East Cork Beach, 16/4

People:Me

Duration:8:00pm - 10:15pm

Tide:HT 17:36

Weather:Clear skies, virtually no breeze (NNW)

Bait:Lug

Rigs:One up, one down

Results:2 coalies

Catch and Release:: Yes


Report:On the eve of the new moon I was itching to once more try out Cortaz's words of wisdom. With Moonset around 7:30 and sunset around 8:30 I timed to hit the beach at 8pm. Although, I don't normally fish the ebb on this beach I thought the 'moon factors' would override all else, including the fact that the water would be crystal clear and there would be feck all surf.
When I arrived... shock! horror!. There was a line of 'mooring' type buoys the length of the beach and beyond. These were about 300 yds out and set almost exactly 300yds apart. Don't over react I thought, they mightn't be what you think they are. They certainly wouldn't be lobster pots as the ground, although mixed, is more sandy than anything else.
I carried on and set up my gear. While I did a local passed by who walks the beach a lot. 'What do you think they are?' I asked. 'Oh they're gill nets' came the reply. 'Most likely lads fishing out of Ballycotton.' Sickened I carried on the conversation, in no mood to now wet a line. We talked about bass and he tells me that an angler caught six last week...and kept them all!!! Bloody hell this gets worse.
After he left I fished away, although in no humour to do so. These nets were stretching over 2 miles and were covering all entrance and exit to the bay. They will probably catch in one night the equivalent of what I have caught from this beach over all the years...and I have released all of mine - I feel like it was a wasted exercise. All that good work, eventhough it seemed small at the time, now undone. It seems like the netters are also following Cortaz's wisdom.
I haven't seen a net on this beach for a number of years now, and I certainly have never ever seen such extensive netting here. This is exactly why I am reluctant to specifically name the exact venue when I post reports. It seems the netters may also be using this forum!

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Thats a killer - had the same thing happen to me in Clonea once - really disheartening

Surely this cant be legal??? Anyone know??


john.

Anyone got a small boat and a good pair of scissors...! :evil:

I'd do it, not a bother...! F**kers..!

Its the very reason I dont name venues when posting catch reports and indeed why I dont post that many catch reports at all...!

If a regular PM's me then no probs but I guarantee poachers are on this site. We have to remember this..!

This is illegal fishing pure and simple!!!

But what can we do about it?

Theres no way thats legal. All he has to do is catch one effing bass and hes broken the law FFS!

Was it reported to any particular body? FPOs, Gardai etc? I presume they are still there?

There is nothing illegal with neither these nets nor the nets that are further west along the same patch of coast as well. I'm told the fisheries board are watching them very closely, or more importantly, the guys pulling them.

I wonder is this further evidence of fishermen netting small bass that will pass for farmed fish when sold?

The fishermen will tell you that they are fishing for COD! They are actually targeting bass, salmon and seatrout. I've posted before about one of these nets washed ashore. The indiscriminate nature of the fishing is scary, wrasse, doggies, mullet, huss, birds all featured as well as bass, salmon and seatrout.

To me it is the purchasers of these fish who are committing a bigger crime, if there was no market there would be no incentive to fish for them.

The only thing you can do is to ring your local fisheries officer on a regular basis. Report the nets and follow up the call some time later to see if there has been a result.

Just to let you know this has been reported to the Irish Naval Service, who in turn have contacted the SW fisheries. CFB have also been notified.

This is bull. How can anybody with a modicum of sea knowledge go for the "cod catching" line?

Good man Pat.

Unfortunately, there have been many court cases where the offenders have successfully argued that they have been fishing for mullet and that the bass were a by-catch.

Bycatch my arse. Fished near there over the weekend, aside from 2 coalies and 2 flats we caught nothing but bass....

Jim,
I couldn't agree with you more. If there wasn't a market this would not be happening. When I came home last night this is exactly what I told the wife - these fish will be passed off as farmed fish. I work in the hospitality industry and have seen the demand for bass on menus throughout the industry soar over the last decade. I have refused point blank to allow any bass to appear on any of our menus, despite pressure from our managers to do so. I can remember when they were overfished and very scarce from an angling point of view. This can easily happen again. Eventhough, angling catches have improved stocks are still at a delicate level. On principle I have refused to let a bass cross our threshold. My point has always been that you cannot be 100% that they are farmed. A case in point is that many years ago we had salmon seized on our premises by fisheries officers. Unknown to us these were wild. We had purchased them from a very reputable supplier as part of our regular supply. When contacted by us they reassured us that they were farmed. A subsequent court case proved otherwise!

If I recall, there is the option of using the scales to ascertain whether the bass if farmed or not. Farmed bass are all farmed in hot countries where their growth rates are at least double those of the native fish... they will therefore have half the number of "rings" for the same size of fish, so barring being unlucky enough to take scales where the fish has been injured and grown new scales, there is a method for telling farmed fish from native caught fish. Albeit I am no expert and stand to be corrected.

FWIW...

if only these guys could be educated to the money they could earn by promoting angling instead of netting.

i come across 2-3 times a year to fish for bass and mullet and spend a small fortune when i'm there.

the better the fishing gets the more people will come and more money goes into the local economy.

as for posting catch results its a mixed bag.
the good ... people like me are drawn to the area to fish (catch & release)
the bad... netting.

To me it is the purchasers of these fish who are committing a bigger crime, if there was no market there would be no incentive to fish for them.

not be to objective bout the issue, cause we should all stand together..but thats like sayin drug addcits are committing bigger crimes than drug dealers? when in fact both are breaking the law not so equally...these nets should cut if possible...the cfb should be waiting for these guys as they are netting in and prosecuted fully... its a shame and disgraceful... is there any angler vigilante groups out there?? :shock: :lol: :lol: cause id join :twisted:

[Pat]

People: Me

Duration: 6pm - 8pm (Venue 1); 8:40 - 11:15 (Venue 2)

Tide: HT 6:20pm

Weather: Georgous, flat calm

Bait: Lug, Razor

Rigs: 2 Hk Pats, 1 Hk clipped, Pulleys.

Results: 2 bass, 6 dogs, 1 strap conger, 1 coalie (24cm)

Catch and Release: Yes

Report: Went out again tonight. Unfortunately, the nets are still there. Went to a rock mark nearby and plugged and spinned for bass from just before high water to an hour and a half after. Thrashed the sea to a foam but had no luck. I could see signs of fish just out of reach but just could not cast that far.
Around 8ish headed for the beach and was fishing again by 8:40. The sea was flat calm but in the fading light I could see there was a bit of colour in the water - most likely caused by the strength of the tide. For the second night in a row I was now going to fish conditions I would never fish on this venue - flat calm seas and a dropping tide. However, tonight I was really putting Cortaz's theory to the test - Moon set was about 9pm and this coincided with sunset. Sure enough almost on cue I started catching fish. First was a small coalie. This was followed by a bass, who bore the tell-tale markings of a net on his flank (see pics). Both fish were caught close in. I then had a run of doggie's. Six in total, the biggest just short of specimen. Boy they sure make a light bass rod bend! I then followed this with a strap conger - my first ever at this mark. My last fish of the night was another bass. I say my last fish, cause the wife rang - "Where are ya." It was only 11. The way the fish were biting I should have stayed - 10 fish in less than two hours. However, I needed to rescue some brownie points, so headed on my way. Great night though and once more Cortaz's theory proven correct :D

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Last edited by Pat on Wed Apr 18, 2007 11:15 am, edited 1 time in total.

Excellent fishing Pat, whatever about those bloody nets. We'll have to arrange a session at some stage if you're on for it.

Sure thing Pete - I'd be up for that.

Anyone got a small boat and a good pair of scissors...! Evil or Very Mad

I'd do it, not a bother...! F**kers..!

Its the very reason I dont name venues when posting catch reports and indeed why I dont post that many catch reports at all...!

If a regular PM's me then no probs but I guarantee poachers are on this site. We have to remember this..!


Agree 100% Eoghan.
Good to see you perservered anyway Pat.All hail the moon king that is Cortaz. :D