Legal Vs Recommended

[phill_itofish]

No bother matey, I still stand by my decision which was the right one IMO.

i dont disagree the limit should be at least 27cm for flounder IMO i just dont think the infomation is very clear

[Topfly]

I was talking to a couple of sea fisheries protection lads (land based) on Monday when i was down Roker, they had their bins and radio and were watching the pier. I think we will see a lot more of them, which is a good thing for all genuine anglers, because they will make sure the size limits are adhered to.

[The Great Wallsendo]

I personally think Flounder minimum size should be at least 30cm...a just size Flounder weighs 7oz (I know this because if you multiply this by 2 you get my seasons gross weight for the Club )

[codseeker]

also codling at 35 and theres nowt in weight really just say managing a pound and ya wudnt get a meal out of it

[treeboa]

I was talking to a couple of sea fisheries protection lads (land based) on Monday when i was down Roker, they had their bins and radio and were watching the pier. I think we will see a lot more of them, which is a good thing for all genuine anglers, because they will make sure the size limits are adhered to.

well lets hope when they catch the e.u `workers` that they give them the same fines as we would get rather than use the excuse that "they dont speak english", i have personally heard that one used when digging bait on merseyside and was spoken to by one officer and i asked him if he was going to go see the asians that were hitting the beach taking all and everything

[Topfly]

Let's hope Treeboa, That's the whole idea of having size limits, so everyone understands the rules, like you say . all singing from the same hymn book. I don't care if they cant speak the lingo, ignorance is no defense.
I think Jim's idea of getting DEFRA / AT to distribute ( multilingual ) leaflets or laminated size charts through tackle dealers and Angling clubs would be the way to go... Tony look what you've started

[The Great Wallsendo]

Let's hope Treeboa, That's the whole idea of having size limits, so everyone understands the rules, like you say . all singing from the same hymn book. I don't care if they cant speak the lingo, ignorance is no defense.
I think Jim's idea of getting DEFRA / AT to distribute ( multilingual ) leaflets or laminated size charts through tackle dealers and Angling clubs would be the way to go... Tony look what you've started

Or maybe Clubs should also take it upon themselves to make members aware... like you say ignorance shouldn't be an excuse - but I agree that DEFRA/AT maybe to take the bull by the horns a little on this one

[RobAdair]

As this thread seems to be directed at me, I would like to point out that it was not my intention to "vilify" anyone and I was simply pointing out the fact that lots of anglers (especially youngsters) may not be aware of size limits and could therefore innocently take undersized fish.

I do not know Brian and certainly have no gripe with him. My post came in response to the photos of undersized bass that my 13 year old sons mates sent him yesterday.

In response to the sizes that I stated, I always use the size chart on the South Shields Sea Angling Club website for reference, which states the following:

c) Size limits ( Northern Federation ) No fish measured from nose to tip of tail below the following sizes can be weighed in.

Bass 41 cms Pollack 35cms
Cod 35 cms Pouting 25cms
Coalfish 35 cms Sole 30cms
Dab 25cms Sole (Lemon) 30cms
Eel No Limit Turbot 40cms
Flounder 30cms Mackeral 30cms
Gurnard 25cms Whiting 30cms
Haddock 30cms Plaice 30cms

No other sea fish less than 30cms can be weighed in.

I'll probably get into trouble for reproducing this without permission next, but hay ho!

[The Great Wallsendo]

Rob I certainly wasn't having a pop at anyone mate...which is why I started a new thread so as not to directly infer relation to anyones comments...my thinking was merely prompted by Brians thread and some of the coments within

I started this thread because there is a lot of people out there that take the (now defunct) NFSA sizes as gospel and interpret them to be legal...which they are not - merely advisory

def not aimed at anyone I can assure you - just borne out my own pedantry

[Topfly]

Tony, as i said earlier a good thread, if i had thought you were having a dig at someone i would have not contributed, but i know you are not like
that.
Rob , I'm in the Shields club and go by their sizes, but i think the whole thing needs an overhaul . tight lines Jim,

[willywetegg]

"Or maybe Clubs should also take it upon themselves to make members aware... like you say ignorance shouldn't be an excuse - but I agree that DEFRA/AT maybe to take the bull by the horns a little on this one"

Tony, if you didn't have a PC, where would you go to get the legal size limits of fish?

I think that by the time people get to fishing clubs they will know the minimum sizes, as I doubt there are many that have bought gear and joined a club straight away. I think the first time they brought back a bagful of undersize fish they would find out the legal sizes

A tackle shop is probably the first place that anyone going fishing for the first time will come in contact with, unless going with family or a friend. If you are going with someone that is experienced they should inform you. I say should because I had to find out for myself by asking about instead of guessing.

When I first started fishing I didn't know there was a legal size, small fish were never kept as it was a case of "We would only take them if we could get a decent meal out of them". I bet it was a couple of years before I found out more info about it and that was by meeting and talking to fishermen. I first started fishing on a boat, I've never seen anyone measure a fish on a boat yet and when I started from the shore was given lots of info but mostly duff lol. No PCs and very difficult to find decent books with up to date info in those days. Even today, you come away from the coast and try and find info without using your PC and you will find it difficult as a lot of tackle dealers just cater for the fresh water fisherman and don't have the faintest idea (or interest) in the sea side of our sport.

Defra make the rules and they should do as much as they can to get information where it is needed, they should also be out more too, checking to see that people have the correct info.

Jim.

[5150]

Just to hoy my usual spanner in the works, but would you all stop harping about minimum size limits for one minute and consider maximum size limits? I've said this time and time before, taking undersize fish is bad but taking BREEDING size fish is worse - deplete the breeding stock and the undersize ones simply won't be there, it's a simple fact.

I've taken bass upto 7.5lb off our coast, I feel very sad to look back and realise that having done so probably impacted the shoals of schoolies in years to come. I can see lately we're getting loads of them in my area since the power station vanished - perhaps because the big fish aren't drawn in-shore and caught as often - all my fish over 5lb were from the former Cambois hot pipe and when caught I'm sorry to say fed my family, but I know the majority caught by other people went to be sold to restaurants as a side income for people.

So yeah, don't take the schoolies, but lets realise that taking the big fish, size legal as they may be. like you see on the covers of the magazines is even worse long term as you're killing the future generations before they are even spawned.

[bozjc]

Just to hoy my usual spanner in the works, but would you all stop harping about minimum size limits for one minute and consider maximum size limits? I've said this time and time before, taking undersize fish is bad but taking BREEDING size fish is worse - deplete the breeding stock and the undersize ones simply won't be there, it's a simple fact.

I've taken bass upto 7.5lb off our coast, I feel very sad to look back and realise that having done so probably impacted the shoals of schoolies in years to come. I can see lately we're getting loads of them in my area since the power station vanished - perhaps because the big fish aren't drawn in-shore and caught as often - all my fish over 5lb were from the former Cambois hot pipe and when caught I'm sorry to say fed my family, but I know the majority caught by other people went to be sold to restaurants as a side income for people.

So yeah, don't take the schoolies, but lets realise that taking the big fish, size legal as they may be. like you see on the covers of the magazines is even worse long term as you're killing the future generations before they are even spawned.

well said ;D

i never catch any fish that would warrant a maximum size limit.

i do however adopt the thinking of keeping 1 fish and returning 2 when i am salmon fishing. not that i ever catch any in big numbers, but they have gone through so much, to get where they have been caught.
just what i do, i know a few other lads that do it, i also know a few lads that keep everything they catch.
i was looking at the number of fish landed and the number or fish retained vs number of fish returned for the last few years on the tyne, the % being returned seems to be going up quite alot.

there are many things that would benefit the fish stocks, but they need to be addressed by the officials, i dont think i have ever been to a tackle shop that has a size limit chart on display for all to see?? bar the fish rules.

if i am pleasure fishing, i keep the decent fish. they will never go unused, the same goes for fishing a comp.

[The Great Wallsendo]

Tony, if you didn't have a PC, where would you go to get the legal size limits of fish?

You are right of course Jim...it is easy to make sweeping comments while at work in front of a PC 8 hours a day (then another 8 at home )

Maximum Sizes are another good point...

[willywetegg]

Lol Tony, not having a go just a bit of devil's advocate mate.

Some very good (and important) points being discussed.

Jim.