Catch and release comps

[fishfinder]

Not being a match fisher and new to the whole comp thang..was wondering what everybody does with there whiting after these events??? Now with the sluice comp on tomorrow and the seas being the way they are would assume that a few fishing this event would be targeting whiting and due to the amount that will probably be caught it doesn\'t seem right if they are just caught and binned which brings me back to the question!!! Is it at all possible to have a catch and release comp.

[John_Rambo]

hi m8 i think i would fish more comps if they were catch and release but to steward an open of any great size would be a nightmare and probably impossible \' the worst sight at the weigh in is seeing people empty there fish bags on the scales which are full of flounder now these are not a nice fish to eat and can be kept alive in a bucket of water then released later. i will be fishing the sluice open tomorrow and have a good feeling for the beacons .

[sless]

all of the whitings caught in the cleadon club are given to the pensioners of the club
along with the odd cod

[IanW]

I reckon the problem with open competitions is there would need to be nearly as many marshalls as fishermen to keep an eye on things.

Not really going to work for that.

A fixed location could be a different matter though.

[john.frain]

most of the big comps they have down south eg the deal open and the ones on the dover breakwater they can be marshalled but as you say impossible for comps up here.

all has to be down to trust and honesty from all who fish must say never came across any dodgy stuff but some of the fish that get weighed in it makes you wonder........

john

[crack-off!]

I fish most of the catch and release flounder matches on the solway in the spring and dont be fooled by the \"catch and release\" tag.At least half of the fish die anyway,as the damage is done by guthooking.Once a flounder is bleeding it is f***ed!(the same applies to all fish bleeding at the gills)
Dont get me wrong,if half can swim away that is great but as the tide dropped back at port carlisle last year there were dead fish everywhere.
Also to have a match catch and release it would need to be pegged and there is no way that would work on our coastline.

[sless]

andy rutherford told me years ago bleeding fish will die

ive got no reason not to believe him

[willywetegg]

Heard the same years ago also Sless. How many times have we all seen dead fish on the beach at low water when we have been walking off. Like the idea of what you do at your club, good idea.

Jim.

[alan]

surprised the nfsa has\'nt increased the minimum size of Whiting,some of them do look a bit suspect at the comps !

[willywetegg]

Couldn\'t agree more Alan. I think 35 cms would help a bit.
I bet all the lads south of the tyne can remember some of the biggger Whiting that were caught a few years ago, there were some gooduns.
Caught some beauties down Hendon and Roker area.

Jim.

[sless]

our club size is 30cm

if some lads get thier way next year they will be banned

knobs

[willywetegg]

When fishing a comp you fish for what is available simple as that. Mind that said Graham would save you having to weigh anything each week or having to put a catch report on here.

Jim.

[sless]

too right on both points

[jamcod]

dont you think as theirs a shortage of cod the minimum cod size should be put up not whiting as there is loads of them. jamcod

[sless]

i couldnt catch a cod if i had a net