It's just not right

[drifter]

I was fishing today between the Arches and the yelllow can and was quite disturbed by what I saw. There was a local inshore fishing boat working in the area and at first I thought he was simply pulling lobster pots. He was motoring all over the area for most of the morning but when I started to take notice it turned out that he was gill netting and this guy appeared to have at least 1500 mtrs of gill net in stages from Cullercoats to North of the yellow can. OK, the guy's just trying to make a living and it's a tough job but I watched the nets being hauled from no more than 30 yards and many of the fish looked very small and indeed I suggest no responsible rod fisherman would keep fish that small.
I guess he's legally entitled to gill net and furthermore his gear will no doubt comply with current legislation. However, the spring run to the yellow can is well known and it is also well known that many small fish will also turn up during that run. To subject an area to extensive gill netting in full knowledge that most of the catch will be small is not only irresponsible, it is criminal.

[mickbrennan]

these gill nets have f*cked the shore fishing theres no fish can get close when these b*stards have them out something must be done

[steppeydog]

this takes the **** an i wonder why i never caught a single sizable codling over the winter months all them wasted nights n days in the freezing cold n blasting sleet n snow but loved every bloody single session but t see these *******s taking fish so close in makes me think WHY, but guees what i CANT WAIT till next winter t do it all over again ,WHY aint there a law to protect these inshore stocks or did we sell that to europe as well