JUVENILE BASS HIT BY FREEZING TEMPERATURES
Not much good news around at the moment, I have to say! Future bass stocks look set to take a dip in numbers due to this winter’s prolonged cold snap.

Recruitment of first year bass was at a minimum from 2005 to 2007, but the 2008 breed looked to be much more promising. However the freezing cold temperatures which beset us for so long has put the juvenile bass residing in the shallow estuary nursery areas at major risk and if these don’t survive in number, then obviously overall stocks will drop appreciably in the future.

The fear is that with bass being such an intensely targeted commercial fish, a non-quota fish, and unfortunately popular in restaurants thanks to TV chefs continually banging on about how incredibly good they taste, then if they become scarce the price will rise and more commercial activity will ensue further depleting breeding stocks.

That bodes the question, are bass that great to eat in comparison to other species? It’s a personal thing, but a lot of people actually find bass quite an average eating fish when asked preferring John Dory, fresh haddock, sole and turbot. I fall in to that category myself, bass taste ok, but I personally prefer fresh haddock and ling.

It would be interesting to see the public’s reaction if you showed them a bass with worm infestation in the gut. You don’t get too many of these, but when it’s bad it would put you off eating fish for life! Now there’s a thought for restocking the seas.

ARTICLE 47 ANGLER’S RESPONSE
Thanks aimed at sea anglers is rarely forthcoming, but I’d like to say a heartfelt “Thanks” to each and every one of you that has taken time to respond to your MEP’s voicing concerns at the proposals to include recreational sea anglers in the commercial catch quota system via Article 47.

Mike Jnr and I sent scores of e-mails and letters out and had a good and positive response back from MEP’s from all factions. I’m getting the impression that the response from anglers has been possibly the best ever re overall numbers responding.

Only time will tell if it’s had an effect, as all to often common sense falls on deaf ears within the EU!

Too many anglers, and even charter skippers, typically though couldn’t be bothered with all too common comments being given such as “They’ll never implement it”, “They’ll not stop me fishing” and “I’ll just tell them to **** off”.  Fines up to £50,000 could be imposed if you’re found to be in breach of the law if the proposal goes through, and if you’re willing to risk that, then live with it. I don’t have that sort of dosh to waste and need my fishing to be affordable and legal.

It’s important for all anglers to understand getting involved and making your own thoughts individually known are vitally important. The RSA Licence and then Article 47 are just the beginning and we as sea anglers will be constantly under threat in the future to a greater or lesser degree. We all need to do our bit, each and every time. If you’re a true sea angler, then you’ll want to respond from your heart. If you don’t feel that emotion, then you should question your interest in sea fishing altogether!

THE REAL EEL DEAL
The Irish Government has submitted a plan to the EU Fisheries Commission proposing a ban on commercial eel fishing in Ireland. Rightly so! The Irish are all so often the first to do something positive when action needs to be taken!

The reason for the proposal is that the Irish eel population is at an all time low and are feared to be now outside safe biological limits. The concern is if something isn’t done, and quickly, then eels may become extinct in the long term.

The Irish proposals include an immediate stopping of all commercial eel fishing and the closure of the market, improvement of water quality, and safe passage in all rivers for migrating eels. They also propose to maintain a three-year cyclical evaluation of the eel populace until 2018 to fully monitor their progress, and every six years after that.

This severe reduction in eel numbers is evident here in the UK too. Sea anglers fishing estuaries throughout the country were once plagued with eels at certain times of year, but now it’s a rarity to catch one in many areas. This is partly due to over fishing by commercials with the elver fishery in The Severn Estuary a prime example where juvenile eels are caught, but also to poor water quality in many rivers in the past and the lack of easy passage for migrating eels due to man manipulating the river systems.

Although a very few anglers in the Southeast partial to jellied eels and mash for tea do take the odd eel, generally eels are not a species UK sea anglers deliberately target, and as mentioned even catch very often nowadays, so for once we can’t be blamed. That said, any sea anglers catching eels, it’s worth making absolutely sure they are handled correctly and returned alive to the water immediately.

Any anglers thinking “so what if the eels disappear” need to think again! Eels are an essential part of the eco-system and taking just one species out of the game can have serious repercussions for other species within that habitat. Each has its part to play which is why Mother Nature put them there!

There is some suggestion that UK anglers may be approached to contribute to a survey on eels in estuaries in the future, and WSF will keep you informed for those of you that would be interested in helping record any eel catches for scientific purposes as more information becomes available.