Pugs

FasterFox does all the performance mods for you. Check it out on the FF extensions

heres a good article

Ah, but Stavey there are loads of baby Bass (survivors!) so it stands to reason that there will be loads of big bass (hello) in the future without the commercials having to look after anything in their industry apart from me me. Just look at the Cod ha ha ha. They live with tunnel vision mate. Don't give sweet FA to any sort of conservation. Hope their grand kids aren't going in to their industry. They'll have their fore fathers to blame for nowt to catch.....

That is a bit harsh DelJ. How is Sam supposed to know the 'membership chap' is away on holiday and as you can't get on the BASS forums this is a reasonable place to ask as there are other BASS members here. Sam: I think its about 2 or 3 weeks.

not if they are sold on without a licence, r u admitting to something here ??

You are, if you do not have a licence. Just a heads up....

I raised it, as the response I recieved from DEFRA suggested that a licence is most certainly an option. How many people actually know that????

This is the response... Thank you for your e-mail regarding Recreational Sea Angling (RSA) and the recent announcement on the plans to increase the landing size for bass from 36-40cm. The decision was reached on the basis of an evaluation of the costs and benefits of various options, which are set out in detail in the Regulatory Impact Assessment (RIA) at http://www.defra.gov.uk/corporate/consult/bass-mls/full-ria.pdf. In summary, the benefits are that the increase to 40cm will bring the minimum landing size closer to the average spawning size for bass and so will protect more juvenile fish. As a result, there would be enhanced recruitment to the spawning stock. The availability of larger bass to the recreational sector could increase anglers' interest in the stock and increase the economic contribution of recreational sea angling to the UK economy. The Minister has also announced the intention to increase the landing size further to 45cm, but this will be subject to a review in 2010, of the effectiveness of the measures. We will be gathering evidence on the impact the measures have on the stocks of bass, and the impact on both commercial and recreational fishermen to inform this decision. An RSA licence is only one measure that we will be considering as part of a wider package of measures being considered by Defra in relation to sea angling, and before taking forward any new proposals on licensing, we would consult widely. Work is currently underway with anglers, commercial fishermen and other interested parties on the drafting of a recreational sea angling strategy for England, and provisions are being considered for the Marine Bill in relation to sea angling. A strategy may include elements such as links with inshore fisheries management, management of key stocks of interest to anglers, improving access, controls on anglers, as well as other RSA development opportunities. Regarding your enforcement concerns on nursery areas, I have passed your e-mail to the local Marine Fisheries Agency team for their attention.

Well Leon i found this on another forum "i had an interesting phone call off a friend of mine who works at the enviroment agency and he was telling me that from April 07 or April 08 depending on how things go with the big movers and shakers that a new rod licence for sea anglers is going to be introduced costing £32." and its not pointless, as before you know it (this government) could have introduced a licence, better to be prepared than sitting around doing squat diddle dee!

Had the BMP been implemented in it's entirety and a 'golden mile' been established and a proactive approach to such illegal activities as netting etc taken place, artificial reefs and marine reserves established then yes I would happily pay for a sea angling licence. But the way the government 'jacked' out of the BMP and local authorities turning a blind eye to illegal netting, the complete lack of quality fish in our inshore waters, then they can ram any licence where the sun doesn't shine. I'm not going to pay a licence fee when there is no decent sport to be had! mods: can you set up a poll?

Stavey I forgot to tell you when I was down there the same day there was a small inshore trawler about at most 400 mtrs of the low water mark under the seven sisters. Not sure if this was legal or not but surely it isn't? That is a nursery area! Think this trawler is one that is allways around the entrance or not far from it, bleedin commercials. Any way I've written to mr bradprat naming this mark as one that is 'abused'.

My Dogue De Bordeaux likes (or did) pussy cats for dinner ;-) On a seroius note, look at what they do to local garden wildlife. I had Blue Tits fledge in my garden only to see the whole lot eradicated by a bleedin cat. A .410 springs to mind....

Best bet is to eradicate cats, then they wouldn't be having tuna for supper, thus saving fish stocks

Hello mate, went down last Friday but nothing in the sea and the river was pretty quite (has been all year!). Massive tide though and did see fish up the little side creeks just down from the entrance, whatever species, they were there to get out of the current. I'm off next Friday 25th, if you want to meet up or maybe this Saturday? Got a Goldie in Ireland of 3lb and it fought really really well. Even jumped clear of the water! Pugs

Well Steve, it's not particulary well composed and it names my local nursery mark as an example of 'real world' (told him he needs to get in it too) illegal fishing from trawlers under the cover of fog, darkness, or when most people are tucked up in bed, in that particular area. No wonder I haven't seen many bass in that so called nursery area this year!!!!!

Just wrote a scathing email to Defra

This government is an absolute waste of time and Mr Bradshaw is a cop out. Livid with the descision They can go and ram any sea angling licence where the sun don't shine. No way would I pay for one and fish for sweet FA left in our waters..... As for charter boats and other angling organisations voting for doing sweet fa, well what can you say? [several small edits made to this post - John S]

Guys, I think I'm going to have to agree with what some of our friends have said. If we manage our stocks, only for our bass to be 'scooped up' by waiting french trawlers, then we all need to be very very worried. Working together may be the best option. I could just see this scenerio, picture the french rubbing their hands together and knowing full well where the best future stocks will come from. Back to square one! Just my two pennies worth and NO I'm not an expert, just concerned.

You don't need a firearm for that contraption. To define a firearm.... "A firearm is a kinetic energy weapon that fires either a single or multiple projectiles propelled at high velocity by the gases produced by action of the rapid confined burning of a propellant. This process of rapid burning is technically known as deflagration." But, that doesn't cover an air rifle that is over 12 lbs foot as obviously the pellet is propelled by compression and not by rapid confined burning of a propellant i.e. the cartridge case holding the powder. I think the manufacturers would have looked in to the classification of a firearms, well before bringing it out on the market. I can't see why it wouldn't be safe to use in 'safe hands' but can you imagine a bunch of idiots on a crowded pier using it I'd give it a go. Could do with blasting out to 300 yards at some of my marks

I agree Ollie, this is what happened last year and beforev you know it the season is over. C'mon guys lets sort this out and get a record Mullet (their in there).

Interesting responses, I agree that probably weedy or marks with large boulders etc would be ideal, but if they've been caught of Sussex beaches on poppers I'll keep trying

Just wondering if anyone has actually caught a Bass on surface plugs (poppers etc) around Sussex? I keep trying but I'm not sure whether we have the right 'environment' around here. Any theories?

The Mackies have made their first appearance at the marina and large launces have been caught. Summer species are arriving here in Sussex

Dudes, any hounds turning up yet? I did hear of a couple that had been caught at Brighton, nothing big.

Just been on the phone to all the local tackle shops from Eastbourne to Brighton and not one has said it is worth going out at the moment They all said that the season is late and not worth the effort! Has anyone actually caught anything besides a cold recently? Anyone fancy flying out to Alderney for the day?