2006 Shore Fishing Realities

[Charlie_Thompson]

Commercial and environmental factors have had a massive adverse effect on our sport. We respond often to facts and figures regarding short sighted commercial practices and the excesses of some sport anglers but I do not think I have ever seen a serious debate or survey here on the rapidly changing situation facing your average NE England shore angler. It is my opinion that we are possibly the last generation of anglers lucky enough to stand a chance of even a sniff of the cod. There are many members of NESA who have fished for long enough to remember how things were and how they are now. We all agree that angling is not just about catching fish, that is probably the only reason sea angling remains as one of the most popular pastimes in the UK. Very soon (10 - 20 years) there will be NO chance of catching cod. Fair enough other species will fill the gap but I feel we are witnessing the death throws of our thing. I Know things change but the reason we are facing this situation IMHO is purely down to selfishness, greed and ignorance from a wide range of vested interests.

Just a bit sad really that I can't take my son fishing 4 times and show him at least 6-8 quality fish over the period like my dad did when I was a snapper.

[Charlie_Thompson]

2007 even, even more less cod!

[Penn525]

2007 even, even more less cod!

Have to agree...the question is, how do we stop the extinction of cod?
I know we can't stop commercial fishing, but I honestly think, A CLOSED SEASON, could work? say from Jan 1st to April 1st (commercial only, as I reckon rod and line anglers don't even begin to scratch the surface in fish stocks terms). It's something! See if the spawning fish, can actually have a spawn.

ANYTHING IS BETTER THAN NOTHING!

[Charlie_Thompson]

Of course WE can stop commercial fishing if that's what's needed. WE can do anything if we want. WE can make sure commercial fishermen are looked after as a result of any changes. Unfortunately WE give up all of our real say so the moment we vote for THEM. And THEM could not give nish for US. (That's US not the YOU ESS)

As you rightly say Penn lad, recreational anglers do not contribute at all to declining fish stocks and the fact that some of our so called representatives are discussing bag limits as if that will make a freaking bit of diferrence makes me get all gunned up and purple in the face.

[Penn525]

so called representatives are discussing bag limits as if that will make a freaking bit of diferrence makes me get all gunned up and purple in the face.

Do we honestly think a pin striped beauracrat from Westminster, even know's what a cod looks like? Even organisations such as DEFRA, are made to look foolish....if they just consulted organisations who KNOW about angling/commercial fishing - they don't have to take notice - but at least they'll get some bloody good advice thrown into the pot!
The greed of the commercial fishermen has been the demise of cod! The UK should have taken a leaf out of Iceland's book - only boats allowed to fish in Icelandic waters, will be boats from Iceland! Bloody north sea is full of Spanish, Russian, French etc etc....( ....and I bet more than half of them foreign boats have british skippers! - de-commissioning of trawlers did that! Govt. said burn your boat and we'll give you 70 grand for your licence - nee bother , there you go - and off to Spain - register on a Spanish boat, and fish exactly the same waters, but land in Spain! 70 grand in pocket! or whatever they got for their boat and licence - I bet I'm not far off the mark??)

Paul

[Charlie_Thompson]

I think but could be wrong, that a lot of the foreign boats are fishing our waters because UK trawler owners sold their quotas to them. And the industry continues to bleat on about The Spanish!

"our so called representatives" I'm talking about recreational sea angling organisations considering bag limits on the men and women like us! ROTFLMFAO

[mark]

not much point in US stopping OUR fisherman from catching cod cos THEY will let the French and Spanish come and have it all instead

I for one have given up, not been out once this winter, don't intend to either. don't see much point. It would be a session of frustration of catching nowt, which on its on its own I can deal with, but add to this the rage that would probably come over me as I witness the hoards of mindless ****wits who give not a jot for either fish, sport or environment, will slaughter anything bigger than their hook and leave behind masses of fecking ****e, line/end gear/plastic/newspaper/cheap lager cans etc etc etc.

sooner they close the piers and make em members only AND police it the better


the commercial boys?? not sure they are solely to blame either, where's the sense that says "all those fish you've just dragged up from 500 metres down and died on the way up, throw them back cos you've got the wrong type of quota.

Give a boat a quota in ŁŁŁŁ's, value, real money, wonga, cash of fish, when they've done it in, thats it. Better to sell the stuff they catch than have to hoy it all back to keep jonny foreigner happy, and then go out to catch some more in th hope they'll be allowed to land it. Look to Iceland, they do much the same, and have the healthiest fishing industry and healtiest fish stocks in the northern hemisphere

I'd sooner eat me own entrails

My sport now is solely in the summer (bar the traditional christmas salmon run in these parts!). Will fish the rock marks in scotland, and fish the wrecks off our coast, and in between times anyone that can source torpedoes let me know

[Penn525]

"our so called representatives" I'm talking about recreational sea angling organisations considering bag limits on the men and women like us! ROTFLMFAO

You're dead right mate - ABSOLUTE JOKE...

[Charlie_Thompson]

See I don't agree with closing stuff and charging money because when I take over and sort everything out these things will open again and free. Vote me for bigger fish anonymous cars (free on the roads)



B

[Penn525]

Give a boat a quota in ££££'s, value, real money, wonga, cash of fish, when they've done it in, thats it. Better to sell the stuff they catch than have to hoy it all back to keep jonny foreigner happy, and then go out to catch some more in th hope they'll be allowed to land it.

Agree with some of what you say, but is that still not landing and killing fish?
A closed season could (it might not - but could), solve the problem? If not, at least ease the pressure on cod? Do you not think..?

[Penn525]

Great debate by the way. It's quite refreshing exchanging points of view WITHOUT getting slagged off and shot down at the first comment!

[Charlie_Thompson]

One of the main reasons cod stocks are just about shot is due to your average Britisher having a palate and knowledge of good food, akin to that of a Pit Bull Terrier. An igorance born of exploitation and island mentality. Most Cod gets served up battered to **** with a can of vimto and nuclear mushy peas.

[Charlie_Thompson]

Our voracious appetite for Tuna is fast bolloxing up those silvery lads as well.

[Penn525]

One of the main reasons cod stocks are just about shot is due to your average Britisher having a palate and knowledge of good food, akin to that of a Pit Bull Terrier. An igorance born of exploitation and island mentality. Most Cod gets served up battered to **** with a can of vimto and nuclear mushy peas.

Me bottle of brandy is just about done - and finding it difficult to see the keyboard...so on that note I'll bid you goodnight! And tight lines....bloody great debate mate, thanks - hopefully some more will add...
Paul

[mark]

It is still landing and killing fish, but its not just killing fish, which is what the quota system says has to happen. well it actually says any fish caught that are not in the vessels quota must be released, the chances of em still being alive after their swim bladders have ballooned like Ann Diamond's Waistline after a christmas buffet, is probably almost nil

the only truly sustainable commercial fishing method that is left in the north sea is long lining, but I'm sure the spanish boats would turn up with lines so long one end would be at fecking gibraltar

watched 2 russian factory ships hoover the minch dry a few years ago. all perfectly legitimate, baltic countries with eu permits entitled to the same number of fish as the rest of europe blah blah blah

here's a laugh, if switzerland joined the EU they would be entitled to a quota of 1.5millions per annum in exchange for 3 cuckoo clocks and some pointy chocolate (I might have made some of that up)