Bass closed season

Hi All, was wondering about the closed bass month 15th May 15thJune can you fish for bass on a catch & release basis.i would hate to stop fishing for the month & I always practice catch & release I hate to kill bass no interest in keeping them.

No, closed season means exactly that - no fishing for bass under any circumstances.

What if you go for flounder and still catch a bass ?

The bass must be released.

What if you go for flounder and still catch a Bass ?

Land and unhook it as quick as possible. Try to keep it in the water while unhooking and set it free.

It would mean youd have to put it back straight away, as you know, there means of Targeting bass either lure or bait and dont think the baliffs dont know.. Its not worth the risk.. secondly were all fishermen (and ladies as well) here.. we all have the same mind set to protect our species

Glad this has been brought up.Just a quick question i happen to know of a certain individual who has openly admitted that he will be targetting bass through the close season .His attitude been "fishery officers will have to catch him first"
Mind you this is the same scumbag that kills plenty of undersize bass .What should i do Would fishery people have any interest

It would mean youd have to put it back straight away, as you know, there means of Targeting Bass either lure or bait and dont think the baliffs dont know.. Its not worth the risk.. secondly were all fishermen (and ladies as well) here.. we all have the same mind set to protect our species

I totally agree with that. But at the same time we all know plenty other fish will take a crab or lug, so no fishery can tell me im after the bass. And im not, couple weeks ago released 38cm bass.
So technically you can catch bass but you have to release them in the ban period.
Correct me if im wrong now.

[red]

So technically you can catch Bass but you have to release them in the ban period.
Correct me if im wrong now.

If you are targeting them you are breaking the law. Simple as that. Dont think lads will get away with flounder fishing with 4/0 hooks and large baits either. People arent stupid.
As for releasing a 38cm bass, thats 2 cm undersized so had to go back anyway:roll:

Last edited by red on Tue May 08, 2012 1:18 pm, edited 1 time in total.

If you want to go fishing during the ban and don't want to target Bass then come to Dublin for the month you will have plenty of flounder and no Bass.

The law is quite clear:

S.I. No. 368/2007 — Bass Fishing Conservation Bye-Law No. 826 of 2007

3. In this Bye-law:
“Bass” means Dicentrarchus labrax.
4. Subject to Article 5 of this Bye-law it is hereby prohibited to take and kill or have in possession more than 2 bass (other than imported bass) in any period of twenty-four hours and such bass which may be taken shall be carefully handled and returned to the water from which they were taken.
5. It is hereby prohibited to fish or attempt to fish for bass with any rod, line or weir during the period commencing on 15 May to 15 June each and every year.

Of course there is the chance of hooking a bass while fishing for other species. However if you were approached by a Fisheries Officer and he/she is of the opinion that you are attempting to fish for bass then he/she has a wide variety of sanction open to him – not least being an on the spot fine of €150.00

Really here the question is one of integrity. The law of the land says there is a closed season for bass. The least one can do is respect the law and respect the fish and not actively target bass during the closed season. Incidentally, Doberman would have had to release his 38cm bass in any case – closed season or not - as the fish was undersize! Possessing an under sized fish also attracts at least a fine of €150.00.

Incidentally, Doberman would have had to release his 38cm Bass in any case – closed season or not - as the fish was undersize! Possessing an under sized fish also attracts at least a fine of €150.00.

I know that and im not really mad about the bass itself, fishing is what i like and i try to follow the common sense and rules.
Now lets be honest now, people are hunting not just bass but also other species which can be caught with exact same tactics. So in my opinion you cant be done just for fishing which looks like you are for the bass. I know couple people who likes rays and go hunting for them. Also sea trouts, flounders etc. You can cach bass easy with 2-3 size hooks
I totally agree here bass must be released on ban period and not just, even if you see them spawn before the ban period, you SHOULD release them. Thats not the question here of course, as IF we do that, we following the law, we do nothing wrong and we're "good".

closed season ...put the bass back ..for f##k sake its a couple of days a year...

So in my opinion you cant be done just for fishing which looks like you are for the Bass.

It doesn't work like that. It's not your opinion that matters, it's the opinion of the IFI Inspector that counts.

Why did this thread need to go on? In four posts it had been established that no, you cannot under any circumstances target bass and yes, you have to immediately release it.

Not sure what else there is to know? We are talking about the law here, i was not aware thats something thats up for discussion.

I think lads that openly talk about targeting bass in the closed seasion should be band from this site and other sites alike, that's just my opinion

There are a few different ideas and opinions about the closed season.
Regardless of what you think about them the law/rules should be upheld.

We as anglers won't have much of a leg to stand on if we can't even respect a law that is actually in place to protect our sport!

John D.

just release em if ya catch em, this bass ban happens every year and this thread happens to , if your caught with a dead bass your in trouble simple as,

Groundhog Day...!!!

Its simple enough, stick to deep water marks where possible.
Plenty of deep water marks about with pollock, dogs etc to keep ye busy.
We all know the hot spots to avoid and the typical marks that Bass are found.


It makes me laugh too, so many posts from people saying they cant catch bass, or there are none about etc and when the ban is on we all of a sudden expect to be catching hundreds a session..!!!

Lads I understand the LAW about the Bass Ban starting next Monday at midnight for the next month but I just wanted to put something out there as we know we are NOT to be targeting the BASS but if one was caught and it was deeply hooked and didn't make it when trying to remove the trace what happens them.... Just wondering.