UNDERSIZED FISH:RIGHTOR WRONG?

[DaveMason]

I agree with Billy on this one , we are becoming a country of over regulation . The authorities cannot even protect the average citizen from burglars and muggers , what chance have they got to police thosands of miles of coastline day and night looking for tiddler killers .

The law only catches honest people by it\'s very nature . Anyone who has a permenant address and N.I number is easy to catch , it\'s the real hardcore who escapes completely .

On a more practical note , Correct me someone but I have have never heard of a fish stock being wiped out by pleasure anglers with rod and line yet . While the hand wringing goes on in the angling industry MILLIONS of tons of fish are hoverd up every year by the commercial boys , thats not to say we should not set an example Like

 

[Ell]

It\'s a shame that taking direct action is so dangerous as it\'s often the most effective method of challenging someones behaviour.

\"Hallow mate, catching I see, them\'s a bit small though, was that one size?\" next undersize fish may go back, maybe not .....
\"I normally only keep the big \'uns like\"
next one comes in .............
\"Why are you keeping that fish?\"

\"For the Cat\"

\"Do you realise it\'s actually illegal as well as doing no good to fish stocks, why are you actually here?\"
...............
\"Ouch, there was no need for that ........mind phoning me an ambulance, oh ok then I\'ll just see meself to hospital \"
(tha\'s me getting hit by the way, I do live in the real world sometimes)

There\'s nowt to say you can\'t have a little word with a few other anglers just to sound them out. If they\'re not interested in challenging someone then understandable (I probably wouldn\'t) if you get it together then it\'s maybe worth approaching someone on your tod knowing if it kicks off you\'ve got a bit of back up. I\'ve done it on The Ratty with great effect, no medals asked for but they won\'t be sent back. And the lads I spoke to begrudgingly accepted what I had to say. A bit less contentious than conservation issues as they were about to set a yacht on fire to keep warm

What I\'m saying is sometimes it\'s down to us to sort things out. Notice I am \"saying\" this and not necessarily \"doing\" it.

[Edited on 16/3/2004 by Ell]

 

[TC]

Mebbies not a medal, Ell.....but certainly worthy of an award, m8.....

Next time we see a tiddler hostage situation, call for the NESA Negotiator.

 

[Chris_Hughes]

I vote for Sheriff Elliot in charge of the pussy, sorry posse.

 

[DaveMason]

Tony,

Tell us again why none of your fish are deemed undersize after being , eerrmm \"Seen to \"?????????

 

[Ell]

How man! my heart was beating and my dander was up whilst posting what I thought was a contentious and serious post.

Reaping my sowing. Thanks for helping me to wind my neck in. I\'ll be back (muffled cries)

 

[Red5]

I believe there are a lot of people out there who are completely ignorant of the actual size limits of a lot of fish. I\'ve lost count of the amount of times I\'ve fished next to someone who doesn\'t know the minimum size of a coalie or who has left their tape measure at home so just assumes it\'s size. Everyone who goes out wether they are an experienced angler or a holiday maker just wanting to pass an hour or two should be aware of the National limits. Not having fished any further south than Amble I wouldn\'t know if there are posters on the piers that state size limits but there was always one at Boulmer on the Kilp House (where the fish were taken by the coble fishermen).

 

[Doc]

Like it or not rod licences for sea anglers are on the way, in fact they are imminent.

Regarding bag limits, a new byelaw dedicated to protect bass stocks in the NESFC district (Tyne to the Humber) will place a bag limit on anglers of 2 bass per day. This byelaw is likely to go on the statute books this year. So bag limits are also imminent.

 

[micky-quayle]

don\'t really know if rod licences for sea fishing would be a good thing. the rod licence money collected by the ea from rod licences is put to good use much of the time but in all my time piking i have never once had my rod licence checked. however when they do check licences they prosecute for very minor transgressions. many pikers like to fish three rods so buy two rod licences to enable them to do so. now the best setup when fishing three rods is to fish them on banksticks spaced about 4 or 5 meters apart, this helps prevent a fish being played crashing through your other lines and maybe getting tangled and lost with a trace still in its mouth, the ea however stipulate that the rod buts must be no further than 3 meters apart and prosecute over even a few cms, granted no one wants to see rods spaced 30 meters apart, for the fishes sake but common sense seems to take a back seat. the ea have also in there wisdom banned the use of all fresh water lives and deads on many lake district waters even if the bait fish in question were caught from that water, now in those circumstances there would be no risk of either translocation of either species or disease. i\'m afraid if rod licences were brought in for sea angling there would be many many rules to follow, most probably for the good but undoubtedly judging by there track record some stupid and misconstrued ones too. anyway it would be hard to implement due to the wording of the magna carta, i can\'t remember the exact wording but it goes something like this, anything which is ancillary to fishing may be taken from the foreshore beyond the mean low water mark i\'m sure someone will correct me if i\'m wrong. i believe there is also other statements in the magna carta which reffer to fishing and would make the introduction of licences difficult.