Sized fish ( mainly cod )

[mackem_steve]

Recently when out on various piers the amount of cod (just sized) kept by anglers has baffled me, fair enough they're legal size which is what - Something like 35cm so roughly just over a lb.(ish)

Your not gonna get a decent sized fillet off them so why keep it/them ?

[Stewart 1971]

I kept a 36cm codling yesterday. Two fillets, some chips and the bairn had a lovely meal for his tea tonight.

When I lived on the south coast I'd keep 15cm Red Mullet, roasted whole with some cherry tomatoes and a side salad they made a fantastic meal which is why you pay top dollar for it in a restaurant. Often it is not about the size of the fish but the qualirty of the meal - Anchovies? Sardines? Dab Goujons? None of these come from particularly big (and in some cases very small) fish.

Lads sepnd a lot of money on bait and put plenty of hours in to their fishing often with little reward. If what they catch is of legal size and they want to take it home then fair play to them.

[ozzy37]

I kept a 36cm codling yesterday. Two fillets, some chips and the bairn had a lovely meal for his tea tonight.

When I lived on the south coast I'd keep 15cm Red Mullet, roasted whole with some cherry tomatoes and a side salad they made a fantastic meal which is why you pay top dollar for it in a restaurant. Often it is not about the size of the fish but the qualirty of the meal - Anchovies? Sardines? Dab Goujons? None of these come from particularly big (and in some cases very small) fish.

Lads sepnd a lot of money on bait and put plenty of hours in to their fishing often with little reward. If what they catch is of legal size and they want to take it home then fair play to them.

this ^^ too much people jumping down peoples throat for what they do or don't keep. i kept three 5 pounders few month back and people disagreed. but some people would think i'm crazy if i put them back. each to their own is my opinion as long as it isn't going to waste.

[big phil 123]

Recently when out on various piers the amount of cod (just sized) kept by anglers has baffled me, fair enough they're legal size which is what - Something like 35cm so roughly just over a lb.(ish)

Your not gonna get a decent sized fillet off them so why keep it/them ?

You can do more than just fillet a fish I have had fish well over a lb but maybe only 35/37cm if its sized and this time of year its hard to put them back alive and your eating them why not? You can make fish pies fish cakes or even the cat if you have one.

[09gmarsh2009]

I've seen people keep VERY small fish,sometimes don't understand it as they so small but when ever I catch anything I put it back unless it is over 2lb for my neighbour which is VERY rare as I never catch much anyway! Plus I love fishing but don't like fish??

[lumpsucker]

Id always hoy a 35cm cod back if it would surive, but when they're gut hooked and bleeding badly you know theyre gonna belly-up, you might aswell keep them. Cook them whole if they're just sized and youre not surgical with your filleting, same as decent whiting. The flesh falls off the bones.

[toonboymc]

personally if its size there is nothing wrong in keeping any fish as said before bait and fishing in general is not a cheap sport so when you get a sized fish i would keep it as theres nothing better than fresh fish supper in my opinion

[codseeker]

i dont catch anything so am ok

[lingking]

i dont catch anything so am ok

you sound like the warlords no2 crewman

my take on keep it--return it--if its legal size and going to get eaten keep it.

as some lads said fishing can be expensive,so a little return for your money helps

[magpies]

If it's size I don't think anyone should question another anglers decision to keep a fish. I did see a couple of codlings taken recently which were nowhere near size mind.

[safc]

Ive been thinking the same, absolutely ridiculous to keep fish just over a pound.

Must make them fell better cos theyve caught a codling

[sammy talbot]

I,have no problem with people taking legal sized fish but do think it's about time the legal size is increased to give the fish stocks a chance, wouldn't mind seeing a maximum size limit introduced aswell

[safc]

I,have no problem with people taking legal sized fish but do think it's about time the legal size is increased to give the fish stocks a chance, wouldn't mind seeing a maximum size limit introduced aswell

Agreed, 40/41 cm should be minimum

[FISHERMAN]

I,have no problem with people taking legal sized fish but do think it's about time the legal size is increased to give the fish stocks a chance, wouldn't mind seeing a maximum size limit introduced aswell

Totally agree with that it should be changed to a bigger size. I do agree on the other hand if the person that caught a sized coddlin wanted to keep it then that's up to him. Me tho I tend to put loads of sized fish back. And the guy in post that took the 5lbers home I would too fela ppl jump on there moral high horse far to easy these days which is so hipercritical. Ppl should start throwing the small size fish away to fight another day it's beyond me why someone would keep an undersize fish.

[philh]

I,have no problem with people taking legal sized fish but do think it's about time the legal size is increased to give the fish stocks a chance, wouldn't mind seeing a maximum size limit introduced aswell

Cant see much point in this at the end of the day i dont feel guilty about what i take from the sea after what the commercial boats take and throw back dead thats undersized !!!!!!!!!!!! i dont think im making much of a difference although been a coarse match angler in the past i have done my fair deed and fish for sport alone saying that if i deep hook a fish and its got little or no chance why not feed the dog like i said i aint trawling the sea bed robbing it of its worth im mearly chucking a line out !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!