Rod licence sales in England and Wales performed well last month, helping close the deficit which a poor winter and spring had forced upon the Environment Agency’s coffers.

According to the EA, August saw 137,821 licences sold, which is now just 1.03 per cent down on sales from last year, compared with 2.71 per cent down in July.

That means the total income for the year so far from 728,009 licences sold is £18,636,185. That is £512,748 down on income compared to the same point last year thanks to a 7,228 drop in licence sales.

While this is still 2.79 per cent down on last year, it has clawed back some of the deficit, which was 4.33 per cent down in July. The West Midlands contributed the most anglers and revenue of all the EA regions, just ahead of East Anglia.

Both annual adult two-rod and three-rod licences fell again year on year (by 4.56 per cent and 3.35 per cent respectively) annual senior two-rod licences actually rose by 0.66 per cent compared to August last year. However, salmon and sea trout licences saw an alarming 7.7 per cent fall this month.

Tom Sherwood, the Environment Agency’s Senior advisor (fisheries partnerships and business strategy), said: “We will have to have a good autumn if we are to make further inroads and draw level with last year’s sales and income figures.

“There is hope that we can try and appeal to those anglers that may not have picked up a rod this summer (due to external factors such as the hot weather and the World Cup) to get out there fishing. We will be pushing communications throughout September, October and November to this effect.”

The rod licence marketing campaign comes to an end in the middle of September. Evaluation will begin shortly and then planning for next year’s campaign will get underway.