"Before we all get too heated about hook sizes and types, targetting small fish (as in juveniles of species which would grow into larger specimens, given a chance) etc, I think we all should go have a read of these.....
http://www.worldseafishing.com/shore/in ... cies.shtml
http://www.worldseafishing.com/adventur ... isce.shtml
As you'll note, there are, even in these days of reduced fish numbers and sizes (which is not the fault of anglers, btw) plenty of mini-species (most of whom do not grow over 6"" in length at maturity) which can be targetted from the shore with appropriate gear.
I personally see no harm in targetting these mini-species and it's a large part of continental shore angling, I gather.
What I would endorse, as a number of posters on this thread have correctly pointed out, is the use of suitable hooks, rigs, line, rods etc, when targetting them, coupled with careful catch and relese methods - wet hands, minimal handling, use of a soft WET woven landing net (word on the street is that Roger Baker washes his in fabric softener - seriously).
As regards scaling down tackle to actively target whiting, coalie, flounder, plaice, dab etc, I personally try to keep my hook size up a bit, to try to avoid catching anything under 20cm and ideally 25cm, so I'm at least trying to stay above the commercial landing sizes for most of the fish that form the bulk of the winter shore match fishing 'diet'. I'll always get beaten by lads using smaller hooks, but so what....'tis only a bit of fun at the end of the day.
Whether targetting mini species floats your boat or not is a matter of personal preference, but lets all try to avoid getting laid into each other. It's not nice and it doesn't do angling any favours. We have a wealth of talent posting here, so let's learn from it rather than question it's credentials.
I do like to chase something that'll put a bend in my beachcaster but maybe, with the way things are going and given that mini-species are plentiful and not under commercial pressure, they might be the way to go....
Now, let's have some constructive debate about that...."
There's no shame in tiddler bashing, is there?
Moderator: donal domeney
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Rockhopper
Very well said Peter, and if I may add for the second time, catch and release is legal, then its only a matter of opinion not law...right or wrong.
Liam,
You say your "proactive" and the lads are making what your trying to do harder, would you mind if I ask what is it you do, or what is it your doing, with regard to our sport....I'm sure we would all like to know?
Speaking as one who earns his living from the recreational tackle industry I like many others have its best interests at heart.
Pat,
Your post came up as mine was being written....this part is an edit addressing your links, not knocking you for showing them, but just trying to point out one major fact about articles like the ones written by Mike Thrussel and other angling journalists.
First and foremost, they are very lucky, like I am, to get paid to practice their passion...he mentions getting his target of 30 different species in one year....he get most if not all of his expenses paid by either the magazine or his sponsorship, like me tackle will cost him next to nothing, trips abroad will all be paid for......easy peasy to get a target of 30 species if that's all it takes :lol: :lol: This thread IMHO is more about the rank and file anglers who work most of the week, have families that must come first and any time left will be spent getting bait and fishing, sometimes they will only have a couple of hours to spare....so its off to the nearest venue, to catch what they caught last time...under size fish, but that doesn't put them off...they live in hope, that the next trip will give them a fish to remember....that's the real world of most of the members of this forum as far as I know it....I talk to enough anglers all over to know its the same almost everywhere....if I sound defensive then its possibly because 10 years ago I thought it couldn't get worse...but it has....I don't know the answer, wish I did 8)
Tom.
Liam,
You say your "proactive" and the lads are making what your trying to do harder, would you mind if I ask what is it you do, or what is it your doing, with regard to our sport....I'm sure we would all like to know?
Speaking as one who earns his living from the recreational tackle industry I like many others have its best interests at heart.
Pat,
Your post came up as mine was being written....this part is an edit addressing your links, not knocking you for showing them, but just trying to point out one major fact about articles like the ones written by Mike Thrussel and other angling journalists.
First and foremost, they are very lucky, like I am, to get paid to practice their passion...he mentions getting his target of 30 different species in one year....he get most if not all of his expenses paid by either the magazine or his sponsorship, like me tackle will cost him next to nothing, trips abroad will all be paid for......easy peasy to get a target of 30 species if that's all it takes :lol: :lol: This thread IMHO is more about the rank and file anglers who work most of the week, have families that must come first and any time left will be spent getting bait and fishing, sometimes they will only have a couple of hours to spare....so its off to the nearest venue, to catch what they caught last time...under size fish, but that doesn't put them off...they live in hope, that the next trip will give them a fish to remember....that's the real world of most of the members of this forum as far as I know it....I talk to enough anglers all over to know its the same almost everywhere....if I sound defensive then its possibly because 10 years ago I thought it couldn't get worse...but it has....I don't know the answer, wish I did 8)
Tom.
Last edited by Rockhopper on Tue Jun 06, 2006 11:23 pm, edited 2 times in total.
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col
- SAI Sea Dog!
- Posts: 476
- Joined: Sun Jun 05, 2005 12:53 pm
Ok, this is my last post here. Unfortunately I'm not great in putting accross properly what I mean with a keyboard but here....
Personaly I don't specifically target juvenile fish,(use 1/0 hooks,v.v rarely go lower but if desperate), however I often catch them, its whats there, I return each day in the hope of a change and amazingly that came around today and I landed my best ever fish from my home county :D :shock:
The light gear I bought, not arrived yet, wasn't bought with the idea of getting sport from smaller fish at all, but for travelling with (collapses to 12" 8) )( search shimano mini here and that will show u y I want it)
Still tought Eoghan was treated a bit unfairly, all have their own opinion and anyone actually making an effort to improve fish matters here deserves respect.
Its because of the continious and blatent mistreatment of our sea, especially the Irish sea, we are left with such small fish and its not all the commercials fault either.
Enjoy your fishing and just being by the sea this summer all, muchos respect! 8)
col
Personaly I don't specifically target juvenile fish,(use 1/0 hooks,v.v rarely go lower but if desperate), however I often catch them, its whats there, I return each day in the hope of a change and amazingly that came around today and I landed my best ever fish from my home county :D :shock:
The light gear I bought, not arrived yet, wasn't bought with the idea of getting sport from smaller fish at all, but for travelling with (collapses to 12" 8) )( search shimano mini here and that will show u y I want it)
Still tought Eoghan was treated a bit unfairly, all have their own opinion and anyone actually making an effort to improve fish matters here deserves respect.
Its because of the continious and blatent mistreatment of our sea, especially the Irish sea, we are left with such small fish and its not all the commercials fault either.
Enjoy your fishing and just being by the sea this summer all, muchos respect! 8)
col