Wicklow netting.

I was on Wicklow pier last night and just as it got dark a couple of guys came along in a small boat and proceeded to let out a net. They started just outside the harbour and went out to sea a bit. They started well within casting distance so I had to be careful where I put the bait. There was a guy from South Africa there who said they did the same last week. If you fish that area be aware it may not be the bottom you get stuck in..

hi pat
was this net still on the surface after they put it out.? ie .with the floats showing.

Have seen this myself a few times too, wonder what the attraction is for them? Its not exactly known for any big/commercially worthwhile fish is it. A few seatrout perhaps. Is the net left out there for a few days, as it might explain why I had so many snags there last week?

Can these nets do much damage to juvenile fish, just last year the place was stuffed with coalies and pollock to half a pound but this year found them very very thin on the ground :? Probably a different reason for this, and then again I have rarely fished it this year.....

col

report them to the ERFB, if they have a licence fine, if not then the board might be able to sort it out. mention bass netting and they will act

It was almost dark when they started putting it out and all I saw was the first marker . i thought at first that they were putting out a lobster pot. I would have thought that it was a surface net but I dont know anything about netting. I was going to report it but first off I dont know the laws on this and second I didnt have any contact numbers.

sure report it and let the boards worry about the laws, at least they will be aware of it

Phone Numbers for each of the Regional Fisheries Boards are as follows
(or cut and paste this link to the Central Fisheries Board -

http://www.cfb.ie/regions/contact.htm

):

The Eastern Regional Fisheries Board - 01 2787022
The Southern Regional Fisheries Board - 052 23624
The South Western Regional Fisheries Board - 026 41221
The Shannon Regional Fisheries Board - 061 300238
The Western Regional Fisheries Board - 091 563118
The North Western Regional Fisheries Board - 096 22623
The Northern Regional Fisheries Board - 071 9851 435 (Co. Donegal) - 049 4337174 (Co. Cavan)

Thanks Adam

Maybe after herring at this this of year? There's been some activity further south.

They were after Herring,so no need to ring the fisheries crowd . . . :shock:

Being born and bred in Wicklow i know that at this time of year the lads are out getting Herring, actually got some this morning and they even had a few mackerel in the box also . .

So, dont fret . . they are not after the bass, (never heard of bass being caught from the Pier anyway) its just a few of the locals after Herring . .

You should stay around til they take the net back in and get some off them . .great bait and you wont get them any fresher than when they have just been shaken from the net!!
:D

It is the herring season all right.
Talking of herring, traditionally in Wexford all fishing boats stay in port tomorrow (St Martin's Day). AFAIR the herring fleet went out on St Martins Day many years ago, and a lot of the fishermen drowned in Wexford Bay.
jd

Cheers Rocker, no problem but it would'nt kill them to go out a bit further especially when they see someone fishing and it is a regular venue for anglers.