Bass closed season ????

Hi all I fished kerry this weekend and caught a food few bass fri and sat night most of them were spent fish in very poor condition looking like rulers they were so thin i caught bass in february in same place and they had milt coming out of them. Speaking to a local guide he reckons which i would too the close season is too late is this the same verywhere maybe a look at catches around the bass coast could confirm this and all bass were returned in fact on sat I stopped fishing for them because they were ravenous trying to gain condition plenty around though

I’m new to this forum and was trawling (pardon the pun) around when I dipped into this thread. Haven’t read all the contributions very carefully, the conclusion I have reached is that those who agree with C&R should do just that. Those that don’t, whether their fish are dripping spawn or not, should take their fish home.
At the end of the day, we, the angler are the eyes and ears of what happens around the coastline of our country.
Not too long ago, I was reading on this forum that there was uproar in the Cork region about factory boats taking more than their quotas and depleting the Bass stocks. How many anti-C&R merchants were shouting from their ivory towers then? They were the ones complaining.
Look, it’s not as though we catch too many Bass in a year. So let’s give the stock a chance and perhaps bring home one every so often.

Very well said Surf Rod

Hi all I fished kerry this weekend and caught a food few Bass fri and sat night most of them were spent fish in very poor condition looking like rulers they were so thin i caught Bass in february in same place and they had milt coming out of them. Speaking to a local guide he reckons which i would too the close season is too late is this the same everywhere maybe a look at catches around the Bass coast could confirm this and all Bass were returned in fact on sat I stopped fishing for them because they were ravenous trying to gain condition plenty around though

Both of these posts are spot on and they are saying what i was trying thinking

Interesting stuff guys and valid points on both sides. My own opinion is the ban is flawed anyhow as i have caught fish dripping milt from feb to july. I don't think realistically that a one month ban serves a pile of purpose but at the same time i don't think there would be a huge amount of benefit from extending it by a month either. Anglers are NOT the primary cause of the collapse in stocks, we need to remember that too. Spawning fish are not something any of us set out to destroy but it is definitely the case the Bass attract so much more attention. No One says a word when were targeting big flounder in late autumn loaded with spawn, there's no mention of reef pollack which we caught recently and on gutting discovered every one we kept was loaded with eggs, indeed all salmon anglers are actively targeting spawning fish, the list goes on. Indeed, a wonderful dish that is commonplace in uk chip shops is a cod roe fish cake type thing. Concentrate on the poachers who i have no doubt hammer the jesus out of Bass on quiet beaches throughout the ban and leave responsible anglers have their fun.

Pete i understand and appreciate where you are coming from BUT EVERYBODY has to do there bit. If we as anglers can do our bit and still keep an eye on our beaches for "others" Hopefully the Fishery Officers will get the chance to do there bit as well.

I cant understand why people get so annoyed with what was just a suggestion.
At the end of the day you do what is right for you, i dont think anyone is trying to be high and mighty or shoving anything down anyones throat??
I am amazed at some of the responces to this post!!!!
And i would add... good luck to everyone this season, whatever you think.

Just an idea.
What would posters think about the moderators posting up a special forum, such as a Bass watch.
The idea would be, those who catch Bass, whether C&R or for the pan, could post the location, quantity caught, size and condition of their catch.
This way a picture would emerge as to what is happening to the Bass stock around our coastline.
I’d welcome reaction to this idea.

Just an idea.
What would posters think about the moderators posting up a special forum, such as a Bass watch.
The idea would be, those who catch Bass, whether C&R or for the pan, could post the location, quantity caught, size and condition of their catch.
This way a picture would emerge as to what is happening to the Bass stock around our coastline.
I’d welcome reaction to this idea.

that a fantastic, lets give illeagle poachers and netsmen some gps coordinates and a box of chocolates while we're at it, i mean come on, (Mod edit: Play nicely, eric. Tanglerat.)

Asked for it

believe you me there is NOTHING that any angler on here could give an irish illegal bass netsman that they dont already know in respect to habits and locations of the species -

Surfrod - take a look at Ashley Haydens essay on The Irish Specmen Fish Returns on this site for the past 20 years or so - it has some valuable information and draws some interesting conclusions

girls, let's give all anglers a break on this.

people are well-intentioned, but the ones every angler needs to direct the energy at are the commercial fishing organisations and the political agencies responsible for commercial fishing and the policing and punishment of illegal netting, enforcement of environmental protection, and so on. forget about whether the bass limits are early or late. we all must obey it, but frankly BFD.

god, how the real culprits must laugh at the energy expended here because somebody dipped a 26 cm whiting in batter or once killed a small bass while one sweep of a trawl does years of, if not completely irreperable, damage. Not one word said to these guys.

Catch and Release? It should be Convict and Remand.

i'm sick of this BS of anglers blaming each other while those with the real power rob us blind (sound familiar?). Don't be distracted.

Just an idea.
What would posters think about the moderators posting up a special forum, such as a Bass watch.
The idea would be, those who catch Bass, whether C&R or for the pan, could post the location, quantity caught, size and condition of their catch.
This way a picture would emerge as to what is happening to the Bass stock around our coastline.
I’d welcome reaction to this idea.

that a fantastic, lets give illeagle poachers and netsmen some gps coordinates and a box of chocolates while we're at it, i mean come on, (Mod edit: Play nicely, eric. Tanglerat.)

OK, so you may not be in favour of my idea.
Can you please enlighten us what ideas, you'd have on the issue, then?
As I said in the post, I welcome feedback, from all quarters. But at least let them be constructive.
I've posted mine, now show me yours.

i fail to see an issue here at all. all is fine the way things are, so in truth i have no ideas regarding a matter which doesn't exist. once again we are at the stage of putting 'the all mighty bass' on the worlds largest pedestal. if people want to be conservivtive they should take an interest in all marine life around our coast, not just picking and choosing from the a packet of saltey basset all sorts. at the end of the day, bass do not exist without the crabs, sandeels, shrimps, mackerel, seaweed and other things which make up their fragile eco-system. all of these variables are under considerable comercial and environmental pressure as well you know, none of them recieve special protection, closed seasons or bag limits. the bass is just another yoke that swims around with fins and a mouth, it just happens to taste alri.

i fail to see an issue here at all. all is fine the way things are, so in truth i have no ideas regarding a matter which doesn't exist. once again we are at the stage of putting 'the all mighty Bass' on the worlds largest pedestal. if people want to be conservivtive they should take an interest in all marine life around our coast, not just picking and choosing from the a packet of saltey basset all sorts. at the end of the day, Bass do not exist without the crabs, sandeels, shrimps, mackerel, seaweed and other things which make up their fragile eco-system. all of these variables are under considerable comercial and environmental pressure as well you know, none of them recieve special protection, closed seasons or bag limits. the Bass is just another yoke that swims around with fins and a mouth, it just happens to taste alri.

My feelings exactly, There is no problem look in the Reports and if its says waterford or cork odds are there is a picture of a nice Bass, So where is the shortage? So called pure Bass anglers need to get over themselves

The last few posts don't even warrant an argument.

Are you Anglers or Fishermen ??????????????????

maybe a special section of the website with bass recipes would be good. i figured out the crab v lug thing, but i never know whether to choose between thyme or basil.

The guy with 150 metres of net currently strung across one the best bass fishing locations in the country (as i type) loves this kinda stuff......

Why not remove his gear jim,he`ll suspect other commercial inshore fishermen and most likely go after their gear.problem solved.

Friday evening again. When your spelling starts going wonky, you should probably save your thoughts till tomorrow (some posts removed).

Might be an idea allright CA - could cause a critical mass of activity that might form a black hole or similar that he and others like him would dissappear into.

Just to say this - I got four phone calls from different people last night in relation to this situation, all of them concerned anglers. The net is still there this morning so are the anglers. Calls have been made to the relevant authorities since yesterday evening.

It is possible to continuously operate illegally beyond even the help the fisheries officers can provide.

We removed two nets on my stretch of coastline in the last two years and another we found hidden in a secluded cave,burned them and left them on the harbour beside the owners boat(i wanted to put them in his front garden).nets are quite expensive and none of these guys are well off so in our case the guy gave up,realising it would keep happening.now i`m not suggesting we all go to war but in these extreme circumstances i think action is definetly needed.