Rumours that Government is to Reopen Commercial Bass Fishing

[uvox]

I've heard this from two sources now - one reliable one in the angling press, and one from inside Leinster House, that this is being explored.

You will need to follow up with your respective clubs and representatives to establish whether this is or is not a runner, but it is serious.

[padge73]

I just heard from a reliable source that there is a lobby to re open the bass fisherie to commercila boats. I was wondering if anyone else had heard anything about this disasterous news!

[eric]

rediculus news, surely they wouldn't considerer it, the fisheries are not at the stage of recovery that warrants commercial activity. i would fight this all the way to the death

[steveoel]

Please tell me this is some sort of a sick joke!
true anglers are abiding the bass laws and trying to let the stocks grow of this wonderful species and all that hard work could be undone in one strike of a pen!!!!!
This is madness.


Steve

[steveoel]

There is another post about same issue
madness!!!
Steve

viewtopic.php?f=12&t=21490

[Bradan]

Do yourself and the rest of us a favour and give up making idle threats, they only undermine the angling side of the argument. Instead why don't you do something constructive and write to your local TDs stating your opposition to any such proposal and why it is a bad idea, guaranteed you'll get a lot more politicians listening to you when your vote is at stake .

[I edited this as reference was made to a post I removed-JD]

[JimH]

The commercial lobbyists are a strong united powerful and cohesive force that constantly tease at the commercial restrictions pertaining to bass fishing. This is done not only in Ireland or the UK but at European level at EVERY opportunity that is presented to them. This type of message rings out at this time every year but only since the change in the necessity to ‘re-invoke’ the commercial ban every year has it taken on a new note or variation. It may keep us on our toes for a while but soon disappears over the horizon – most of us forget about it, while this group never takes its eye off the ball and invents and re-invents new strategies to appeal to politicians. They get closer and closer

Having attempted to make a living from bass guiding in this country for the past seven years, approaching the month of may was always a nervous time as the bye laws needed to be re-considered by the relevant minister, I mean how could you forward plan your business if your resource could be destroyed in a very short space of time? A double whammy a national resource that you hope are carefully exploiting by been sustainable coupled to something that you loved doing could be destroyed in a flash. And not only for you but for thousands of others too. May was always met with a sigh of relief.

So its no different this year – the rumours will start and hopefully go away as nothing but rumours, the illegal fishing will continue, and as I have worked very hard this year to sell an angling experience to people from Denmark, Italy, France, Ireland, America, Holland, England and Spain - whom will leave thousands of euros in the local Wexford economy, come the year end I will submit my numbers as I have always done in the hope that this information is in some way a preparation for some war chest to counter the lobbyists.

Because I’m afraid some day it may well happen – how well prepared in hard facts and figures will anglers and other organisations be on that day, how strongly united, cohesively proactive and energised will they be, to stand up and protect what is a national resource and not just the imagined property of a reckless few?

Doing it on that day will be too late!

[captain AHAB]

BRADAN you stick to writing to these corrupt politicians and see where it gets you,we will do things our way as we always have and while your getting the standard responses and thinking your actually having an effect we WILL be having an effect.where would greenpeace or the likes be if they just had idiots writing letters,they take action and actions speak louder than words.

[Stan]

I think that this might be just a rumour. The inshore fishermen in Ardmore can no longer use nets and I imagine that this is the same all around the coast. As Irish bass are by-and-large and inshore fish this would give them some protection.
Given that the bass population is just recovering from the previous slaughter it would be a shame if this were true.

[oneillphil]

As far a i can see there are still plenty of anglers who know nothing about a ban and are still fishing for Bass anyway

[Bradan]

BRADAN you stick to writing to these corrupt politicians and see where it gets you,we will do things our way as we always have and while your getting the standard responses and thinking your actually having an effect we WILL be having an effect.where would greenpeace or the likes be if they just had idiots writing letters,they take action and actions speak louder than words.

Your original post was a disgrace and correctly removed. Inciting violence is not going to get us anywhere. The only thing politicians care about is their career and staying elected. If we make it clear to them that rescinding the ban would result in a loss of votes, and stress how many anglers would be annoyed enough to do that, then they will listen. Making silly threats of violence is totally counterproductive.

[captain AHAB]

you are ill informed again Bradan,all inshore boats are fully entitled to use nets once its listed on their license.

[Bradan]

you are ill informed again Bradan,all inshore boats are fully entitled to use nets once its listed on their license.

I think you meant to reply to Stan, as I mentioned nothing about nets.

[WrasseBasher]

saucer of milk for table nine put the claws away ladies

[croppyboy]

heres one to start an argument whats the point of a 1mth ban anyway. i have had bass in april full of roe. surley if a ban is to work it should be from march - july . im neither for nor against this im just putting it out there as weve all seen the pic from cashen with a bass in the net

[jd]

Can we stay on topic- this is about the possible re-opening of a commercial bass fishery

[captain AHAB]

sincerest apologies bradan twas stans post i was responding to,also agree with croppyboy and i think the size limit is ridiculous.i`d be in favour of banning the keeping of fish over 50cm as smaller fish are very abundant and most probably wont make breeding size anyway.

[Ashley Hayden]

Again, for want of repeating myself re croppyboys new post, there is no ban on Bass fishing in Ireland. It is a conservation measure that is most definitely working. Without it beach anglers might just as well give up the ghost. As I suggested to Croppyboy, go to your clubs and affiliate bodies instead of jumping on each other here, and develop a strategy to further enhance the measure and keep it in place.

Regards...

[oneillphil]

Just a correction on what Ashley said above, there is a ban on Bass fishing and even
attempting to fish for Bass, so I guess if you are on a Bass mark they could take the view
that’s what you are doing regardless and enforce it.
the wording from the Bass FISHING CONSERVATION BYE-LAW NO. 826 OF 2007 is below.

"It is hereby prohibited to fish or attempt to fish for Bass with any rod, line
or weir during the period commencing on 15 May to 15 June each and every year."

[Ashley Hayden]

I am not going to debate wording on this site, this topic is way bigger then that. Bass are protected under a conservation measure adopted in 1990 to build up stocks. Recreational anglers have benefited from this to the point where today Bass are the main target species certainly on the east and south coasts. Twenty years ago Codling and Plaice would have filled this role.

Ireland is unique in Europe in that a white fish species is protected commercially. Anglers should embrace this fact and develop a lobby through their associations and clubs to designate Bass a sport fish. Using words like Ban and "they" in terms of enforcement are misguided and show a sense of removal from the real issue. Bass stocks belong to the nation. We all have a duty of care, therefore all recreational anglers are protectors and enforcers. It is too easy to abdicate responsibility.

Bass are subject to a close season. There is not a Salmon Ban or a Halibut Ban or a Steelhead Ban in Canada or Alaska. These countries have a closed season. It is about time that we grew up and recognised that we have a responsibility for our own resources. Recreational anglers have an opportunity to improve their sport only when they embrace this fact and come together, instead of debating wording, and who does what, on sites like this.

Regards...