The Medway is a productive 30km coarse fishery holding excellent populations of barbel, carp, chub, bream, and pike, alongside roach, tench, perch, and grayling in moderate-quality water. Most stretches require club membership or private fishing rights; a valid rod licence is essential for all anglers.
Anglers should note the close season on River Medway: 15 March – 15 June (rivers). Free fishing is available on sections of River Medway — a valid EA rod licence is still required. Four confirmed free fishing stretches — rod licence required, no club or day ticket needed. Yalding canal section does not observe the standard river close season. Source: EA River Medway User Guide + local angler reports.
River Medway is a navigable waterway managed by Environment Agency covering Allington Lock (tidal limit) to Tonbridge. Rod licence required. FREE fishing with rod licence only on: East Farleigh Lock to Unicumes Lane (Maidstone) and Wharf Road Footbridge to Allington. Cannot fish from powered boats. No fishing from lock platforms.
Water level data from the Environment Agency Real Time Flood Monitoring API. Nearest gauging station. Always verify conditions on arrival.
Filter by water type, species and access. View River Medway and thousands of other UK fishing venues on the interactive map.
River Medway holds common carp, carp, barbel, bream, chub, roach, rudd, tench, dace, perch, pike, zander, gudgeon, grayling, trout, eel, bleak, ruffe.
Carp are a popular target on River Medway — handle carefully with a landing net and unhooking mat, and return promptly.
Trout fishing on River Medway may be subject to season restrictions set by the local club or riparian owner — always confirm before your session.
An EA rod licence is required by law to fish River Medway, even on free fishing stretches.
Known free fishing stretches:
A valid EA rod licence is still required on all free fishing stretches. You can buy your licence online before your visit.
River Medway is a navigable waterway managed by Environment Agency (Allington Lock (tidal limit) to Tonbridge).
Rod licence required. FREE fishing with rod licence only on: East Farleigh Lock to Unicumes Lane (Maidstone) and Wharf Road Footbridge to Allington. Cannot fish from powered boats. No fishing from lock platforms.
Registration required: EA boat registration required.
Speed limit: 5 knots.
Image via Wikipedia · Used under Creative Commons licence
To fish River Medway, you need a valid EA rod licence, available online from gov.uk. Annual, day and 8-day licences are available. Some stretches of River Medway offer free fishing — a rod licence is still required.
Always check conditions before you visit. Water quality, access and rules can change seasonally. The EA's Catchment Data Explorer provides up-to-date water quality information for River Medway.
Other UK fishing waters near River Medway on PiscaMaps:
