bass ban

Ok lads, are we allowed fishing on 15th, or we have to wait till 16th? :?:

You will have to wait till the 16th

its only a little while now :shock:

Roll on Saturday :o ! Have had to sit on my hands for the last month in some of the best bass fishing in the country, nearly drove me insane :x

Saturday it is than :D :D actually tides are looking good just after midnight on Friday :lol:

came across 2 british anglers spinning for bass in dungarvan over the weekend before i pointed out that it was illegal and put them (begrudgingly) on their way :evil:

Seems to be a recurrent theme Paul, I think Liamo came across same story in Kerry last week.

I think as anglers we perhaps take far to much for granted...I think 99% of UK anglers who holiday in Ireland wouldn't even know about a Bass Ban, they're not banned in the UK, so they would expect Ireland to be the same....that's not an excuse, but I think its a fact.

Perhaps anglers should take the time when abroad to find out what rules or laws they need to abide by.

For instance...its against the law to fish for shark from the shore in Florida, but its not against the law to catch one.....so, if a Beach Deputy comes and asks what your looking to catch on that 500lb wire trace with the 10/0 hook and full Ray wing....whatever you say, it will need to be convincing :lol: :lol: :lol: :lol: :lol:

Tom.

yet again proof of a ban that isnt publicized like havin a speedlimit and no signs :lol: :lol: :lol: :lol: :lol: :idea:

Ignorance of the law is no excuse :roll:

If I went to another country and wanted to go fishing I'd make damn sure to find out what rules and regulations were in force before I started. UK and other nationality anglers coming over here and fishing for bass during the closed season have no excuse. Nor do Irish anglers.

As for not publicising the law - that doesn't excuse breaking it. I don't see signs telling me not to break into people's houses, but that doesn't mean I go and do it.
OK, bad example, I am from Dublin, as I'm sure pete will point out. :wink:
But just because you don't see a sign or hear a radio ad publicising a law doesn't mean you can go and break it.

I would say the majority of anglers in Ireland are aware of the Bass closed season.

However, there is a misconception, which is being perpetuated by a lot of people, that the closed season means you only have to return Bass, rather than deliberately not targetting them.

To be fair to anglers that hold this misconception, there is very little publicity surrounding the closed season. How much is spent each year by the authorities posting notices in magazines or newspapers?

I'm not sure about the burglary analogy. I would say that's a law based on morals, rather than technical measures. :D To take another example, suppose you're driving along a road and you ask the three other people in the car what the speed limit is. They all tell you it's 80kph, when it's really 50kph. What would you do? (Not the best example, but you get the idea :D)

I would say the majority of anglers in Ireland are aware of the Bass closed season.

However, there is a misconception, which is being perpetuated by a lot of people, that the closed season means you only have to return Bass, rather than deliberately not targetting them.

To be fair to anglers that hold this misconception, there is very little publicity surrounding the closed season. How much is spent each year by the authorities posting notices in magazines or newspapers?

I'm not sure about the burglary analogy. I would say that's a law based on morals, rather than technical measures. :D To take another example, suppose you're driving along a road and you ask the three other people in the car what the speed limit is. They all tell you it's 80kph, when it's really 50kph. What would you do? (Not the best example, but you get the idea :D)

I disagree Teacher, a misconception, whether held by an angler, or perpetuated by another angler, is still ignorance of the law. At best its a failure to find out what the law is, at worst its deliberate misinterpretation in order to get around it. Either way, its no excuse.
It is very easy to find out what the law actually is. Go online, ring a fisheries board, ask in a tackle shop.
Do you know how much magazine and newspaper ads cost? Do you know how much of a budget the CFB/RFBs get for that kind of work? Its easy to say "do this, do that" but where's the money supposed to come from.

The burglary analogy was probably a bad one, but breaking any law such as the bass closed season, designed to conserve a species, is also a question of morals. IMO, anyone who fishes for bass during the month, has none.
As for your speeding analogy, telling a guard that your mates told you its 80kph isn't going to count for much when he's writing you a ticket!

Posters outlining the close season in tackle shops in the main bass fishing areas would definetly be a start in educating both local and visiting angers, something maybe the Irish Bass Group could look into (maybe they already have?)?

Here's an idea: why don't we pay a rod fee so that they can put a few ads? :twisted: :twisted: Not talking about millions. In some regions in Spain the license costs 3 euro for a full year...

At best its a failure to find out what the law is, at worst its deliberate misinterpretation in order to get around it. Either way, its no excuse.
It is very easy to find out what the law actually is. Go online, ring a fisheries board, ask in a tackle shop.

I've witnessed tackle shops informing anglers who enquire about the ban that they can fish away, they just need to put the fish back. My point is that some anglers may take measures to try to find out, but are given misleading information. But you're right, it's not an excuse for breaking the law.

Do you know how much magazine and newspaper ads cost?

Yep, I've just put a leaflet in Irish Angler. (sorry, cheap shot :oops:)

I'm not blaming the boards at all. I think the problem comes from the top. The government is still failing to recognise the potential of recreational angling and, as a result, isn't providing proper financial support.

As for your speeding analogy, telling a guard that your mates told you its 80kph isn't going to count for much when he's writing you a ticket!

True :lol:

something maybe the Irish Bass Group could look into (maybe they already have?)?

It's on the (growing) list ;)

At best its a failure to find out what the law is, at worst its deliberate misinterpretation in order to get around it. Either way, its no excuse.
It is very easy to find out what the law actually is. Go online, ring a fisheries board, ask in a tackle shop.

I've witnessed tackle shops informing anglers who enquire about the ban that they can fish away, they just need to put the fish back. My point is that some anglers may take measures to try to find out, but are given misleading information. But you're right, it's not an excuse for breaking the law.

Do you know how much magazine and newspaper ads cost?

Yep, I've just put a leaflet in Irish Angler. (sorry, cheap shot :oops:)

I'm not blaming the boards at all. I think the problem comes from the top. The government is still failing to recognise the potential of recreational angling and, as a result, isn't providing proper financial support.

As for your speeding analogy, telling a guard that your mates told you its 80kph isn't going to count for much when he's writing you a ticket!

True :lol:

LOL, Irish Angler would be cheap compared to some! I thought that leaflet might have been your work alright :D

As for tackle shops giving out wrong info, if I was the angler in question and got bad info then got done for breaking the law, I'd be pretty drunk off with the shop, I don't think they'd be getting my business again! :roll:

Fishing for bass by Irish or other nationalities during the bass ban is not proof of failure of publicisation of the bye-laws. Its flouting the law - SIMPLE. Travelling anglers certainly tend to research their species before they choose their destinations - if they are bass fishing in the closed season they havent researched properly or else have an irresponsiible attitude.

Like i said in the other earlier post on this subject, sea anglers are very prepared to condemn sytems or departments, if you not willing to at least understand the issues and resource restrictions at hand, OR not willing or to lazy to do something then dont be quick to lay blame.

Theres no skill or talent in pointing out the obvious - there is much more required of anglers in this country in these days, much more than posting pictures, complaining about fisheries and lack of enforcment, lack of fish or the price of bait.

Where are the postings regarding the last actions of the conservation group or individual or club contributions towards conservation and education, the work achieved with the new alignment of clubs that we forged with the boards?

Seldom, if ever, do i see anything like this...

would have to agree with jim on this one. i feel its the same attitude as speeding on the road. speed limits are very well publisized but if we feel we can get away with going fster we'l chance our arm, ignorance or lack of education isnt even a factor...the bass law is the same.alot of people,(not everyone)will chance their arm if the feel they will get off scott free.

A policeman once told me " Locks only keep honest people out" meaning if a villain wants to get in, he will....likewise the Bass Ban, or any ban for that matter that if not enforced is only going to stop the honest angler who cares....the ones who don't care will try to flout the law and blame everyone but themselves if they are caught and they know the chances of being caught are slim.

Tom.