H.A.

I'm sure you're right. Call it SE England/E Anglia, if you like, who've apparently done well. In past 'good' cod seasons, we've done well here in S. Central and The Solent. But not this winter.

Wonderful as you can tell from my totals .... 2007 - 41 codling (biggest just over 3) ... 31 returned, hopefully undamaged. 2008 - 8 codling .. 2 at 4lbs; 1 at 6 1/2. 5 returned as new year class again. I guess the mag headline and some of the SE commentaries/catches, mean the Sec of State will open the flood gates to our commercial brothers once again.

Hi again .... I wrote you a reply to that and it seems to have got lost! The guy at Pagham YC to get hold of is Chris Lovell. I'm about to suggest him some dates for a couple of practical sessions on the beach there in late April/May. Ooops, sorry, didn't realise you have two threads running! Ada

I sympathise! I gave a talk at Pagham Yacht Club a month ago and I've promised 'the management' that I'd do some practical stuff on the beach (evenings) in April/May. You might like to contact Chris Lovell at the Yacht Club.

Another fine mess editorial you got us into!

Game? Trout and Salmon purists? I thought they perceived themselves as different from us simple folks? Apparently, they don't phart like we do!

It'd be nice and glib of me to say I'm with Ronald from Essex on this one ... or something similarly silly. Those of us who have fished for coarse fish, know that the majority of returned fish do survive. But that leads us into a dilemma when we catch flatties which are deep-hooked and I always kill those (in size limit) which have done that. And the deep-water, wreck-fish like pollack and cod which do get the 'bends' etc. Fish like bream, bass, rays and smuts are 'hardy' and 90% or more swim away. I sympathise with Steviecops, who wants no regulation (is that right, Steve?) ... but bag limits and Min/Max sizes will come in eventually. We're very susceptible to public awareness when popular 'celebrities', who know 'koof all' start making statements like that. Given the politicising of fishing, I'm beginning to come down on the side of COMMONSENSE . Is that still allowed????

Everything will be regulated. That's what Governments and Civvy Servants are for. Without it, the UK would have 15 millions unemployed. One of my mate's favourite expression is - "That's life .... can't change it." I actually think you can influence/moderate regulationism. That's what gets me about the apathetic anglers in this country - "We don't want no regulation ... just another brick in the wall."

You cheeky sod. Have you tried putting pollack back in 200' of water. My actions that day, never to be voluntarily repeated, were purely the whim of the Skipper who said that the anglers, on the day, wanted drift after drift over pollack wrecks. I vote with my feet.

You fellahs are so 'touchy', I'm not sure if that is a criticism aimed at me? I don't set any bag limits, but I never keep more than I need (and I don't sell). Personally, I was put off southern England wrecking, when I had to take 140lbs of pollack fillets out of Lymington .... when I'd much rather have fished with that skipper for a mixture of 2 or 3 of each species we could lock horns with. (I gave the whole lot to an old folks home in Eastleigh. 2 dustbin bags full) I've never been wrecking since. I don't intend to influence others' opinions, but I'm upset by pictures of so-called 'Charter Boats' who specialise in mass catches over a long trip ... Whitby springs to mind; as does Weymouth (Channel trips etc). I like to eat fish; but do you really need to put 50 kilos each in a freezer .... many of which are still there?? Bag limits are coming ... GOOD! Otherwise localised 'impact' and commercial brothers' concerns WILL bring in quotas/regulation and closed fisheries.

There are loadsa ways to catch mackerel. I guess that if you want dinner on a plate, then the 'feather-type' lures and 5oz of lead will do you. Much more fun on a float from the piers/harbour walls. I use a carp rod (2 1/2lb tc) ... When they're 'boiling' up the beaches, try the 'controller-style' float rig ..... Controller floats are fished like this ....

i'm not sure I've followed this 'Fred', but I have fished out of Poole and Littlehampton for bream. The Skip makes it clear before you leave that there is a four bream keep rule. You take it or leave it. Are the blokes from Whitby (for example), so poor that they must take 100lbs of fillets home to sustain their families ... why do I think they measure greed v necessity on the wrong side of 5/10? I'm inclined toward bag limits for non-sellers.

So that includes you then, Newd? How are your Blues doing? I guess there's a wait, which is when you turn 'moody', eh? Actually there are two separate runs of bluefish. The first comes from the Delaware and Chesapeake Bay in late October to mid-November. The second comes a little later as northern bluefish (slightly bigger than their Chesapeake cousins) move down the coast from their New England summer. When conditions are right, these fish will chase anything and everything in their path up onto the beach leaving thousands of their prey stranded on the sand. They will churn the water red with their feeding frenzy. Aren't they naughty compared to coddies and Ytings?

Before moving to Hayling, I was at 6 Nyetimber Close! Went to school at the old Bognor Regis Grammar (now part of the Community School). Try and PM me for my email. Ada

" .... but I'm also not "enthusiastic and energetic" ... Que'?

Hi Fresh Fish Your PM address doesn't work. Have you registered with the forum? I'm pleased to offer what I know about Pagham. Yep, that's Pagham alright .... I'm also involved with Pagham Yacht Club on a fishing course they want for their youngsters; I've already done a Friday night talk there to a group of youngsters and interested older anglers. I used to live in Nyetimber, but now am on the seafront at Hayling Island. If you'd like the Sea Angler/TSF articles I've written about the Pagham/Selsey venues, I'm only too pleased to send you. I think the Selsey one is here (minus most of the pics) ... http://www.total-fishing.co.uk/Fisheries.a...a&ID=selsey Kind regards Ada

OK, so I've lost it ... do anglers fish for fish or lobsters? WSF (political bits) has lost its way because of commercial lads involvement. I have no concept of the RSA who catches and sells lobsters and crabs? What have I missed? Gimmee a bow and arrow any day.

I'm not sure whether to - pay up and join AT (I was a reluctant member of NFSA for reasons which I won't disclose); vote Steviecops in as MEP; go to the 'dark side' or just turn my back (I'll make sure Ron isn't behind me). To be honest and knowing what the civil service and its European zealots get up to, I think I'll go with Mark and Stuart etc(?). Only because I know we'll be filling in more forms than policemen and NFFO members, if we don't. The silly idea that we won't be regulated if we stick heads in sand is a risky business. Steve makes me laugh though ... it was all Leon's fault! Luckily NOTHING has happened yet .... in fact nothing will happen with our approval unless we are involved in the decision making processes.

Foot Disease Mouth ... re-arrange into a well-known saying, with free use of a couple of conjunctions. I never talk down to friends or other anglers; but wake up and fight the bureaucracy. You have no idea how it works or you wouldn't spend so much time codling each other. PS ... they don't wear SUITS anymore! Maybe that's why you don't recognise the civil servants. They mostly look like this and know nothin'. They're from Bartholona (wherever that is?). Use 'em; don't blame them. Most buy a lottery ticket each week.

The Law is not terribly good unless a dictator manages it, OR the democratic Magistrates are 'kept in the dark/or well-informed' ...'by those who know'. I'm aware of long antagonism between certain political animals on these forums. I'm afraid the levels of the managing bureaucracy are streets ahead of you. You talk suits and pensions, OK. You are very silly, naive and at 1st base. If you are truly a 'peer group', who will be more and more regulated and taxed, then you must be prepared to get or be organised and be professional in your negotiations. You have zero control and hang on, having most of that left. It's hard to make positive statements of policy or even less, demands, when you refuse to participate or negotiate. So, what do you do? Some of you do a do-do on each other! You back off in the classic General Percival manner. (See Singapore) We don't need more regulation. So, we back off and back off and back off and are suspicious about the way we are becoming organised. Meet them at every opportunity and formulate YOUR agendas. Stop bloody whining .. it's gonna happen anyway. If Steve doesn't stop whining soon, I'll be forced to support him (despite his sorta views) for a representative. Otherwise be a tad more constructive, OK?

Not another war for us 'soft southerners', I hope. Their (thems) reactions to catching a cod or bass ('scoff' or 'bung it') can be very different to us. I may become 'Catholic' and return later or even later than that? I can be re-located to Bermuda or Baja (without opposition but with some beer money) for the duration, if it becomes sensitive in any way? Ada Write me at ... #10 Wadomari St Okino Erabu Kagoshima JP I have one trap out tonight .... I only want a Spiny Lobster and some whelk thingies to eat. The way to go; I tell yer!

Netted by how/what, do you think? I'd like details, how I can do it? I want to help the starvin' millions ... (I'm as hungry as a 'Third-Worlder', but certainly their need is greater than mine) So SUPPORT YOUR LOCAL ... whatever he is.

Can you try to elaborate on that bit, Steve? Walk away and all will be well? The political processes related to regulation will then also go away? And we all live happily ever after?

I don't need to look them up, Steve. Each day you whinge about one or the other. PS Elton is that an EVO 1? How do your 'piles' handle that?

Budd's Farm Sewage works used to pump treated sewage into Langstone Harbour. The ragworm beds were second to none. Pompey treated sewage is now taken by pipe some 4km out into the E Solent. Sod all bait and flounders left in the harbour!