TRAMORE WATERFORD 12/10/07 BIG BASS SESSION

Well I for one am delighted about the valid, interesting, and informed debate over the last 3 pages.
If even one angler reading this learned a little about the lifecycle of the bass, and puts even one bass of breeding size back then it has been worth it.
Finally, as I have said all through this thread, that was a fantastic catch Tbag, you didn't do anything wrong, and I for one can't wait to see the pics from the weekend..
Tight Lines
Dave

ive gone from from a mass murdering lunatic to an all out conservationist. as a really young lad i take everything home from pin white to wrasse.i have no problem with people who keep a bass or two for the dinner, they are expensive fish, but im not to impressed with people who kill for trophy's. a fishes value inst measured by a stupid certificate its measured by the thrill of long, sustained runs and the adrenaline rush i get time and time again of watching the rod rattle. just my two cents.

Rapala:

and heres the real sad bit - a peice of paper from some blokes in suits.

Because in my opinion catching a ruck of big bass like these is a great achievement in itself and if you are confident in your methods, and appreciative of the true value in angling terms of what you have achieved, you shouldnt need someone on a committee somewhere to give you a piece of paper to tell you so. But thats the specimen certification system for you - unless you are geared up for it, it goes against conservation.

Of course catching such fish is a great achievement and well done lads. What is wrong with an angler wanting to certify his fish (the only sure way of proving what was caught was caught and not a another “fishy tale”)? It is also nice to get recognition from your peers: fellow specimen captors. I’ve yet to hear somebody at the annual awards get grief that he should have released the fish if he didn’t do so.

There are many of us that are geared up for the system and are happy with it. You don’t even need a camera to claim a specimen bass; a measuring tape and a certified scale are all that’s required. The ISFC is a reputable body, and a voluntary body to boot. In fact, on your side of the pond the IFSC model has been copied. The IFSC’s system, while not perfect, is constantly evolving to enable anglers release fish if they so want to. On the marine list of nearly 70 species the actual body is required for around 20 and these are for species where identification can be difficult eg. the two species of garfish. The IFSC has such a good reputation because of their rigid rules/policies.

As for the “suits”, last year I met one Eamonn de Buitleir, a man I have tremendous admiration for and was delighted to be able to have a chat with an Irish icon. I doubt I would have had the chance to meet the man other than for the IFSC.
You are entitled to your opinion and fair play to you for having it, but please do not express it in such a way as to belittle my efforts and the efforts of other committed anglers.

Hi Jim,
Thanks for the lowdown on the IFSC but if you re-read the above quote you might realise it wasnt a personal attack at the icons you make mention of that put the work in on such committees. The point I'm making is that in my opinion to kill big fish in order to gain recognition from your specimen hunting peers or whoever is an archaic practice. However if such recognition is required to make you guys feel nice about each other then good on you for making those strides towards C&R specimens being validated, and good on you for gearing yourselves up to do so. Top Marks for that and I mean that 100%.
In this case, Ian and his buddy are getting geared up with proper scales so they can go down this route and Top Marks to them too.

As for your comment about never seeing anyone at the ceremonies getting grief about killing a big bass well for me that sums up the mentality of the awards thing - like this comment or not, killing big bass goes against conservation - if we all killed all the big bass we caught in order to claim a badge there would be a lot less left out there for others to catch, the bass fishing would be worse for everyone and thats a fact. Thankfully more and more of us are pulling our heads out the sand and starting to realise this. Most importantly, it seems with the move towards claiming C&R bass (that I have long-kown about) the IFSC are setting a fine example, and good on em I say.

For many committed anglers like myself, being a specimen hunter has nothing whatsoever to do with getting awards - it might be your way, but it will never be mine. I find the next best thing to catching a big bass is watching someone else do it, the next best thing to that is seeing it go back, and the next best thing to that is seeing pics of people I dont even know with big bass...live ones! Anyone who knows anything about big bass can look at a pic of one and have a reasonable idea of how heavy it id likely to be, and if a few sadoes want to claim their fish are heavier than they really are they are only cheating themselves so hey let em get on with it, who cares eh? nobody's died!
Pics of dead UK bass might sadden me, but I despair at pics of dead Irish ones like at the top of this thread because you guys are so lucky having a resource recognised as being so special it is given protection, and I feel making the most of it means anglers, wherever possible, should be putting them big old girls back to make it even better.
Take a picture and if you want a badge, weigh em on proper scales and then let em go.
Happy days all round.

Nice to see you back rapala,,
first post , like myself the mods got you,,
is that passion or what

Cheers CB, in all honesty I couldnt even see what they removed!
Mind you I've only just been released from the forum victims rehab program and the scars on my forehead are still a bit sore. :wink:

and heres the real sad bit - a peice of paper from some blokes in suits.

How is this not a slight against the IFSC and people who want the certification of a specimen fish?

The point I'm making is that in my opinion to kill big fish in order to gain recognition from your specimen hunting peers or whoever is an archaic practice.

Yes it must be. I think they are going to cancel the report this year!

As for your comment about never seeing anyone at the ceremonies getting grief about killing a big bass well for me that sums up the mentality of the awards thing - like this comment or not, killing big bass goes against conservation - if we all killed all the big bass we caught in order to claim a badge there would be a lot less left out there for others to catch, the bass fishing would be worse for everyone and thats a fact.

I never mentioned bass specifically as I have never been lucky enough to catch a specimen bass. When I do I will be sure that I’m in a position to weigh and return or I’ll be damn sure of enjoying the fish when I eat it. You have seemed to miss my point that you don’t even need a camera to record a specimen bass its C&R all the way, even for a boat angler like me!
Oh wait…. I’ve actually caught loads of specimen bass but I wouldn’t claim them…. conservation you know… the pleasure…..blah blah blah blah.

Pics of dead UK bass might sadden me, but I despair at pics of dead Irish ones like at the top of this thread because you guys are so lucky having a resource recognised as being so special it is given protection

Remember this: the only reason the protection is there is because of the work of dedicated people in the CFB and IFSC (against all odds and against very powerful lobby groups) did years ago. The IFSC has done more for the cause of protecting our stocks and the promotion of Irish tourism than any angling body in existence, virtual or not.

Enough of the tree hugging! If a man wants to keep his fish he’s entitled to. If a man wants to claim his fish he’s entitled to. If a man wants to release his fish he’s entitled to. If a man wants to post pictures (however poor) on line on an angling site he is entitled to. Any of these he should be free to do without people wailing and whinging about their own personal views on the rights and wrongs. If you have a problem with a post start a new thread with an opposing view!

I’ll be over in the boat angling forum if anybody is looking for me…… :)

Padge73: Sorry you are appalled :roll: … but I reckon the IFSC have been around before us and I’m sure they’ll be around when we’re pushing up daisies. You’d better never claim that elusive specimen using your online mask….I’ll be watching. :lol:

Sound stuff there. Here here mate.

weel men just in from a session in same spot.doing a report now and fish were released,have a luk at new report.its worth a luk .cheers

and heres the real sad bit - a peice of paper from some blokes in suits.

How is this not a slight against the IFSC and people who want the certification of a specimen fish?

The point I'm making is that in my opinion to kill big fish in order to gain recognition from your specimen hunting peers or whoever is an archaic practice.

Yes it must be. I think they are going to cancel the report this year!

As for your comment about never seeing anyone at the ceremonies getting grief about killing a big bass well for me that sums up the mentality of the awards thing - like this comment or not, killing big bass goes against conservation - if we all killed all the big bass we caught in order to claim a badge there would be a lot less left out there for others to catch, the bass fishing would be worse for everyone and thats a fact.

I never mentioned bass specifically as I have never been lucky enough to catch a specimen bass. When I do I will be sure that I’m in a position to weigh and return or I’ll be damn sure of enjoying the fish when I eat it. You have seemed to miss my point that you don’t even need a camera to record a specimen bass its C&R all the way, even for a boat angler like me!
Oh wait…. I’ve actually caught loads of specimen bass but I wouldn’t claim them…. conservation you know… the pleasure…..blah blah blah blah.

Pics of dead UK bass might sadden me, but I despair at pics of dead Irish ones like at the top of this thread because you guys are so lucky having a resource recognised as being so special it is given protection

Remember this: the only reason the protection is there is because of the work of dedicated people in the CFB and IFSC (against all odds and against very powerful lobby groups) did years ago. The IFSC has done more for the cause of protecting our stocks and the promotion of Irish tourism than any angling body in existence, virtual or not.

Enough of the tree hugging! If a man wants to keep his fish he’s entitled to. If a man wants to claim his fish he’s entitled to. If a man wants to release his fish he’s entitled to. If a man wants to post pictures (however poor) on line on an angling site he is entitled to. Any of these he should be free to do without people wailing and whinging about their own personal views on the rights and wrongs. If you have a problem with a post start a new thread with an opposing view!

I’ll be over in the boat angling forum if anybody is looking for me…… :)

Padge73: Sorry you are appalled :roll: … but I reckon the IFSC have been around before us and I’m sure they’ll be around when we’re pushing up daisies. You’d better never claim that elusive specimen using your online mask….I’ll be watching. :lol:

Whatever Jim! Ta for lecture no.2, :roll: but for petes sake "start a new thread"? - whats this? Sounds like its "do as I say, not as I do time"- you seem determined to keep arguing and keep going on about the damn men in suits thing, just let it lie for chuffs sake - please!!
Youve got your opinion Ive got mine, I aint got any problems with yours, or the specimen committee, or this thread, and just cos someone disagrees with you why cant you just accept it and move on?
Its all been very mature so far so lets just agree to disagree and stop the ranting eh?

Hey the guys caught an even bigger fish and despite no scales, and a duff camera has put it back, how d'ya like them apples! blummin fantastic!
Job done as far as I'm concerened, lets hope he catches shed loads more and does the same.
Now I'm done too, be more than pleased to continue this debate over a beer tho.

They should introduce catch and release law for cod...more big bass caught then cod!

Jim I hate to dissapoint but to date I have had two specimen fish niether of which i sought recognition for! I stated earlier that I have no need of anyone to tell me that this is a special fish, I can feel that as it smokes line of a light weight outfit, I feel it as I put the fish back in the water and feel it recover and I feel it as the fish beats his tail in salute of a struggle between man and beast that has been around long before you, I or the IFSC...

just my last piece on this lads, every1 is entitled to their opinion, no doubt... but when people start forcing their own opinions onto people its sickening...im coming from a impartial pov, bacause the majority of my bass go back...barr one or two every so often... if catch and release laws were broken here it would be an entirely different thread, bass stocks are most definatly dwindling,and if tbag and lads put some effort into finding a spot, very much coveted, reep the benifits (to a degree)... i wouldnt or couldnt take that much bass home, im not a specimen hunter... im a pleasure angler... i stick to the laws of conservation for endangered species...and all species alike... but im human before im a conservational angler :)