GowerRay

The MLS for Bass in the South Wales Sea Fisheries area has been 37.5cms since 1997. The SWSFC were quite happy to see that rise to 42cm but no more. They are as surprised as Anglers by this press release. Sustainable with the current stocks: Much was made of the 2002 year spawnings. This year we were supposed to be fed up with catching them, a pest. Reality is for shore Anglers down here the year has been rubbish. Something happened to them. Never mind, the Assembly elections are next year. Let's hope Welsh Anglers remember this farce then.

From the British Marine Federation. The consensus is that approximately 451,000 boats (over 2.5 m) are kept in the UK and 90,000 UK-owned boats are kept abroad. Doesn't list their names and addresses though Cheers for the link. I'll email them for more info. Ray

Can anyone give me a good estimate of how many private sea angling boats are in use in the UK? A reasonable guestimate will suffice. Difficult information to get hold of. Many thanks, Ray

I hope the people who live or fish for Tope in Wales and even those that simply fish in the sea respond. It is a chance for a say in Fisheries for the future not just for Tope but for our sport in general. I know I will disappointed but not surprised by a low response on the Tope issue. Only a couple of hundred responded to the Bass consultation in Wales. Can do better. Show you care. Only 12 days to go!

The Welsh Assembly Government have now published online, the details of their Tope Consultation. The final date for submission is the same as DEFRA, 20th October 2006. If you live or fish for Tope in Wales, please respond soon. Details here: http://new.wales.gov.uk/consultations/curr...906tope?lang=en

Quote from the South Wales SFC: BYELAWS 10. SKATE AND RAY - MINIMUM SIZE confirmed 4/12/97 No person shall take or otherwise remove from a fishery within any part of the South Wales Sea Fisheries Committee District any skate or ray that measures less than 40 centimetres between the extreme tips of the wings or any wing which measures less than 20 centimetres on its maximum dimension and which is detached from the body. Skate and ray below this size shall be returned immediately to the sea at a position as nearby as is possible from where they were taken. Thirty-six months following the date the confirmation of this byelaw [i.e. 4/12/2000] the aforementioned 40 centimetres minimum size shall become 45 centimetres and the aforementioned 20 centimetres minimum size shall become 22 centimetres.' They have done a lot of work on Skate and Rays and I believe they intend to update the above bye-law in the future. I know the Director of the SFC believes they are leaders as regards SFC's when it comes to these species. He's not a bad guy.

Latest report on the Swansea boats here: http://www.thisissouthwales.co.uk/displayN...;folderPk=88481 Other than that I can't offer much advice. Sorry. I'm sure there's someone else out there with more in depth knowledge of each boat. Have a good time anyway. Ray

From a recent reply off the Welsh Assembly Government it seems that they and DEFRA are entering into this consultation together so the end result should be UK-wide legislation whenever or if ever it's brought in. Hopefully this will do away with the 'Yes you can, no you can't' byelaw situation we have at present with the SFC's in regard of Tope.

Have a look here: http://web.ukonline.co.uk/aquarium/ They've been a bit busy of late but are now back on track with a load of new images. Great site.

I am born and bred in Wales and like Ken says of the vast majority, sickened by the acts of the few. I have lived in London and Bristol over the years and never had any problem unlike friends (and current Wife) who come here. But it is just a few big mouths and not representative of all. That is why Plaid Cymru will never be a major party in Wales. They are seen as attractors to this kind of behaviour and people. Not intended I'm sure but the majority will never support them because of the recent history of sign daubing, arson attacks and so on that are linked by association. As offensive to most Welsh people as anyone else. If it's any consolation it isn't only outsiders who get targeted, wrong regional Welsh dialect (English-only- speaking City slickers ) and it can be even worse. The half-wits are a minority so I wouldn't worry too much. There is a welcome here for all.

And there's no urgency for a Tope protection Bye-law? Letter sent to Welsh Assembly Members and Minister. (Copied to Ian). Ray Davies

Too late for at least 30 here in South Wales. Taken from last night's local paper: "On the tope front, good numbers have been taken off Oxwich, with charterboats returning them alive. Unfortunately, I have received a report of a private boat returning to Swansea with 30 tope and a single porbeagle all killed by anglers. What can you guys be thinking? While good catches may be being taken, the tope are still not available in the numbers of past years. Surely the only explanation is that some anglers are seeking money. It's always the commercial fishermen who get the stick for over-fishing, but there must be plenty of anglers out there who are selling their fish. It's sad to report that as the fishing gets better, there are those who are still prepared to exploit any situation. Bring on the legislation to deal with those individuals." Want to comment on the article? Go to: http://www.thisissouthwales.co.uk/displayN...&folderPk=88481

Another school of thought is the clean water issue. Pristine rivers free of biological waste (posh version) are now thought to cause starvation to the very bottom of this food chain. From microbes up each section is dependant on another for food. Remove the bottom and the upper levels must suffer. That and Global warming, overdigging, erosion etc etc. No simple answer. On a good note, worm farms are becoming big business in Wales. The firm 'Dragon Baits' has recently succeeded in gaining planning permission for a few more farms near Pendine. This is as well as the facility they have in Baglan near Port Talbot. They already cultivate Ragworm and I'm sure I heard there were plans for Lugworms in a similar venture. They've got a very good name with their products so far.

Got to agree there. I see people fishing with beachcasters in the estuary near me and think where's the fun in that? I either use my Shimano Travel spinning rod or a carp rod. Good craic on the light stuff. Time of year: From November till around the end of February here in South Wales. Too many crabs otherwise. Whilst the frost is around so are the Flounders, without the crabs. Only bait worth using in the Loughor Estuary is mudrag (never tried garden worms though).

Agree with that. I'd be happy with a tenth of Leon's energy and a hundredth of his commitment. Well deserved award and a testimony to the hard work of all those who made the SACN possible. From little Acorns,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,

Having more time on my hands than money I started making my own last year. Leon's 'Roll up' was one of the first lures I came across and the ease which he put the basics over got me hooked. The wood I use is an extremely cheap hardwood, old pallet timber. There's always someone chucking them out. Played around with screw-eyes (B&Q. Don't bother) and then found a supplier of long drill bits for a 'through-wire' lures. Ok, they're not the most attractive looking lures but it keeps me quiet making them and I get takes and catches. The US has been into home lure making for years but unfortunately getting hold of the bits and pieces over here is difficult to say the least. Glasgow Angling do quite a few bits and pieces, Wire formers, eyes, blades etc. Personally I make do with what's around the house and garden. Latest efforts: Lures made from the brass finials off a lamp. Added coloured tubing, wire and trebles and off we go. Latest wooden one: Isaiah (cos one eye's higher than the other). Pallet wood piece shaped as a dished faced surface popper. Two dolls eyes (off Ebay £2 a hundred), through wire and a couple of size 4 trebles. Painted flourescent orange and bright pink. Scare em into attack Good book: 'The complete book of tacklemaking' by C.Boyd Pfeiffer. Again US based but a wealth of info. Experiment and see what happens. Does a hunting fish travelling at 15 feet per second really study the fine details of your lure?

A more comprehensive one from the US is here: http://www.angelfire.com/ia3/fishing/terminology.htm#a A daunting task ahead for a complete dictionary!

All jokes aside, I found this link to a Patagonian fishing site. Fly fishing dictionary. http://www.interpatagonia.com/pesca/diccionario_i.html The mind boggles for for one that would cover all forms of angling.

Only used it with Flounders because of their small mouths. When they are feeding in a fast water like the Estuary near me they grab rather than nibble the bait so it works here. I suppose it will work with other species. Works with Eels as per Matt Hayes or whoever it was. Trial and error? Short length of plank for the large mouth varieties

Having copied an article from one of the Mags on using umpteen beads to attract Flounders I got a bit fed up after deep hooking three of the larger fish. The smaller fish were lip hooked but the larger ones were sucking the line of beads down like drinking through a straw. Beads in the bin! (Conscience ) Anyway, I remembered seeing some fishing programme, Matt Hayes I think it was, where some bloke was catching Eels and to stop them getting deep hooked he put a crosspiece across the eye to prevent the Fish getting past the shank and onto the line with the hook half way down its stomach. I've tried a similar approach with Flounder traces and it seems to work ok. May miss a few bites but I do anyway. I used thin plastic tubing and stainless wire to form the stop. The tubing came from 'Scoobies'. a kid's toy thing. About a quid for a shedfull, although any small gauge tubing will do. I notched a 1" section of tube in the centre so that the hook eye fitted in the rebate and then fed the wire through tube and eye, tying it off each end. Might not win any prizes for looks but it lets me sleep easier. See Pic. (without beads)

Really depends what the Bass are chasing after and what's around your chosen venue. Peeler Crab, Lugworm, Ragworm are the usual suspects. Read what the expert says Peter. Mike Ladle is the voice of authority on Bass (and quite a few other species). All the info you'll ever need is on his site 'Operation Sea Angler' at: http://www.mikeladle.com/osa.html If you can beg, borrow or buy, his book written with Alan Vaughan, 'Hooked on Bass' is the most detailed information on Bass you'll ever find. Hope it helps. Ray

Five signatures so far. Obviously by people who have never had crabs. Be up with the Cod petition shortly. Worrabowt a petition against clean water? Starving all the microbes which in turn starve the worms, which in turn starve the crabs, which in turn starve the fish, which in turn will make all Angling forums obsolete, which in turn will make the advertisers/Angling businesses starve, etc, etc etc. These petitions could go on longer than a BMP thread!

Last year we saw huge pods of Porpoises and Bottle-nose Dolphins around the South Wales coast and obviously some have hung around. Is this the beginning of what we can expect to find on our shores this year if they return in numbers? From my local newspaper, The South Wales Evening Post. "FISHING NETS FEAR FOR DEAD PORPOISES 10:00 - 20 February 2006 An investigation has been launched after two porpoises, one of them pregnant, were found dead on a Swansea beach. An initial examination of the animals by marine experts suggests they died after being caught in fishing nets. Both had telltale wounds on their tail fins. The front fin of one of the mammals had been slashed off, which experts said was a classic sign of the animal being cut from a net. The harbour porpoises, a pregnant mother and a calf, were found on the beach near County Hall at around 7.30am on Saturday. The coastguard rescue team from Mumbles was called by a member of the public. Team member Mark James said: "The animals were dead when we arrived. We found them close to each other. "We checked the beach from Brynmill to the marina to see whether there were more involved, which might suggest disease or some other reason for death. But these were the only two." Marine Mammals Strandings Project expert Rod Penrose was called from Carmarthen to examine the animals. He said: "They died at sea, not on the beach. "They show all the classic signs of having being caught in nets. "I can't say for definite until the post mortem and other tests have been completed, but all the signs are there." It is thought the porpoises died some time on Friday, and were washed up on the beach with the high tide, at around 9pm. Mr Penrose said: "They have only recently died - I would say they died on Friday. "They look like fit, healthy animals. The calf was one of last year's calves and was well-fed." The mother porpoise was found with a fish in its mouth. "She was feeding when she died," added Mr Penrose. An initial post mortem on the animals is expected to be carried out within days, although tests on tissue samples could take weeks. Mr James added: "We have quite a few porpoises living in the bay, but thankfully we haven't had any washed ashore for a while. "It is very sad when this happens - they are lovely creatures."

Hi Ian, Don't know the area myself but here is a link for an accommodation search engine. The Wife and I use it regularly. All prices and types. Easy clickable map and now most of the accommodations have web links. This is the link to the UK map: http://www.s-h-systems.co.uk/index.html Even check out accommodation Worldwide if you want to. Hope it helps, Ray