Minimum size for codling

[RONVIK]

can someone tell me what the minimum size for codling is in the u.k. want to compare

in danish waters it use to be 38 cm, but i just found out that it has been lowered to 30 cm which disgusts me because fish of that size are so under developed that there cant be much flesh on them as they are nearly 2/3 head. all this talk about saving cod stocks and now this! it just does`nt make sense to me.
my personal minimum size for cod is 45 to 50 cm and any damaged fish under that.

[sless]

35cm

[codonly]

35cm.wish it was 38 or 40 though

[RONVIK]

The thing that gets my back up is every time i go fishing at my favorite sea wall, i see the same group of people(non danes!) bagging 10 to 15 cod or flatties, all way too small. and they are fishing nearly every night. iam no expert with mathmatics but i estimate about 100+ fish a night.
i dont mean to be whining but in the end its a lot of small fish being removed.
:

[RONVIK]

oh and thanks lads for the info. forgot

[Topfly]

Hi Ronvik, Have you got any SFCs or conservation structures in place in Denmark, someone needs to tell those morons that it is not right / legal to take such small fish.

[RONVIK]

Hi, i think i will have to look into it a bit more. i have never once seen any form of control, i think its left down to trust with the fishermen.
since the doors of europe have opened, 1000`s of east europeans have come looking for work.they are not bad people, they just have a different way of life. in holland for example the dutch people have complained to the authorities about the polish guest-workers fishing in ponds, canals etc. they keep everything they catch. the authorities said its not illegal to eat these fish, there is no law against it, we just dont do it ourselves, thats why it seems strange to the dutch.( carp steak anyone, or perch on a stick!)

iam thinking about printing a few small posters and putting them up where they fish, in 4 different languages. they need to know that there is a minimum size.

[Mogthemackem]

Good idea ron. I teach the kids that 35cm is a minimum but to use their heads when taking fish home to eat as a just sized fis woul be no good really. Most people I know will only keep just sized fish for a comp otherwise they'd all be thrown back.