a good winter season, hopefully

[paulthespark]

i have been reading our shore catch reports and correct me if I'm wrong, but they have for once at this time of year been very good with lots of codling landed, no big uns as yet but that is to be expected ,I've had six all ready in the 1to 2 lbs bracket in september and 5 on feathers from the shore during august which i never had since the early 70's, so for me, and by reading your catch reports things are looking up, do you think that this has anything to do with the E.U policy on preserving our stocks or are the cod making a fight back on there own[and all the other fish species that live around our coast]

[<(Andy2009)>]

I to hav noticed this mate, alot showing 4 the time of year. Ano weve had gud seas recently, but hopefully this is a sign of things to come. Lets hope for sum big'uns too.

[seanyrooroo]

Don't think its to do with the EU. Its just simply put "a codling boom". This usually coincides with a very cold winter like the one we had 2 years ago. This years codling are are result of those. Last winter was the coldest winter for 30 odd years, so we should be due another codling boom in a couple of seasons. This years smaller fish will all be 3lb+ next season and then bigger again the year after. Obviously the number will reduce every year until we're back to nowt again but this does happen every now and again. The last one I remember was 1997, I had over 200 sized codling that year and remember lads taking bagfuls from the beach every time I went down. Enjoy it while it lasts as it will eventually drop off again.

[Deans]

agree with that.
a lot of the older anglers always told me that if you have a cold winter with numerous northerlys, its usually the following winter when the cod 'bite'

I think it would take a much more radical change from the commercials to make such a sudden change with the shore fishing

[eddie t]

Very true sean but you always seem to hit the fish no matter what lol

Like the lads say it got nowt to with E.U mate just enjoy it and i hope you have a great winter session.

[g-force]

Add to that the fact the netters haven't been out for a while since reaching their quotas - that could all change come the next few days when they're back out. Tens of miles of nets been laid out on the fish quay just waiting to hit the water...........

Gary

[bozjc]

as above with garys post.

but it has been a canny start to the season ;D