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Post by Pete B on Feb 4, 2007 17:03:13 GMT
Has anyone noticed the regularity of the 2lb+ bass being caught, just looking back through the shore reports its common place.
This must be a sign of the bass nurseries coming good?
Only a few yrs back you would be pestered by shoalies but they were all well undersize, cant say I've had that lately where you' have had to fish through them.
Its a nice treat to get these better ones & they must be a lovely eating size but with the summer coming & the lure boxes at the ready is this size going to be much more of a temptation to keep?
What happened to the proposed increased size limit? was it ever put in place?
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Post by RichardB on Feb 4, 2007 17:34:37 GMT
I certainly agree with that assessment Pete. I think the effect of the designated nurseries is being felt. The trouble is personally speaking, I caught shed loads of bass about this size all year - it was the 2lb +, +++++ fish that seemed to be lacking lol ! Just the way it goes I think - we've seen that others have done well. Seriousely though, it is encouraging - always assuming a significant number of these fish are allowed to get to somewhere approaching full maturity. Am I right in thinking that the compromise  size limit that came out of the Bass Management Plan consultation was to come into effect this coming April ? |
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Post by maghouse on Feb 4, 2007 17:36:07 GMT
Yep noticed that - take out the few biggies & the few baby schoolies - I would say the majority of my Bass (and my mates) over the last 2 months have all been around that 1-2lb mark - consistent .... good news ...
The increase to 40cm starts in April I think ... more good news - the sooner it goes to 45cm the better IMHO !
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Post by Pete B on Feb 4, 2007 18:15:05 GMT
Definitely good news that the nursery area scheme is justifying itself. Also good news that the 40cm limit comes in soon & as Maghouse says I'm also eager for the 45 mark. If the smaller but sizable fish (1lb - 2lb) become off limits we should really be able to look forward to some great fishing with the shoalies coming through as well. Give it a while & someone on here will be titling a post '4lb+ bass' as they become a regular thing.
A couple of years back I bought a boat from Steve Pitts, he's the guy who appears in numerous angling DVDs with Mike Ladle. He is heavily involved in the Bass Anglers Sportsfishing Society. For those who don't know they are the people that really push for legislation purely for the good of Bass Fishing enthusiasts. He was absolutely dedicated so much so that he converted his garage into an office for the societies work. The role is completely voluntary.
I must admit Im not a member at the moment (another thing I gotta get round to doing) but I just wanted to give them a mention for what they do. It must be quite thank-less alot of the time.
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Post by RichardB on Feb 4, 2007 18:31:57 GMT
I was a member of B.A.S.S. for ages, from about 20 odd years ago - sent in scales for Donovan Kelly - the whole shooting match ! You've reminded me Pete - I must re-join also.
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Post by Pete B on Feb 4, 2007 19:10:19 GMT
Yep, Im going to have a look on joining over the net tonight, well worth the joining fee, it goes towards the campaign for what we all want - prime bass fishing! I know that theres a big effort towards keeping the trawlers well out of inshore waters.
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Post by Pete B on Feb 4, 2007 19:29:23 GMT
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Metal_Micky
Second mate
SOCIALIST PISCATORIAL GOONER!!
Posts: 232
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Post by Metal_Micky on Feb 4, 2007 20:17:05 GMT
The trouble is, that for every angler who puts fish back and takes only a sensible quantity, there are a boat load of muppets who take everything. A work colleague of mine caught 19 bass between just sizable and 7lb. On the same boat about another 50 were caught, and every single fish was taken, whatever the size. When i mentioned conservation, i was reminded how much the bait and boat cost, like thats a valid argument.  |
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Post by Pete B on Feb 4, 2007 20:39:01 GMT
My own rule is that I personally only take 1 in every 4 sizeable bass unless those that are unreturnable (even if it takes me half a year to get the 4th ;D)
I do like taking fish for the table & the dogs that are fed B.A.R.F only (bones and raw food) but with bass I'm comfortable with with the 1 in 4 thing.
I'm equally happy with a pic & a weight, been carrying some rapala scales with me of late - very accurate & compact.
Whatever the way, unless your commercially fishing for bass amongst big shoals, the dent we can make with rod & line in a lifetime is not a mark on a single sweep of a net.
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Post by maghouse on Feb 4, 2007 22:47:10 GMT
You got that in 1 Pete - the number of fish we might take in a lifetime is that single sweep of a net ....
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Post by solehunter on Feb 4, 2007 22:59:17 GMT
My own rule is that I personally only take 1 in every 4 sizeable bass unless those that are unreturnable (even if it takes me half a year to get the 4th ;D) I do like taking fish for the table & the dogs that are fed B.A.R.F only (bones and raw food) but with bass I'm comfortable with with the 1 in 4 thing. I'm equally happy with a pic & a weight, been carrying some rapala scales with me of late - very accurate & compact. Whatever the way, unless your commercially fishing for bass amongst big shoals, the dent we can make with rod & line in a lifetime is not a mark on a single sweep of a net. Good point, since i have had a digi camera and some decent scales. i have returned many more bass than i used too (and other edible fish). I guess many take them home as a trophy (as i did  ), not just to eat. The few i do take i mainly give to my sister as she buys a lot of fish from the local monger who mainly nets for them. At least she knows mine are fresh and have not suffered in a net all night  |
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Post by eccles on Feb 4, 2007 23:57:48 GMT
If I may say so, we also see Bream greed - last summer I suppose I took home an average of two per week for dinner as that seemed reasonable to me. I was appalled one day to see a so called professional boat come into Langstone with around 80 bream on board - they were so proud of their efforts, they actually told me the number. I suppose one day we will really get a grip on all forms of sea fishing in this country but don't know whether I will ever see it.
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Post by dean macey on Feb 5, 2007 8:40:45 GMT
as with the small bass we have caught a lot of codling around the 1lb mark this year as well.as well as nursery protection i put it down to the lack of genuine predators in our sea.
if a few large fish are lucky enough to have a reasonable spawning season then the fry will have a higher survival rate with the ovious lack of bigger fish to eat them.
not sure what will happen in the long run though as the netsman will still take these fish,dont want to sound negative but the thorght of a 2lb bass being caught next year as a 4lb fish sounds a bit fancifull to me.i hope you are right though.
if there was a countrywide ban on nets within 2 miles of our coast,for one it would be easy to police as it would be the same everywhere,it would include all esturies helping the salmon industry as well.
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Post by stevieboy on Feb 5, 2007 12:51:13 GMT
I only take bass if it's large enough for me and my family (over 3lbs). I also only take them if I'm going to eat it pretty much immediately (IE, it's not going to be frozen). I also only take these size fish as my filleting skills are so appalling I'd render smaller fish useless!  |
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Post by Pete B on Feb 5, 2007 19:19:27 GMT
the thorght of a 2lb bass being caught next year as a 4lb fish sounds a bit fancifull to me. See original post Dean, 2lb ones at present, 4lb hopefully sometime in the future. Not next year. |
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size limit that came out of the Bass Management Plan consultation was to come into effect this coming April ?
