WEST MERSEA BOAT NICKED FOR 20 UNDERSIZED BASS

[Ken Davison South Wales]

Hi Sam,

 

I took this photo in the Gulf of Aqaba, it is an illegal net, I do not see the big fish bouncing off and we had great pleasure in shredding the net and removing it.

 

 

Some of us do really get out and about

[Toerag]

Sam is right about bigger fish 'bouncing off'. Of course, you will catch some bigger fish tangled by their teeth and suchlike as Davy did, but nowhere near as many as the smaller ones. Gillnets are very selective, and as anglers we should be pushing for their use instead of trawls which trash everything regardless of size.

[Ken Davison South Wales]

They ain't bouncing off in that picture, and nor did the smaller fish, once the fish is swimming down tide and it comes up against the net your looking at the result above. And all this about the nets remaining in mesh shape is rubbish, they take up folds in the current like this one has.

 

I am willing to put my feet into the cold UK sea to prove a point with anyone who would like to come and I don't make that statement lightly as I hate cold water.

[Leon Roskilly]

There is a useful CEFAS pamphlet about gill netting at:

 

http://www.cefas.co.uk/publications/lablea...ableaflet69.pdf

 

 

If anyone wants to give it a try, so long as you conform with local byelaws about where, how and when they can be set etc., (check with your local Sea Fisheries Committee if unsure) and you don't intend to sell your catch if you are using a powered vessel to set the nets, you don't need a licence.

 

 

TL - leon

[maximo]

at bass time round here the beaches are packed with muppets turning up for some easy fishing.

fish sizes they havent got a clue and dont care a toss.

one old guy said hed had his best day ever and showed me his bag of fish ,all undersize.

a good slap with a fish measure is what they want.

you can all slag match anglers off but at least we know the fish size limits.do you.

[Ken Davison South Wales]

Love the perfect drawings showing nets set up geometrically

 

They want to do a bit of diving around gill nets and they will find a very different picture.

 

You are right Maximo there are a lot of people out there that don't know about legal sizes.

 

Did you tell him they were all under size and if caught could face heavy fines??

 

But there are a large number of non-match anglers who do know and return not only under size fish but also fish they do not want for the table.

[maximo]

i was that down hearted when i seen all them small bass ken i couldnt say out to him,he was an old fella and i knew i would have probably been nasty to him so kept my opinions to myself.

anyways theres signs on the beach as you walk on about minimum sizes for bass.

[Ken Davison South Wales]

I know what you mean maximo, I used to fish with a chap who put back all under size bass but when it came to dabs, flounders and whiting they all went home.

 

So I pulled him on it quietly and we have not fished together since

[sam-cox]

Im talking about Uk fishing boats not the gulf.The netts used hear area not normally that deeep, and are not fixed.

[Ken Davison South Wales]

Hi Sam,

 

This one was not fixed until it locked onto the reef.

 

As far as I can see a net is a net no matter where it is and that pic certainly shows that big fish don't bounce off.

 

I have under water photos of several more nets in action, I will have to dig them out and scan them.

 

There is another reason why I don't like them, when they wash up on the beach and create a dangerous situation to mamals and birds.