DOOM ISLAND

...by-mail yesterday

Hey Jim,

I went fishing today at........ was a bit late in the tide and fish were clearly at the far side, birds diving etc... But the thing is i actually stopped fishing and went home early because i couldnt continue to watch the boats catch bass after bass for keeping, almost like they were mackerel bashing, 5 boats all slaughtering bass of all sizes, a couple of monsters among them.

It was shocking, I was literally never so mad! Im sure you know of these tramps and was just wondering do you know why the bailiffs havent done anything about them? Iv seen the same boats there all summer killing over the quota but today was ridiculous, Surely the bailiffs know whats going on here and in S.............!

Iv emailed the fisheries board of what went on today but to be honest i dont have much confidence in action being taken.I just dont understand how these fellas arent being caught and punished.. Anyway just thought id share my frustration which im sure you share...Hope the season continues to go well for ya by the way!

Best wishes

hi jim are these guys netting? or are they longlining and do the boats have to dock at the harbour?maybe an officer from the new fisheries board could inspect there catch next time there out and come back in to dock

Hi Jim,

You must get a pain in the face with this, as if you have the answer. All you have to do is look at where the economy is, they cannot run that so do you really think the capability or desire is there to manage a resource like bass.

That was not a nice thing to get in the mail at all, depressing in fact. Unfortunately is just seems to be an example of the times we are living in now, but that is just not good enough and shouldn't be tolerated. I have a horrible feeling that it's only going to get worse though. Doom Island indeed.
Yet again, this does nothing to enhance the image of bass fishing over here or any type of fishing for that matter and it most certainly won’t encourage or help us in any way in our role of trying to attract tourists over here who may be thinking of coming to fish for bass in Ireland. We try to sell our country and it’s fishing here as being such a unique and enjoyable experience which for me it is, and I think is something to be proud off, but this sort of thing does not make me feel proud. For me there is nowhere else in the world (that I think) compares to Ireland when it comes to going bass fishing and so seeing this sort of thing just makes me feel sickened and annoyed. I don't want to jump to conclusions about who is too blame, without all of the facts or evidence gathered first but some action does need to be taken regarding this but as I said before, it's not the first time and sadly it won't be the last.

I have and several other people have pains where they shouldnt be and cant be mentioned on this forum....its mind boggling and at this stage often beyond belief

so dissapointing to hear - this is the same sickly feeling im getting out west like you have to accept it when you see a couple of lads in waders going out to net a channel

a sweep of the net and no bass running now for weeks

organise a protest see what happens, i,l go,

would these boats be actually in so close, that you can see what species there catching.could they have been pulling in pollock?would there be that amount of bass anywhere? as descibed in the letter. or is paranoia setting in that every time we see two lads going out in a boat "oh their going poaching bass"im not saying or condoning poaching. but its hard to imagiane bass been caught like mackeral anywhere in this country.and with this type of hype it paints a good picture for the commercial sector.i doubt what the letter poster has claimed he saw is true. unless he had binoculars and could deffo see bass id say they were pulling in coalies or pollock

I dont doubt he saw what he saw - you post is widely incorrect Twinkle

when you're at read this too http://www.probassfisher.com/2010/06/fe ... actly.html

once again jim im asking if the were netting or angling and are you telling me you can pull bass in in wexford like strings of mackeral.because my point is if bass are that plentyful down there.im not surprised there is that many poachers.and the post above is giving me that impression. that "they were pulling them in like mack bashers"i dont need to be told of the amount spent by anglers no matter where there from. i back your ideas as i see it like most on the site as sensible economics.but that letter you posted has to be exaggerated.five boats all pulling in large amounts of bass.where are they going? whos buying them?local resturants cant put them on the menu as they are open to huge fines.i dont for a second think that bass netting doesent go on. but you must remember salmon also run this time of year. i read the report on probass.and seen the numbers you mentioned excellent fishing, but hardly mack bashing.i know we are all passionate about our beliefs and our chosen sport. i just feel that the hype created by some of the posts on bass poaching has been grossely exaggerated.

T
I must say not wishing to argue, that your new post is again widely incorrect - spend as much time as I do (or others) in the environment and you would soon learn - there was no nets involved in this incident - for a change

probassfisher is meassured in its reports on numbers

well if this is the case and bass are been taken in the numbers mentioned. there must be a local market for them.if the fisheries cant get them as there landing, start at the other end.find out whos buying them. because if there was no market for the sale of these bass, they wouldent be bothering with them .the sale of bass or other stock has to have an invoice if the resturant cant show where there buying them they face stiff penaltys.again photo evidence could have been taken in relation to the five boats and they would have been identified from the pictures.it might be easier for the fisheries to get a prosecution against a hotel/resturant if they dont have the paperwork to back there menu.i also have to add jim iv fished alot in wexford since i was a child and i can not say iv ever seen bass in the numbers that was described in letter.
i have seen shoals and have caught a few but never like "mack bashing"

Twinkle I agree with the previous comments your posts are as said widely incorrect ,If you were local you would understand the situation alot better. I myself have seen this........The worst thing about it is the same guys doing this call themselves "anglers"

Lads, can anybody get some photographic or video evidence of this. surely something can be done. If they are doing this in public then it should be possible to name and shame them in as many places as possible. maybe not name them, but if shops can put up posters of shoplifters, maybe a poster campaign against poachers in as many angling stores as pobbible might be possible. what do you think ??

photographic evidence and support data ad nauseum have been supplied..........

If we can spread the word and complain to the proper people, maybe my son will get to catch one after all. I will do anything to help guys.

jim just a thought is your local fisheries officer compromised [ie relatives may be doing the poaching]as this can happen quite a lot maybe send the evidence to head office?