RANT!!

Since i have started fishing i have met a lot of nice people both foreign and domestic but it made my stomach turn when one evening fish near ballycotton on the way home i thought i would stop by the pier to have a look what the fishing was like to my disgust there were a group of lads from a certain eastern european country ( i think we all know which one ) fishing and catching congers of all sizes but instead of wearing a protective glove or usuing some sort of disgorger or even just cutting the line to get there hooks back they were driving a screwdriver through the heads of the congers so they could safely remove there hooks then because they knew they could not eat them were just kicking them back into the sea. I was astonisehed i have never seen such blatant cruelty or stupidity in my life this is what gives all foreign fishermen a bad name when it is only the minority who act in this way.

I know its easy to blame the 'foreigners' on everything but there does seem to be a problem with them and the lack of respect they show the fish they catch. In Arklow they are catching postage stamp size flatties and bringing them home and when they were confronted about this they shouted it was their business and nobody else's.

as alot of people know on this site the one place i love to fish for conger is ballycotton !! im heading down on sunday morning for the day ! and if it happens on sunday ere will be war ! its a disgrace !!

deport em!

the best way to deal with these kind of people - native and non-native - is to lead by example - catch, photo, and return in front of them.

let the declining economy take care of the rest.

(mod edit) they dont care about killing everything no matter how much their told so why should we care about them!! i for one are sick of pussy footing around (edit), trying to explain the rights and wrongs and they show no respect for the fish or the area they fish in. sorry for goin off on one but between these animals and the other local animals illegally netting im at we wits end.

ps i know theres some foreign lads who use the sight and have full respect for the fish and enviroment and this not aimed at you.

Careful here lads.

There is nothing wrong with debate and discussion. We (mods) will not tolerate any abuse or incitement to violence on this or any other thread.

Thanks.

Hi all,
fair enough on the points been made here as i could'nt agree more with what is been said but as jim says here we all have to be careful with airing our point of views ,or have we all forgotten what happened the turbot bank and the blonde rays!
Lads we all know that these individuals have little or no regard for our fishery laws or our littering laws,but seriously lets not stoop lower ,please don't engage anything more than a few dirty looks as these guys can make things worse for us all.Simple steps can be used like commonsense don't fish near them,give no info or stop fishing if intimidated and if you have fish on the line let them see you return and then maybe they or even one mught cop on.
The recession may move them on but till then we all have to try and get on despite the differance in cultures
Tight lines.

I reckon anyone who sees anything like this happening should just take a photo or a video of the lads with the fish,remember most phones have a camera on them and then post it on Sea Angling Ireland then leave a message on the pier with the web link on it,most of these lads fish the same marks all the time,photo and shame,it might not stop these lads but It might stop others

I've been in this situation many times over many years. Don't do anything illegal. In fact, don't do anything at all that validates their presence, or engage them in any way at all. Ignore them, catch your fish, and release it in front of them. Keep doing it.

Occassionally, I like to wish the fish on its way with an audible "Auf Weidersein". They get the message.

I think uvox has hit the nail on the head about how to handle this with "Occassionally, I like to wish the fish on its way with an audible "Auf Weidersein"

I for one have never kept a fish other then mack (not really the case this year )

However as I have only recently started fishing at home in Dublin due to restrictions from work and a new kid I have been appalled at behaviour I have witness from local people. I seen a guy last May catch a pollock in Howth about 30cm bang its head off the rocks and lob it up over his head onto the rocks above. As he left I approached him and asked why he had killed the fish and his response astounded me. "It's not a Mackerel"

,or have we all forgotten what happened the turbot bank and the blonde rays!

sorry guys what happend there? i must haved missed that

Heard from a few lads around that they are killing ducks and swans around here and eating them!!!!

,or have we all forgotten what happened the turbot bank and the blonde rays!

sorry guys what happend there? i must haved missed that

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Tom.

you never know tom it prob was that

Sorry lads,
A post on this site was a contributary factor in the neting of the turbot bank in Cork Harbour. There should be some posts relating to this incident if you search it out on this forum!

My point is if people keep giving out about the way these people have a lack of respect for fish size regulations etc it will continue to go on and continue to annoy us true anglers.The way to beat these guys is to practice what we preach and let them see that there is still such a thing as catch and release and a good days fishing to be had by all despite the adversity facing the fishing world with dwindling stocks.
Catch and release the way forward

lads you could be blue in the face talking about, at the end of the day these people have to be caught in the act doing these sort of things ie. netting bass, keeping under size fish etc. i know a few lads in the cfb and they will tell you same thing. if you come accross anyone breaking the law REPORT THEM and they will do, to the best of there ability act on it


brian

Heard from a few lads around that they are killing ducks and swans around here and eating them!!!!

nothing wrong with eating the ducks not sure if i would try the swans. im sure it would be quite like goose.
heard of a foreigner camping and fishing beside a midlands waterway last year managed to catch/pluck/quarter and barbeque a mute swan only thing he left was the head neck and feathers. total uproar needless to say he was not caught.
dont forget most of these lads done a national service where they are taught how to kill and survive.

i have a good friend in work that is eastern european but not from the country loosely mentioned above but, they all sound the same to us from a distance when speaking their language. this guy got me into fishing and is a really nice lad.

im mentioning him because he fishes ballycotton on a regular basis. every fish he catches is (when possible) returned with care. he fishes for congers a lot and as soon as he gets one he takes a photo and returns it. he doesnt even fumble with the hook. he cuts it with a pliers and removes it the opposite way it went in and puts a new hook on the trace. he's caught a 4lb bass and it went back quicker than it came out. the only fish he takes away is mackerel because thats his bait of choice and has a small freezer full of them. nothin wrong with that.

not all foriegners are the same. im only making a post here because hes a fairly quiet lad and id hate if someone had words with him if he was seen pulling in a conger in ballycotton. im not condoning what them other scumbags did. just trying to point out that not all eastern europeans should be tarnished with the same brush.

coarse fishins the same. i cant stand seein them killin pike perch bream and other fish.