I think they just don't have a clue about sea fishing. I used to be the same, I'm French, had done a lot of coarse fishing as a kid in France. The first time I went fishing at sea I went to Dunmore, caught a few mackerels then a funny big-eyed fish just under a foot long. I asked an old guy beside me what it was, he said "pollack", and with a kind of worried look: "it's a bit small"... so I out it back and looked up pollack in the dictionnary. I know better know, but I've seen Czech lads asking for the rocklings I put back (some smell in the kitchen!) and tried to tell them to release the small pollack, but they think I'm only taking the piss. I've seen "Don't kill bass" signs popping up around the coast, perhaps they could pictures of fish with minimum sizes as well. Again I'd say most of them are used to catch roaches or small carps for the pan on the continent, a mackerel looks like a big fish to them!
Both Jim and jd have top class ideas and I for one would be more than happy to give up some of time to put signs, give out leaflets whatever it maybe to ensure to future of our sport. Imagine being only able to tell your kids about fishing and not actually torture them by dragging them along!!!
I agree with Shane etc but rather than getting leaflets printed up, it'd be handier I think if we had a document we could download and print (logistics of getting them from the printers to each angler interested in distributing them etc). It wouldn't kill anyone to print off a dozen to hand in to their local tackle shop and ask that they display one prominently.
I think an angling code of conduct is a must. It should include some information on what constitutes a reasonable size limit (and if necessary for certain species, a bag limit).
Since it appears to be unlikely that such a code is going to come from the top, we're probably looking at developing one ourselves.
I can only suppose that as mentioned previously, education has to be a first step. I'd suggest a list of common shore caught species likely to be caught by anglers. Forget all the latin names, a colour picture for identification, a season when they're available, if applicable, distribution, recommended bait/tackle/hook size, info on the typical and maximum sizes, a minimum take size and if necessary recommended bag limit.
I (my personal opinion) feel that a minimum take size of 25cm for flatfish and 40cm for round fish would be reasonable. I'd like to see feathering banned from the shore - I feel there is no need for it. If the mackerel are in you can easily take enough to do you with a spinner - since mackerel die if touched, the notion of catch and release is not applicable. A shore take limit of a dozen ought to be enough for any angler. A footnote on species like salmon, sea trout and bass pointing out that there are legal restrictions on these species and detailling that should about cover it.
Having the whole document translated into the most common languages would be a definite plus. I'm not so sure about trying to put info on coarse species into the same document due to the size it would end up.
At least if we had a recognised code of conduct we could approach the powers that be and ask that our recommendations be written into law. It'd be a start.....
Signs or posters would be the best way to reach the most amount of anglers. However signs or posters raise the scenario of requiring planning permission for their errection. Therefore a pamphlet would appear to be the next best method?
I would agree that regulations could be useful but it is clear that the political will is not there to protect our stocks, it's not a priority for politicans. We are left to do something ourselves.
Downloading and printing is a good idea. Especially in conjunction with a "professional" looking document.
Ian,
I didn't want to mention you in my original post but knew you'd come up with something!!
Have you any angling contacts on that side that are involved with the Polish organisation?
I've just finished reading the two pages of this thread. It all sounds very good and positive and I wish you all well with it. I am going to stand back from participating however because I am already putting some work into the IBPAG (Irish Bass Protection & Awareness Group) that Jim Hendrick setup a couple of months ago.
Again the best of luck and you are all absolutely spot on when you say that the only people going to protect our amazing sport is US
Regards,
John D
Protect the magical sport of sea angling and spread the word that conservation is the way forward. Put fish back!!!!
Just been catching up on the threads after being away for a week.
Being an all rounder, I can tell you that there is a huge issue with non-nationals taking fish on the coarse scene. It seems like a good idea to put together a leaflet "asking" that people put back under sized fish, suggesting size limits and such.
I can tell you that this has been tried in coarse fishing. The guys are just ignoring these signs as it is not illegal to keep small coarse fish. Even regarding Pike, where there is a law it is being disregarded and pike are being Poached from lakes and rivers all across the country by non-national anglers.
I think that this is just beginning to become a sea angling issue as these people are not used to fishing in the sea and have only started to try their hand to it. I can tell you that this issue will grow and grow until it get Violent, as it has in some instances in coarse angling.
Introducing legislation will do nothing in my opinion, as our fisheries boards are not in a position to enforced any of our existing laws as they are massively under resourced. Just think about all the illegal Bass netting we hear about at the moment and nothing is been done about it.
Some of the tackle shops in Ireland are already handing out leaflets in other languages and it is having no effect. We need some laws, and more importantly we need them enforced. The only way will will get this, is as anglers we will have to pay a license fee. This fee will help fund the much needed resources to police our beaches, rivers and lakes.
Print all the leaflets you like, in my opinion we need to make this an election issue with our local TD's, especially as they are more likely to be focused on such issues with an impending election.
Sorry to be cynical, but I feel that we will have to witness even further decline of our sport before we will get any action. There was a time when angling tourism was important to this economy of ours. Not now, is these Celtic tiger times. I think we will have to witness near total failure of angling tourism before things start to register with our politicians.
