Perhaps you wouldn’t think of Birmingham and its surrounding waterways as being prime locations for fishing. After all, it’s a city river that surely can’t be the best environment for wild fish. Back in January of this year, magnet fishers in Birmingham found themselves an old Royal Navy cannon, drawing in many more magnet fishers to try and find some treasures.
Still, there are plenty of great fishing locations to enjoy a day on the water, with some great catches in and around the city. More and more people are taking to this more convenient form of fishing, helping to make Birmingham one of the top places to go for urban fishing. While you may want to catch this flowing trend as the British summer comes around, it’s important to take the right steps to avoid getting fined.
Urban Fishing Picking Up Steam
Source: Unsplash
Fishing has exploded beyond the waterways in recent years. Not only have there been a whole host of popular reality and dramatised television shows about catching rare and interesting fish around the world, spearheaded by the likes of Jeremy Wade and Robson Green, but there’s been a constant stream of new casino games becoming popular with a fishing theme.
Among these new games, fishing is clearly the standout inspiration. Big Bass Floats My Boat, Big Mouth Fishin’ Link&Win, Fishin’ Frenzy, and Fishin’ Frenzy Megaways have all proven to be instant hits. They have even been able to topple the usual top themes, like the myths of Ancient Greece and Egypt. Fishing is trending across entertainment, with people seeing it as an entertaining pastime, encouraging them to grab a rod and reel themselves.
This was highlighted in the summer of last year when reports circulated of a new craze of urban fishing among Gen Z. A couple of the leading names in the report were Tom Synnott-Bell and Sean Edwards, who rose to prominence on YouTube for their urban fishing in and around the Birmingham canals. However, we’re never far away from reports of fines ranging from £200 to over £400 for simple mistakes made by UK anglers.
What You Need to Know to Fish in Birmingham
Source: Pixabay
The most important thing you need to do before setting out for a day of fishing is grab a licence. You can do this easily on the government website and get the exact span that suits your day out. Fines of up to £2,500 are on the table if you don’t get this licence. For many, the two-rod trout and coarse licence for one day at £7.10 will do. That being said, the eight-day licence for £14.30 does offer significant savings.
Next, you need to know where you can go angling and when. Most sites in and around the county have a strictly closed season for fishing. This usually runs from 15 March through to 15 June, but checking each location first is essential. Among the sites where you can fish are the Edgbaston Reservoir, Perry Park, Trittiford Mill Pool, Fox Hollies Park, and Salford Park. You can also cast a line out into the Daw End Branch of the Birmingham Canal.
If you fancy getting into some urban or just regular rural fishing in and around Birmingham, be sure to get the right licence and head out during the open season.