Help plz

[toonarchie]

as someone who has fairly recently taken up the sport, i would say that the onus is on the individual to know the legal sizes, however, a small amount of common sense wouldn't come in wrong (something that in some is sadly lacking). one suggestion could be for tackle shops to carry small cards with sizes on them, and maybe even a cheap tape, the likes of which they have in ikea. andy.

[codseeker]

Hello,
I keep a lot of cod that I catch as long as they are over the minimum size limit of 35cm (14") as recommended by both DEFRA and NFSA.
I also return some cod but I do keep a lot more than I return. The decision to keep them or not is my decision..............and my decision only.

I keep a healthy stock of cod fillets in my freezer for myself, my family and friends. I am comfortable doing this and I take great offence to anyone suggesting that I am doing anything wrong.

I think that the subject of catch and release should be the personal choice of the individual angler, as long as the fish are above the minimum landing size.

I don't agree with anyone preaching catch and release on a forum such as this, in my opinion it plays straight into the hands of those that want to impose bag limits and restrictions on our sport. Also I would hate to see someone not post their catches for fear of being lambasted by another forum user.

The real problem lies with the common fisheries policy and the current discard situation, not with a handful of anglers proudly taking a few fish home for the table.

Regards Ian.

now that meks sense ian if ya landing fish and size its your choice no one elses its within the law

[codcatcher3000]

this is how i go about . if i wanna eat it i will take it home if its size. if i have what i want than the rest goes back in the water sized or not. if u see anyone taking undersized fish inform them (firm and polite).some of the ethnic anglers may not know the local laws . im sure they would prefer a whopper to take home .we see repeated request in magazines / forums asking for info on sized fish . yet next to pier / popular fishing spots we dont see any signs or information of what minimum sizes are but which DJs are on next in the local nightclub. in a way i guess its up to informed anglers to inform the less informed.

[lingking]

post removed

[kayos]

Well kayos I don't think I tell you all to not freeze fish I am saying that's what I do plz read again.
At the end of the day we all love the same thing an we must stop under size fish from being taken inform people of sizes that can be taken.

"Not to freeze down fresh fish is the best we all no that" - Your words mate!

[Longday]

This is how it was men to reed full stop in wrong place.......If I am going to take a fish to eat take what you are going to eat when it's fresh Not to freeze down.fresh fish is the best we all no that.but if I go fishing if I am not going to eat it in the next day are two I put it back no mater what size it is.

[kopite2k06]

If its size theres nowt wrong wiv takin it end of story thats what laws are there for. Crackin idea codcatcher we should pressure local aurthorities to put a sign up with legal catch sizes on at every pier and any easily accessed mark to educate beginners. Id hate to think experienced anglers are takin undersize fish.

[g.ordon]

I'm certain I've been on a pier around here with fish and min sizes displayed, just can't put finger on it, might have been seahouses, probably not, somewhere though

[loopy]

Mls

MLS

Recommended Retention Size Limits (RRSLs) & DEFRA Minimum Landing Sizes (MLSs)

[paulthespark]

[QUOTE=elliott.e;315113]well said, if a fish is in size it is purely personal choice, end of story. no point taking the moral high ground.
no excuses however for taking home undersize fish, i know that a lot of chinese and asian angler's have been mentioned on here a few times re garding this but they aren't the only ones...[/QUOT


there is a train of thought with some sea anglers that it would be better for the preservation of our fish stocks if we took home the undersize fish and released the bigger spawning fish