Coarse Angling Today - Let eels become extinct

[Dales]

As always I wish the NAC all the best in there conservation efforts, but it comes as no surprise to find a member of a single species group having a pop at other anglers who may hold a different view to them.

 

All the best

 

Stephen

(An unenlightened Angler)

 

P.S Hand on your heart, do you believe that little damage is done to eels by being fished for? My pennies worth is that I can't think of any species that is effected more.

[Emma two]

? My pennies worth is that I can't think of any species that is effected more.

 

 

Nor I, yet we don't hear nearly so much said about the handling of eels as we do about pike (including the times when some insist that we aught not fish at all for them).

[Mark7]

By that do you mean, 'anyone (angler) who doesn't see things your way?

 

No, not at all. I refer to anglers who are unaware of the threats that affect eel stocks, and the importance of the eel as a keystone species. There will be many anglers who do not agree with our views, and that's fine. The free speech that you mention in your last post ensures that we can debate the issue. In fact, Dan's article has a positive effect, as it promotes debate on the plight of the eel. There are some interesting, and mostly very supportive, comments on the other forums. In my original post I forgot to mention the non human influences on eel recruitment, namely climate change and North Atlantic Oscillation (affecting North Atlantic Drift), so you are right, it's not all our fault. As regards deep hooking, it is possible, by using small barbless hooks, effective rigs, braid and very sensitive bite indication, to reduce this to a minimum. More eels are deep hooked by accidental capture than by dedicated eel anglers, if only due to the fact that so few of us deliberately target eels.

[Dick Dastardly]

Jeeze youve done it again havnt you Mark? it seems you just cant help yourself or indeed learn from previous lessons!

 

Despite being a long time keen eel angler (and strangely enough Dales is quite fond of them as well) Im glad Im not an NAC member else I would be well sucked off that a senior member of my club was alienating so many other anglers!

 

You are right the article in the mag isnt worded particularly well but as others have pointed out the way you come on here (only ever it seems) to lecture and have a pop is pi$$ poor mate.

 

Dont you remember how you got backs up last time you tried to gain the moral high ground re NAC members not killing/damaging eels but other anglers do? Need to wake up to reality bruv!

 

As usual a great shame that youve (once again) taken this stance as most (if not all) on here would support the eels cause!

 

Again the question is if your so sure anglers (well your members any way) dont do any harm to eels by fishing for them do you apear to (and on everyone elses behalf) seemingly accept/admit anglers culpability in the eels so called demise?

 

I know this post makes it look like I have a personal problem with you (all though Im probably starting to develop one!) and just leap on anything you say but come on.....

 

Tell you what how about I see if I can get you a couple of nights eel fishing on a water that produces 3lbrs like they are going out of fashion and you show us all how you never deep hook/kill/damage eels? Pike anglers seized the bull by the horns re deep hooking years ago by running teach ins etc to educate and therefore protect their favourite species how about you taking a leaf out of their book?

[Mark7]

Jeeze youve done it again havnt you Mark? it seems you just cant help yourself or indeed learn from previous lessons!

 

Despite being a long time keen eel angler (and strangely enough Dales is quite fond of them as well) Im glad Im not an NAC member else I would be well sucked off that a senior member of my club was alienating so many other anglers!

 

You are right the article in the mag isnt worded particularly well but as others have pointed out the way you come on here (only ever it seems) to lecture and have a pop is pi$$ poor mate.

 

Dont you remember how you got backs up last time you tried to gain the moral high ground re NAC members not killing/damaging eels but other anglers do? Need to wake up to reality bruv!

 

As usual a great shame that youve (once again) taken this stance as most (if not all) on here would support the eels cause!

 

Again the question is if your so sure anglers (well your members any way) dont do any harm to eels by fishing for them do you apear to (and on everyone elses behalf) seemingly accept/admit anglers culpability in the eels so called demise?

 

I know this post makes it look like I have a personal problem with you (all though Im probably starting to develop one!) and just leap on anything you say but come on.....

 

Tell you what how about I see if I can get you a couple of nights eel fishing on a water that produces 3lbrs like they are going out of fashion and you show us all how you never deep hook/kill/damage eels? Pike anglers seized the bull by the horns re deep hooking years ago by running teach ins etc to educate and therefore protect their favourite species how about you taking a leaf out of their book?

 

Have a look on the other forums and you will see that the overwhelming veiw is supportive of our stance. Your usual rather rude response is typical, and completely in character. I have not lectured, merely presented the club's stance. I would be pleased if you joined-we might be able to help you hook eels more effectively.

Edited January 5, 2012 by Mark7

[Steve Walker]

To be honest, I think the question of whether anglers should be indulging in eel bothering is a separate question, it was the idea that if a fish wasn't angled for it didn't matter if went extinct that I found particularly gobsmacking.

[Dick Dastardly]

Have a look on the other forums and you will see that the overwhelming veiw is supportive of our stance. Your usual rather rude response is typical, and completely in character. I have not lectured, merely presented the club's stance. I would be pleased if you joined-we might be able to help you hook eels more effectively.

 

Sorry to be "rude" again Mark but you still dont seem to realise that no one is disputing that something is going wrong with anguilla anguilla. Not entirely sure where the problem lays but its certainly not with recreational anglers!

 

What we are objecting to (sorry if Im speaking for others but I get the impression we all seem to think much the same) is the way you go about things.You obviously dont realise it but it is quite offensive. Educate,advise but dont preach mate.

 

I would love you to "help me hook eels more effectively" and thats why I keep asking you to show me how to and prove to me all of these (what I believe) wives tales,eel angling myths and other so called claims are true! Show me that you dont ever (no thats me being unfair now, lets change that to hardly ever,NO infact lets say dont more than do) deep hook eels when your specificaly targeting them.Show me that if you cut the trace on a deep hooked one that they can get rid of the hook etc etc. I would gladly join up and publicly eat humble pie.

 

And maybe in return I could try and teach you how to be a bit more diplomatic in spreading the good word? Maybe just joining in on the eel threads we often have on here with your own veiws,sugestions general eel chat rather than just (seemingly) only taking part in the forum when your riding your high horse?

[Latimeria]

To be honest, I think the question of whether anglers should be indulging in eel bothering is a separate question, it was the idea that if a fish wasn't angled for it didn't matter if went extinct that I found particularly gobsmacking.

 

Indeed, it does hint of the type of attitude that means there'll always be barriers to some anglers understanding the wider ecological landscape. However it might just be badly written, penned in haste to meet a deadline, or a clumsy attempt to create some copy for the magazine down the line.

Angling for large eels will have minimal effect on wild populations (even if a small proportion of those caught are accidentally damaged), but will help to raise the profile of the species as a whole, I think the NAC is doing a pretty good job with limited resources.

Most single-species groups now have worthwhile stances around reasonable protection for the entire life cycles of the species they target, while still understanding that healthy populations will be subject to natural predation (apart from the pondpig lot perhaps).

[Dick Dastardly]

To be honest, I think the question of whether anglers should be indulging in eel bothering is a separate question, it was the idea that if a fish wasn't angled for it didn't matter if went extinct that I found particularly gobsmacking.

 

 

Yes totally agree Steve. Rather worrying attitude isnt it? Regardless of species or personal interest in that species its very poor and certainly not good for the "Guardian of the Waterways" image many anglers wish to present.

 

I can see how it would get up any true anglers nose let alone an eel specialists.

[Dick Dastardly]

Indeed, it does hint of the type of attitude that means there'll always be barriers to some anglers understanding the wider ecological landscape. However it might just be badly written, penned in haste to meet a deadline, or a clumsy attempt to create some copy for the magazine down the line.

Angling for large eels will have minimal effect on wild populations (even if a small proportion of those caught are accidentally damaged), but will help to raise the profile of the species as a whole, I think the NAC is doing a pretty good job with limited resources.

Most single-species groups now have worthwhile stances around reasonable protection for the entire life cycles of the species they target, while still understanding that healthy populations will be subject to natural predation (apart from the pondpig lot perhaps).

 

Yes I agree with that in general to Latimeria. It is worrying though that this increase in specialisation in only one particular species is showing a lot of very narrow veiws though! I just wish more anglers were "all rounders" it would possibly stop this sort of thing.