Saltwater Boat Angling — December 2017

Saltwater Boat Angling 3

WELCOME TO THE DECEMBER ISSUE

Well as the year draws to a close we’ve got another

great issue for you. Firstly Jim and I went out to try and

catch some cod – you can fi nd out how that went on

page 28, we were encouraged because there have been

reports in Sussex of commercials catching big hauls

close in. We’ve also got some more reports on

competitions including the Kiddy Pink Rod Comp –

competitors are only allowed 6’ pink rods and 6lb line.

Despite this some great fi sh were caught. We also report

on the annual Old Gits Event and the more serious

Weymouth International Boat Angling Championships.

We’ve got more on one of my favourite fi sh; the gilthead

bream. Not only the story of the record but how Kyle

Waterhouse targets them in the Helford River. There is

also and an interesting look at a new angling club which

is based as far from the sea as you could wish to go.

We’ve got all our regulars and including Simon Everett

wondering why fl ounders are in decline, we review the

new Ocqueteau, look at some interesting new tackle

from Masterline and there is also an article written in

conjunction with the Royal Yatching Association about

skippering qualifi cations – something all small boat

owners should do.

CHRISTMAS IS COMING

As a special bonus, and because Christmas is

approaching, we have some suggestions from our

columnists on page 78 onwards for stocking fi llers and

presents for anglers – just so you can drop some hints to

your family.

UPDATE ON BASS REGULATIONS FOR 2018

It’s the time of year for bass regulations to be decided

for 2018 and the current advice from ICES (International

Council for the Exploration of the Sea) is the same as last

year – recommended no take for commercial and

recreational fi shing. This advice leaves very little room

for manoeuvre and they now include survey results of

recreational catches from 2016 in addition to taking into

account an estimated 15 per cent post release mortality

impact from recreational fi shing. There are some very

urgent questions remaining about this survey data

on recreational angling take so the Angling Trust, and

others, have been in contact with Cefas to demand some

answers. However, for the time being, the ICES advice

remains what it is and will probably mean, at best, the

current restrictions will remain in place.

The facts are that bass stocks are crashing, down from

19,000 tonnes in 201 0 to 6400 tonnes last year, which is

below the level where the stock is critically endangered.

None of this is news but the key issue is that recreational

fi shing has a minimal impact on the stock levels

compared to that of commercial fi shing and to further

restrict angling eff ort on the basis of uncertain statistics

would be very unfair. This is without taking into account

the massive disparity between the economic input of

recreational angling and the much lower input of

commercial fi shing to the economies of our coastal

communities. Rest assured the Angling Trust, BASS and

hopefully the EAA will pull out all the stops and prevent

any erosion of anglers ability to target this fi ne sport fi sh.

The Angling Trust has issued a statement on this which

says ”We urge the EU Commission to target a minimum

5% growth in the bass stock in 2018, by removing the

unavoidable by-catch loophole for fi xed netting which

facilitated illegal targeted fi shing, reducing the

commercial hook and line allowance to 1.0 tonne per

annum, and extending the six 6-month moratorium to

apply to both commercial fi sheries and members of the

public fi shing recreationally. There can be no justifi cation,

as we have demonstrated, for increasing the already

severe restrictions on members of the public fi shing

recreationally for publicly-owned bass, who have already

borne a disproportionate burden of restrictions.” Amen

to that, we'll keep you posted!

And fi nally, keep sending in your Snowbee Big Fish

Charter Boat competition entries. The latest winner is

announced on page 6.

Tim Macpherson

Saltwater Boat Angling

Publisher/Managing Editor:

Tim Macpherson [email protected] 07721361367

Contributing Editor:

Jim Whippy, [email protected] Tel: 07718 766388

Copy Editor: Kate Tym

Contributors: Dana Benner, Simon Everett, Sam Harris, Irene Hodgson, Mike

Millman, David Mitchell, Matt Roberts, Je Smith, John Steele, David Turner,

Sam Wadman, Kyle Waterhouse, Des Westmore

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Editorial

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