dogfish

[metalpunk]

Nice one lads....well done on them dogfish.

 

[RL83]

will defo be heading down there in future
its near on a shark so good enough for me haha

 

[leeskinner007]

Sure,they can be a bit of a pain when you're targetting other species,but vermin they most certainly are not.They are a beautiful fish,and the most welcome of species in competitions,as when nothing else is biting,they are always happy to oblige.I used to regularly fish the open comp's on the west coast of Scotland,and was sickened by the sight of huge numbers of dogfish,
brought back to the weigh ins (often in pub car parks etc,well away from the sea) and unceremoniously tipped from sacks,blood all over the place,onto the deck,where they would jump around making those little grunting noises many
of you will be familiar with.They would be kicked into a pile,and after weighingwould be left,often in sweltering heat for an hour or so,while "anglers",would have a few pints and wax lyrical about their exploits.No one gave a toss about these unfortunate creatures,which had,ironically won them an often considerable sum of money,as they were to be used as "pot bait".I kicked off one day,telling the organiser he was a disgrace for allowing this wholesale slaughter,and collected as many live dogs as possible,put them into the back of my van(you could have heard a pin drop)and took them down to the sea and released them.I never went back to the "doggy comp's",and sent a letter of complaint to an angling publication to register my disgust.Not long after they started introducing a two dog limit over there,not because of guilt, but because of the sudden decline of numbers being caught.Be wary of denigrating the humble dogfish,as they may one day be the saviour of your day out fishing..

absolutely spot on there and well done many respects for putting them back mate dont know how they can be vermin imo one of the best looking fish there is oh and quite tasty as well

 

[mickbrennan]

They give a good bite not much of a fight but would love to catch them on our coast had loads over west coast double shots sometimes beats catching flounders and undersize codlings

 

[Hadji Kareem]

Nice one billy. You've certainly got some mates now. Being the secretary to a works fishing section we always ensure our comps are catch and release points system and we always make sure he venue is clear of debris and especially any fish that couldn't be released.

 

[billynobaits]

Doggies

Doggies

While i really appreciate the positive responses to my earlier rant,it was'nt accolades,more understanding of the less popular species of fish we find surrounding our island.As long as i have fished,apart from the ones i have dispatched for the pot,i have always treated my catches with respect,and even those i kept were properly knocked on the head ensuring they did'nt suffer.To this day i still see fish flapping around gasping at peoples feet,when the easiest thing to do is dispatch them quickly and put them into your bag or box,and if you are'nt keeping them,put them back into the water.When the summer species arrive(mackerel generally) it tends to coincide with nice weather,and swathes of non fishing visitors deciding it's a nice time to take a stroll along the local pier.Icould'nt imagine them being particularly impressed with what often greets them,and you all know what i mean.The sad thing is i can remember the same things being said when i first ventured onto the piers and promenades as a kid,many,many moons ago,so nothing's changed.I have even seen people stamp on Scorpion fish,to retrieve their hooks,as they assumed (wrongly) they were dangerous ( "f***k that,i'm not touching it" )
Strange,but i believe that if you had a marine aquarium with a bit coral and a
few rocks at home,and you had a fish like this swimming around in it,you would look at it from a completely new perspective.It would'nt surprise me at all if it was given a name,fed and cleaned regularly and gazed at so often,the wife would be saying, "you think more of that bloody fish than you do of me" (some of them would be right as well)What i'm getting at, in a rather long winded way,is take the time to think about what you catch,and treat it with the respect it deserves.It did'nt ask you to enter it's enviroment and drag it out of the water,it has'nt spread disease,and it was'nt it that s**t on the pavement outside your house yesterday.Without them we are no longer fishermen,so remember that. (second rant over)

 

[lobsterwells]

totally agree with you billy and when putting fish back from a height its better to use one of the wires on your lead to lower them back rather then just throwing them back. i see alot more fish swim away to fight another day using that method . howay lads lets look after the fish we dont wanna keep after all no fish = no fishing

 

[brash1]

I used to fish on west coast with my dad must be 20 years ago now, we used to catch stacks of them, around stranraer area, mostly portpatrick. we put the majority of them back but also kept a few as we all loved the taste of this very underated fish, you can sometimes still get it in colemans fishy in shields, i think it is marketed as sweet william or rock cod, i for one think its bloody lovelly, bit of a pain to skin but worth it!!!

 

[Pescod]

Sure,they can be a bit of a pain when you're targetting other species,but vermin they most certainly are not.They are a beautiful fish,and the most welcome of species in competitions,as when nothing else is biting,they are always happy to oblige.I used to regularly fish the open comp's on the west coast of Scotland,and was sickened by the sight of huge numbers of dogfish,
brought back to the weigh ins (often in pub car parks etc,well away from the sea) and unceremoniously tipped from sacks,blood all over the place,onto the deck,where they would jump around making those little grunting noises many
of you will be familiar with.They would be kicked into a pile,and after weighingwould be left,often in sweltering heat for an hour or so,while "anglers",would have a few pints and wax lyrical about their exploits.No one gave a toss about these unfortunate creatures,which had,ironically won them an often considerable sum of money,as they were to be used as "pot bait".I kicked off one day,telling the organiser he was a disgrace for allowing this wholesale slaughter,and collected as many live dogs as possible,put them into the back of my van(you could have heard a pin drop)and took them down to the sea and released them.I never went back to the "doggy comp's",and sent a letter of complaint to an angling publication to register my disgust.Not long after they started introducing a two dog limit over there,not because of guilt, but because of the sudden decline of numbers being caught.Be wary of denigrating the humble dogfish,as they may one day be the saviour of your day out fishing..

I always disagree with wanton wholesale slaughter of any species, but I stand by my view they are vermin, if they turn up in numbers they will swamp every other kind of fish your looking for, and if you've ever fished the west coast form Whitehaven up to north west Scotland you can only catch dogfish most of the time in summer months, the wholesale slaughter you've witnessed in pub car parks is testament to that.

 

[billynobaits]

Dogfish

Dogfish

I always disagree with wanton wholesale slaughter of any species, but I stand by my view they are vermin, if they turn up in numbers they will swamp every other kind of fish your looking for, and if you've ever fished the west coast form Whitehaven up to north west Scotland you can only catch dogfish most of the time in summer months, the wholesale slaughter you've witnessed in pub car parks is testament to that.

If you think these fish are vermin,well that's your opinion to which you are entitled,but your explanation regarding the West coast is blinkered and sadly misguided.The reason you catch little other than dogfish during the summer months,is while this fish is not considered commercially viable,it is'nt targeted as such,while other species,which are very much in demand,are absolutely hammered.Other species not being able to get to your bait because of ravenous dogfish,is quite frankly laughable.The other fish you're searching for,simply are'nt there in any numbers anyway,if at all.The dogfish have little competition for food,especially from the likes of rays and huss,as these are swept up without respite,by the Armada of commercials plundering the Irish sea.If you do not wish to be plagued by these so called nuisance fish,then do as i do and spin and floatfish for pollack or fish close in for conger or wrasse.The pollack are there in good numbers,and can be caught weighing in excess of 10 pounds,but only because the commercials are unable to reach them.I can remember fishing Balcary in it's heyday,and saw cod you rarely see outside of Norwegian and Icelandic waters today.These fish are but a distant memory ,but you can be assured the much maligned doggy had nothing to do with their disappearance.......

 

[Darnc]

Well said mate

 

[lambtonworm]

Sure,they can be a bit of a pain when you're targetting other species,but vermin they most certainly are not.They are a beautiful fish,and the most welcome of species in competitions,as when nothing else is biting,they are always happy to oblige.I used to regularly fish the open comp's on the west coast of Scotland,and was sickened by the sight of huge numbers of dogfish,
brought back to the weigh ins (often in pub car parks etc,well away from the sea) and unceremoniously tipped from sacks,blood all over the place,onto the deck,where they would jump around making those little grunting noises many
of you will be familiar with.They would be kicked into a pile,and after weighingwould be left,often in sweltering heat for an hour or so,while "anglers",would have a few pints and wax lyrical about their exploits.No one gave a toss about these unfortunate creatures,which had,ironically won them an often considerable sum of money,as they were to be used as "pot bait".I kicked off one day,telling the organiser he was a disgrace for allowing this wholesale slaughter,and collected as many live dogs as possible,put them into the back of my van(you could have heard a pin drop)and took them down to the sea and released them.I never went back to the "doggy comp's",and sent a letter of complaint to an angling publication to register my disgust.Not long after they started introducing a two dog limit over there,not because of guilt, but because of the sudden decline of numbers being caught.Be wary of denigrating the humble dogfish,as they may one day be the saviour of your day out fishing..

I will hold my hands up to be one of many guilty of the above offence,at the time in the early 80`s we believe there were that many dogs we couldnt effect the numbers over there,mainly lsd but should the spurs show which the did occasionally then they were met with the same fate,30 years on and a lot wiser you cannot understand how or why it was allowed to go on and let be honest having to carry 50lb of dogs over farmers fields etc was no fun either,great to see limited catches now which encourages targeting other species let face it there was no skill in launching heavy two hook flappers baited with rag/sandeel just a numbers game ...

 

[moocher]

If you think these fish are vermin,well that's your opinion to which you are entitled,but your explanation regarding the West coast is blinkered and sadly misguided.The reason you catch little other than dogfish during the summer months,is while this fish is not considered commercially viable,it is'nt targeted as such,while other species,which are very much in demand,are absolutely hammered.Other species not being able to get to your bait because of ravenous dogfish,is quite frankly laughable.The other fish you're searching for,simply are'nt there in any numbers anyway,if at all.The dogfish have little competition for food,especially from the likes of rays and huss,as these are swept up without respite,by the Armada of commercials plundering the Irish sea.If you do not wish to be plagued by these so called nuisance fish,then do as i do and spin and floatfish for pollack or fish close in for conger or wrasse.The pollack are there in good numbers,and can be caught weighing in excess of 10 pounds,but only because the commercials are unable to reach them.I can remember fishing Balcary in it's heyday,and saw cod you rarely see outside of Norwegian and Icelandic waters today.These fish are but a distant memory ,but you can be assured the much maligned doggy had nothing to do with their disappearance.......

Spot on

 

[billyturbot]

I will hold my hands up to be one of many guilty of the above offence,at the time in the early 80`s we believe there were that many dogs we couldnt effect the numbers over there,mainly lsd but should the spurs show which the did occasionally then they were met with the same fate,30 years on and a lot wiser you cannot understand how or why it was allowed to go on and let be honest having to carry 50lb of dogs over farmers fields etc was no fun either,great to see limited catches now which encourages targeting other species let face it there was no skill in launching heavy two hook flappers baited with rag/sandeel just a numbers game ...

There,s nothing wrong with admitting you were wrong,at least you can admit the fact

 

[billynobaits]

Back in the day

Back in the day

I will hold my hands up to be one of many guilty of the above offence,at the time in the early 80`s we believe there were that many dogs we couldnt effect the numbers over there,mainly lsd but should the spurs show which the did occasionally then they were met with the same fate,30 years on and a lot wiser you cannot understand how or why it was allowed to go on and let be honest having to carry 50lb of dogs over farmers fields etc was no fun either,great to see limited catches now which encourages targeting other species let face it there was no skill in launching heavy two hook flappers baited with rag/sandeel just a numbers game ...

Well said,and absolutely spot on,glad those days are gone.

 

[<(Andy2009)>]

No matter the species or the fact they can be pests when targeting other species, a fish is a fish in my opinion, and I would mind catching doggies anyday, there great sport and its nice to see there making more of an appearance on our coastline again .

You never know they may just help out adding those vital pounds in my club matches (gotta catch one first )

 

[Pescod]

If you think these fish are vermin,well that's your opinion to which you are entitled,but your explanation regarding the West coast is blinkered and sadly misguided.The reason you catch little other than dogfish during the summer months,is while this fish is not considered commercially viable,it is'nt targeted as such,while other species,which are very much in demand,are absolutely hammered.Other species not being able to get to your bait because of ravenous dogfish,is quite frankly laughable.The other fish you're searching for,simply are'nt there in any numbers anyway,if at all.The dogfish have little competition for food,especially from the likes of rays and huss,as these are swept up without respite,by the Armada of commercials plundering the Irish sea.If you do not wish to be plagued by these so called nuisance fish,then do as i do and spin and floatfish for pollack or fish close in for conger or wrasse.The pollack are there in good numbers,and can be caught weighing in excess of 10 pounds,but only because the commercials are unable to reach them.I can remember fishing Balcary in it's heyday,and saw cod you rarely see outside of Norwegian and Icelandic waters today.These fish are but a distant memory ,but you can be assured the much maligned doggy had nothing to do with their disappearance.......

Well Mr Nobaits, as for your explanation it's pure horsesh*te, I know a few commercial lads of on the west coast and they laughed when I showed them what you had said, next time your over fishing lets say Rascarral or Balcary etc, try fishing for Wrasse and see how many you come up with compared to dogfish, the lads I know from Port Patrick have totaly agreed with what I've said dogfish are a plague over there in the summer months.

 

[billyturbot]

well mr nobaits, as for your explanation it's pure horsesh*te, i know a few commercial lads of on the west coast and they laughed when i showed them what you had said, next time your over fishing lets say rascarral or balcary etc, try fishing for wrasse and see how many you come up with compared to dogfish, the lads i know from port patrick have totaly agreed with what i've said dogfish are a plague over there in the summer months.

dog wars now

 

[billynobaits]

Well Mr Nobaits, as for your explanation it's pure horsesh*te, I know a few commercial lads of on the west coast and they laughed when I showed them what you had said, next time your over fishing lets say Rascarral or Balcary etc, try fishing for Wrasse and see how many you come up with compared to dogfish, the lads I know from Port Patrick have totaly agreed with what I've said dogfish are a plague over there in the summer months.

Obviously it's horsesh--e in your esteemed opinion,because we disagree.I'm
surprised your commercial pals disagree with my opinion DUH! Oh, and no one fishes for wrasse around Balcary or Rascarrel, they have never inhabited this area,as they prefer deeper rockier ground further West....Ps is pure horse sh--e
the stuff without the bits of straw? Feel free to enthrall me with your acumen.

 

[Axe]

Great thread but lets not turn this into a WSF type fight guys...maybe take the dualing to PM?..you both got your point across after this it will just turn sour.....and for the original post...nice doggy's i hope i get a couple for my species card!