Mogthemackem
Well-known member
I stick rigidly to the size limits but it all seems a bit random to me... If you catch one cod at 30cms and put it back, then catch two at 40cms and keep them to eat, how does that help cod stocks?... Cod don't lay eggs till they're about 7lb or something..
Just a little update for you bud. I read some reasearch done which states cod now lay eggs at about 3 or 4 pounds. This could be an evoluntionary thing due to over fishing. Suppose they want to get their leg over before they're strung up in a net?? Dabs at 20cm are se through and have no meat on them so that's one of the most bizzarre sizings but suppose they don't grow a great deal more so what can be done? I agree with you Jim that, as most know, I've worked with literally hundreds of kids and only ones which fish regularly (which has been minute proportion) know about legal sizes. Eyebrows are certainly raised when they realise they could be fined for taking infant fish home although most of them want to do it as a trophy. Tbh I advise most sized fish to go back when caught through the project apart from Mackerel. Only literally a handful of fish have been taken home and they have been well oversize out of around 900 kids fished.
More education is needed which includes prosecution guidance but needs to be more mainstream than just those who are very knowledgeable in fishing
