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Sea Angling News
ISSUE 253 NOVEMBER 2016
NEWS - BOAT & SHORE CATCH REPORTS - TACKLE REVIEWS - ANGLER FRIENDLY ACCOMMODATION - COMPETITIONS - FEATURES
Ltd.
LIFEGUARD LURES BIG CORNISH BASS
Prestige sea fishing tackle
www.snowbee.co.uk RECREATIONAL ANGLING TRADE STRUGGLES TO MAKE ENDS MEET AS BASS RESTRICTIONS BITE Angling charter boat skippers in England have seen revenues slashed by more than one-fifth as a result of tough restrictions on recreational bass fishing introduced this year. Anglers have been reluctant to spend up to £600 a day on bass charter fishing trips only to be allowed to take one fish home to eat. As a result, coastal communities are losing several million pounds in valuable tourism revenue as anglers stay away. The findings are the result of three separate surveys carried out among charter boat skippers, bass guides and sea anglers to determine the true socio-economic impacts of “conservation” measures for recreational bass angling introduced last January. These included a six month notake period for anglers from January to June, followed by a one fish per day bag limit from July to December, which many felt disproportionately impacted the recreational sea angling (RSA) community. A survey carried out by the Professional Boatman’s Association (PBA) showed that an estimated £2.87 million is projected to be lost by charter boat businesses, which take anglers to sea to fish recreationally for bass and other species. The losses amount to more than 50 per cent of the total value of commercial bass landings in the UK, with individual charter skippers reporting an average of 22 fewer bookings and losing more than £8,000 in revenues. A survey carried out by the Angling Trust of bass angling guides, who offer a tailored service for small groups of anglers from the shore or from small boats, also reported 30 – 70 per cent fewer bookings in May and June this year compared to 2015. This reduction in bass angling activity was supported by the results of an online survey of sea anglers run through the University of Southampton, with many confirming that, as a result of the restrictions, they now had a reduced inclination to go bass fishing. Fewer bass fishing trips will also have had a knockon effect on coastal tackle shops, accommodation, restaurants, pubs, petrol stations and other businesses, and this is particularly damaging in deprived coastal towns. A further estimated £3 million is estimated to be lost in revenues to coastal businesses this year as a result. Ian Noble, Chairman of the PBA, recently presented the findings of the socio-economic surveys to members of the European Parliament at a bass forum event in Brussels organised by the European Angler’s Alliance. This event brought together key stakeholder groups to discuss the potential management measures for bass stocks in 2017, with angling groups eager to emphasise that further restrictions to recreational anglers would be unacceptable and highly damaging.
WINNER North Cornwall Lifeguard 26 year old Joe Todd used his local knowledge of the area to fish an obscure low water rock mark. Knowing that the weather and sea state was safe to venture out to fish this particular mark he dressed in his wetsuit, a valuable piece of equipment which has become the norm around here for fishing these wet rough marks and he was rewarded with his PB Bass weighing in at 14lb 14oz. Joe was fishing over rough ground in about a metre of water or less using a 9 ft Garbolino spinning rod CW 15 to 40gms paired up with an Abu Soron 40
reel loaded with 30lb braid and a 30lb flouro carbon leader. Joe explained that because of the terrain here they tend to fish heavier than normal. Joe was using a 12 cm hard plastic lure ( the actual make and model he is keeping to himself) Joe's lure was about 10m out when the big Bass took. Said Joe,' As soon as the fish took it thrashed its tail on top of the water. After an awesome fight I was eventually able to land the fish by lifting it in the swell and letting the sea drop it at my feet. I immediately jumped on it to secure it' Joe then added, ' I fish for sport and I do keep the occasional bass for the table. I tried my best for
several minutes to get the treble hooks out of the fish but it had completely engulfed the 12 cm lure and was damaged. I had no choice but to sadly dispatch it.' Joe then told me that he intends to try single hooks on his lure in order to minimalise injury to any future Bass. This can only be a good thing! Joe's previous PB was 7 1/2 lb. There have been a few good Bass taken in North Cornwall in the last 3 or 4 weeks including another lure caught fish of 13lb 2oz.
Ian Noble said: “The bass restrictions are causing severe financial problems for the charter boat industry and supporting service groups whilst netting of bass is rewarded with an increased quota. The unfairness is staggering.” Charter skipper Paul Whittall from Weymouth in Dorset said: “So far I’ve had 36 bass fishing trips cancelled as a direct result of the measures placed on anglers. That’s over £21,000 in loss of income. I wonder whether those politicians who decided on the measures would be happy having their income cut like this too.” David Mitchell, the Angling Trust’s Head of Marine, said: “Recreational anglers and the businesses that supply them with goods and services have taken a disproportionately severe hit from this year’s bass conservation measures. Angling has a relatively small impact on bass but pumps millions of pounds into coastal communities. The current system sees bass stocks still in decline due to commercial fishing while angling dependent businesses suffer too – it’s madness.”