system. “These new restrictions are good news for angling as a whole and we urge all anglers to continue to fish responsibly and not to put themselves or our sport at risk,” said Jamie Cook, CEO of the Angling Trust and Fish Legal.

“The Angling Trust will continue to monitor guidelines published by the Government and will keep members informed as to what they will mean for angling.”

The Angling Trust will publish updated guidance on its Covid-19 Support Hub, which can be accessed here.