Bass Ban 15th May - 15th June

Folks,
Attention must be drawn to the Bass Ban between 15th May and 15th June inclusive. If any bass are caught they are to be returned alive.
As usual, report any poaching to the relevant authority
Thanks
JK

Who can a report be made to about illegal bass fishing? Last Sept on the high tides I saw a small trawler almost up against the wall in Williamstown...just beside Blackrock. The only fish to be caught there are bass and flounders. The receptionist who answered the phone told me that Eastern Fisheries Board were not involved in monitoring such illegal activities. I told her that they were. After consultation with someone else she gave me the mobile number of a fisheries officer. I rang him and he said that he did not look after this region but he would contact the person concerned. Two hours later the same trawler was still there pulling in nets. The Eastern Fisheries office is about half a mile away from Williamstown and nothing was done.

Stan,

It is your regional fisheries board as far as I know. I live here in Kerry and have contacted the SW regional Fisheries Board on a number of occasions re. illegal gill nets I have seen. They have always been very helpful taking full details about loaction, time and date.

You are not under any obligation to leave a name or number but they ask that you do so in case a fisheries officer needs to contact you about more specific details. i have always found them very helpful

Liam

Is this applicable to the North also?

Now that the bass closed season is over for this year, I though I'd drag this up again to remind people of the advice and regulations that remain in place.

Remember that Irish bass stocks remain depleated.

Return as many fish as possible.

It is a legal requirement that you handle bass with care.

If you are taking fish, they must still be over 40cm and there remains, as always, a bag limit of 2 fish. Consider also returning very large fish (which may be 25 years old or more) as these fish continue to spawn successfully.

Netting bass is illegal. Selling bass in Ireland is illegal (unless they have been imported). Consider reporting any violations of the regulations to your local fisheries board.

Now, where are my plugs?

i'd be happy in taking one home and returning the rest for the year..
that just involves catching one first

Closed season over. To those who have bass in their area, enjoy. But do put as many back as possible. The population is definitely failing to thrive in Irish waters as bass are pretty much non-existent from Malin to Achill, despite being on the increase in Norway!

They think they are on the increase in Norway because the sandeels are not coming South in the numbers they used to. Its affecting breeding birds around Scotland also with the average number of chicks down for the last few years., The water is getting warmer and the Bass can extend their range further North as a result. We are f**king up this planet, the signs are all around us and yet most of the "Super" powers choose to ignore this.... :cry:

You just do what you can Eoghan and hopefully the rest will follow.
That's what I do. Advise people, friends, family and work colleagues about things they can do. Some of them will listen and they'll pass this message on too.

Stay positive and hopeful. We can and will change it.

John D.

there seems to be a lack of sandeel in our area too for this time of year, id say that that is what is most likely putting catches of most species down on previous years here