Steve Coppolo

I think you're right, Ron.

Let's face it, Wayne, that was one of the worst kept secrets in angling.

Bob, if you are serious about wanting to represent sea anglers, you've got to stop spouting this type of bull5hit. Even with my limited knowledge of netting, I know it's damn near impossible to catch mullet in a net sometimes. When conditions are right they can be caught in numbers, as has been proved by annual beach netting in the southwest that Jerry is moaning about. But if it was that easy all the time, it wouldn't be an annual event, would it? For basing your views on nothing more than rumour, hearsay and myth, you Bob, are guilty as charged. Break the mould, Bob. Base your views on facts. That way you won't be made to look a prize p@&!k when you open your mouth at important meetings, like most of our misrepresentative have and do.

What do you think, Bob?

Well, apart from a few variations, that's not too far away from the item at the top of my wish list. I believe that the sea anglers should cast aside all concept of represention by the Angling Trust, which neither understands nor respects them, and concentrate on those who are prepared to fight to defend their sport. So, No1 on my wish list - kick the Angling Trust out of sea angling.

Putting your fish back doesnt make you selfish, but wanting to stop people doing what they want, just because you don't like it, does. No one is trying to stop you from returning your mullet and, if it makes you happy, you carry on doing it. But, don't kid yourself that by doing so you are saving mulletkind and preserving anything for future generations. By the the time your grandchildren, or great grandchildren, are mullet fishing, those you put back will be long dead. And the few you do catch will contribute a very insignificant amount to future generations of mullet.

Have a read of what you've written on this thread, then come back and tell me who has the selfish attitude. You are letting your imagination run wild and it's affecting your judgement. What on earth makes you think that your children won't be able to catch mullet? The only thing that may prevent them from doing do is the ban it brigade, of which you appear to be a big fan.

Look out, he'll be over here next week campaigning against Turkey cruelty at Christmas.

There is nothing to apologise for, as far as I'm concerned. How do you know that those netters are damaging mullet stocks? Sure, there are less mullet in the sea when they've finished netting them, but does it have an affect on the overall health of the stocks? It doesn't appear so if they are still able to net 50 tons with ease. Mullet certainly have enough commercial value to make it worth their while netting them because I don't suppose they do it for a laugh. As long as you are still able to catch them, what are you worried about?

C&R. The 'acceptable' face of sea angling. Except it isn't acceptable, it's a slippery slope.

It's great that you are allowed to release all the mullet you catch. It would be horrible for you if someone forced you to stop doing something you've always done. Are you a member of the National Mullet Club?

Well, he would be better off reading up about the last 10 years worth of **** ups by angling representatives and getting his facts right instead of taking advice from arrogant fools. Or he could just go and get a proper job.

I don't know why they don't just jump completely into bed with their environmonger friends and be done with it. At least if they are called the WWF everyone will know where they stand.

A good example how information gathered from volunteers can be used against sea anglers.

Wow! Two legged rats and knuckle draggers! Jerry, why do you think that because someone is an angler they should hate netters? Is there a shortage of mullet in that area? Because it doesn't sound like it. Has this netting, that happens every year, had a direct impact on the number of mullet you catch? Or is it just the thought of someone else catching the fish that makes you mad? By the way, most anglers couldn't give a monkeys about Otters and actually enjoy seeing them on the rivers. It's mostly fishery owners and specimen hunters who get aggravated by them. And those anglers who believe the hype, of course.

The only time they, sort of, consulted their own members was after the deed was done. And even that was just a post on their now defunct forum! Like I've said, 'ordinary' anglers didn't matter and weren't consulted at all, even though the AT claims to represent all anglers.

I have no doubt that if anything bad is said at the summit, the mis-representatives present will be pulling some faces and shaking their heads.

There you have it in black and white. The basic rights of the country's 'ordinary' anglers were sacrificed to satisfy a handful of 'special' anglers. Scandalous. The fact that this article was supposed to justify the actions of the ACA and Angling Trust, demonstrates perfectly the ignorance AND arrogance of those who claim to represent us ALL.

Go for it, Bob.

Nah, Worms, that's a sewage farm.

There's usually one every year. It's where unelected misrepresentatives go along and tell the minister, among others, what they want to do with OUR sport.

Ha ha! Isn't that the one that the Angling Trust hailed as good news not so long ago? Didn't one of the AT hierarchy say something along the lines of, they hoped the British government would do something similar over here?

Didn't you see that chart that Natural England produced and were taking round to their roadshows? Those discarded fish go to the Piscatorial Garden of Remembrance. You can find it just above the Herring Creche and a bit to the left of the Enchanted Kelp Forest.

That's confusing. It says there is one representative from the MMO, the Environment Agency and Natural England sitting on each IFCA. Are these counted against 'Marine Environment', or 'Other'? Either way, it doesn't add up when you look at the make up of each IFCA. Or are these seats in addition to those that are listed? If so, then environmentalists have the majority of seats.

More bullshit than a cattle ranch.