The Environment Agency has confirmed that freshwater rod licence sales and income for November were slightly up once again on the same period last year.
While the official line was that both remained largely static, the data shows that licence sales were up 4.76 per cent (4.88 per cent in October) with income rising 4.81 per cent (4.86 per cent in October) compared to the same point last year.
An Environment Agency spokesman said: “If this continues we are on track to record a rise in sales for the third year in a row. This is of course encouraging, but we need to keep this up as there will be no rod licence duty increase in ’26/’27 and if sales figures fall we will have a bit of a reality check when it comes to income generation.
“We are now almost £1million up on income compared to the same point last year, however this does include the most recent duty rise which saw rod licence duties increase by three per cent.
“Key to income next year will be maintaining and, where possible, growing sales in annual two- and three-rod coarse and non-migratory trout licences. This year has been positive as we are still slightly up across our three key annual rod licence products (two-, three-rod and two-rod senior, coarse and non-migratory trout licences).”
Unique angler numbers are currently up 4.53 per cent (4.61 per cent in October) on the same point last year with 765,036 anglers compared to 731,903 the previous year.
One major boost is that the recurring card payment (RCP) system for rod licences is now up and running. Launched on October 20th, the EA has already seen significant uptake of the new payment method and it is hoped RCP will help stabilise income and aid business planning going forward.
The EA has recorded 2,200 sales, representing 12 per cent of adult 12-month licences where RCP has been taken up.
The spokesman added: “It is likely to be 12 to 18 months before we can evaluate the effects of RCP on rod licence income. We will be doing a bit of a drip feed of communications to rod licence customers over the next couple of months with more of a focus come the beginning of the new sales season next April.”