Catch & Release competitions

**brightsea** · 12-01-2010, 22:31

after readin somewhat wearily a debate amongst anglers about why certain competitions operate kill/weigh in, i am shocked that people would rather adopt a laissez faire approach to arguing for the case for change, citing reasons such as what if people cheat, its only a small number of bass.

Well, people cheat, look at the any top level international sport. And those that do are invariably dicsovered and hounded out of the sport, some to come back with their tails between their legs, and forever be known as cheating scum. Fishing would be no different. It is also true that some people are accused and are innocent. Ultimately they themselves will know the difference.

Competitions may see the removal of few fish compared to the tons taken by pair trawlers, or factory boats hoovering up bait fish. But this does not excuse a laissez faire approach to ecological practice.

Stakeholders (ranging from individual anglers/competitions/private companies/environment agencies/governments) should be encouraged to provide responsbile leadership, and to seek and champion best practice at the scale appropriate to which they are responsible.

If competitions do not take a lead regarding Catch and Release I believe they are shunning their ethical repsonsibility to the sport/actviity which they serve to promote, and i would like to hear thoughts from people who may think otherwise.

A simple "google" will provide a range of Catch and release rules that would restrict cheating to a realistic level from across the world that with no great degree of difficulty be adapted to suit particular compeition needs.

Why can we not debate the various methods on here, a forum with a lively and experienced membership, openly? So that all may have their say and all may put forward ideas.
Ulimately It would be down to tournaments to decide thier own rules as they see fit and for us, as compeitors, as the consumers, to exert our choice, and let market forces decide the outcome.

I hope this sparks debate, rather than personal slights.

**JamesHunt** · 12-01-2010, 22:34

Intresting read,.....but i give it until 11pm before it gets moved to the conservation forum or deleted.

**brightsea** · 12-01-2010, 22:38

I think the best place to discuss lure caught catch and release tounrament rules would be the salt,fly lure and plug fishing/meets matches etc board. Unless i am missing something??

**JamesHunt** · 12-01-2010, 22:49

Originally Posted by brightsea

I think the best place to discuss lure caught catch and release tounrament rules would be the salt,fly lure and plug fishing/meets matches etc board. Unless i am missing something??

I understand, but i always am under then impression that somthing like this will eventually get out of hand, and there for should be placed in the conservation forum where i believe returning fish would come under.....
If you want me to remove my post i will.
I dont want to cause any problems etc.................

**Graham Hill** · 13-01-2010, 09:14

Originally Posted by brightsea

after readin somewhat wearily a debate amongst anglers about why certain competitions operate kill/weigh in, i am shocked that people would rather adopt a laissez faire approach to arguing for the case for change, citing reasons such as what if people cheat, its only a small number of bass.

Well, people cheat, look at the any top level international sport. And those that do are invariably dicsovered and hounded out of the sport, some to come back with their tails between their legs, and forever be known as cheating scum. Fishing would be no different. It is also true that some people are accused and are innocent. Ultimately they themselves will know the difference.

Competitions may see the removal of few fish compared to the tons taken by pair trawlers, or factory boats hoovering up bait fish. But this does not excuse a laissez faire approach to ecological practice.

Stakeholders (ranging from individual anglers/competitions/private companies/environment agencies/governments) should be encouraged to provide responsbile leadership, and to seek and champion best practice at the scale appropriate to which they are responsible.

If competitions do not take a lead regarding Catch and Release I believe they are shunning their ethical repsonsibility to the sport/actviity which they serve to promote, and i would like to hear thoughts from people who may think otherwise.

A simple "google" will provide a range of Catch and release rules that would restrict cheating to a realistic level from across the world that with no great degree of difficulty be adapted to suit particular compeition needs.

Why can we not debate the various methods on here, a forum with a lively and experienced membership, openly? So that all may have their say and all may put forward ideas.
Ulimately It would be down to tournaments to decide thier own rules as they see fit and for us, as compeitors, as the consumers, to exert our choice, and let market forces decide the outcome.

I hope this sparks debate, rather than personal slights.

Well put Sir ,there are only a few comps as far as Bass are concerened in the Uk(jersey,weymouth) and to be fair due to the probable inexperience of the organisers in the proper match fishing world of C@R it is easier to go the keeping way,,i know this has been thought of in the upcoming 2010 weymouth comp and to be fair considerations for C@R are been banded about by the organisers but as discussed in earlier threads hard to deal with on there part,,,

i certainly agree that the C@R route is the way to go and implementing that route into Future organised comps,,,,
then i would say you can create a proper league table,manufacturers within the fishing world would endorse the series easier ,, sponsorship and every thing that goes with that to push our sport out of the doldrums,,
i Believe for ALL our love of Bass Lure fishing to move forward the old ideas of keeping fish for a weigh in have to left behind, and the fact is,! that there is no reason in the world why this cannot happen,,,,

gee

**steve pitts** · 13-01-2010, 09:53

See here for an example of what can be acheived.
http://ukbass.com/2006/11/first-c-r-trophy-awarded.html

I'm sure that BASS would be more that willing to explore opportunities to support competition organisers promote and conduct C&R in competitions by providing length / weight tape measures (http://ukbass.com/2008/04/bass-measuring-tape.html ) etc, but ultimately, such comps will always be based to a large extent on trust.

Cheers
Steve

**brightsea** · 13-01-2010, 15:10

Originally Posted by steve pitts

See here for an example of what can be acheived.
http://ukbass.com/2006/11/first-c-r-trophy-awarded.html

I'm sure that BASS would be more that willing to explore opportunities to support competition organisers promote and conduct C&R in competitions by providing length / weight tape measures (http://ukbass.com/2008/04/bass-measuring-tape.html ) etc, but ultimately, such comps will always be based to a large extent on trust.

Cheers
Steve

Think that with the easy avaibility of digital cameras, cheap memory cards (which could be issued by competitions), not a great deal of technical wizardry, some offical measurement devices, and some further thoughts and discussions the ability to limit opportunity for those who must cheat (to a realistic degree) can be done fairly easily if people put their mind to it

**Tunny** · 13-01-2010, 23:34

BrightSea,
This has to be a trolling post.
catch and release post from from someone that lists a 6.8lb bass taken with a spear-Classic Did you put it back???

Thanks BrightSea, best chuckle I have had in ages!!

**JamesHunt** · 13-01-2010, 23:50

Originally Posted by Tunny

BrightSea,
This has to be a trolling post.
catch and release post from from someone that lists a 6.8lb bass taken with a spear-Classic Did you put it back???

Thanks BrightSea, best chuckle I have had in ages!!

LOL!!!
I didnt notice that!

tern · 13-01-2010, 23:56

Originally Posted by Tunny

BrightSea,
This has to be a trolling post.
catch and release post from from someone that lists a 6.8lb bass taken with a spear-Classic Did you put it back???

Thanks BrightSea, best chuckle I have had in ages!!

Tunny stop trying too start arguments, this thread is clearly about C&R in competitions. Its a shame you didn't take note of the posters last sentence.