Keep the pressure on.

[rapala]

Hi all,
Spent 2 seperate weeks bass fishing in the Ballycotton area this Autumn with mixed results. Witnessed some illegal netting 1st hand near Ballycotton, and reported it to the SW Fisheries. Fair play to them they called me back for more details and I actually bumped into 2 of their inspectors the next day at a different mark to the one I'd reported being netted.
I wont bore you with everything that was said, just the main points I want to make are as follows.

1. The boat we saw setting a fixed bottom net with just a single marker bouy was a small open boat @18foot long.
2. The nets were approximately 1/2 a mile long (honestly)
3. The bailiffs told us they knew who the netters were and that theyd already been prosecuted once (4000euro) this year for illegal bass.
4. Legal loopholes (currently being investigated) allow prosecuted netters to carry on fishing (! ! ! ! ! !)
5. Friends of mine visiting the same area a couple of weeks later saw the same boat we'd saw, netting the same spot, with the same massive net.
6. ! ! ! ! ! !

7. The bailiffs told me that nearly all the reports they get of nets come from holidaying, (mainly English) anglers. (I'm Welsh by the way)

Now, over the past 4 years or so I've noticed a steady decline in the quality of the bass fishing in Cork. I suppose its hardly surprising when netting like this is allowed to go on, apparently it seems, unchallenged.
Despite this, you still have better bass fishing than we do, but the way I see it unless you start putting the pressure on your fisheries people and MP's, for better protection, your quality bass fishing will disappear.

These rogue netsman are getting away with daylight robbery taking these black market bass - You pay your taxes, they are YOUR bass, and you need to do all you can to protect them before your local stocks get wiped out.
So what I am saying is stand up for what is yours, keep an eye out for these nets and report them every time, and if you are not getting taken seriously and if the fisheries people are so apparenly toothless, you need to make your complaints higher up.

Sorry I know this isnt a fishing report but I think a lot more anglers look at this bit than the conservation bit.

Tight lines.

Thats all...

[Livid]

The pressure should definately be kept on to protect irish stocks of Bass, without a doubt, although it wouldn't personally effect my fishing (i don't live near any bass marks, nor have i ever fished for them), it would be a damn shame to see them wiped out thanks to illegal netting!! These people need to be stopped.

[headshakes]

How did you know they were illegal.?? I hate scumbags like this just as much as the next guy but always wondered what to do. I often thought of approaching netsmen on the shore and asking for there license number. I also think I would get my ass kicked but if they said ya its, blah blah blah is there actually any way or website to verify the information.
I would have no problem approaching the netsmen and if they didn't want to give me there license number then reporting them to the authorities. Don't have a beef with legit fella's but have a real problem with thieves..!!!
Would to do???

[rapala]

I think you need to contact the Fisheries board and ask them directly what the regulations are. Perhaps there is information somewhere on this site that will tell you, or perhaps someone who knows will read this and wouldnt mind posting the details or where to get the details.
Strictly speaking I did not know the nets I saw were illegal but I had a good inkling they would be catching bass in them because I have caught bass in that area. So I picked up the phone and made the call.
The boat had no number, but I gave an accurate desctiption of the owner and of his accomplises who I saw an hour or so later back at the harbour helping him to load more massive nets onto the little boat.
I know bass are (supposed to be) protected in Ireland and so had a feeling that gillnetting like that was illegal, I have since asked the SWFB exactly what the law is and where to find it documented but after an initial follow-up reply have heard nothing.
These nets were the best part of a mile long (hard to believe from such a small boat) so they must be catching a lot of bass.
They just had one large orange bouy at one end.
Apparently the illegal bass get hidden amongst legal fish and transported off to England/ wherever.
It must be quite a big operation; It'd be quite interesting to see who big a house the netter in question lives in...

[kieran]

Assistance with conservation including the prosecution of scumbag illegal netters can be found here: -

http://www.sea-angling-ireland.org/bull ... php?t=3231

http://www.sea-angling-ireland.org/bull ... php?t=3148

hope this helps and keep up the good work!

[rapala]

Hi Kieran,
Thanks for that.
I dont suppose you have any idea where information on netting restrictions can be found by any chance????
Great site by the way.
R

[x]

These might help. Hopefully.

http://www.cfb.ie/fishing_in_ireland/An ... ations.htm

http://www.dcmnr.gov.ie/Corporate+Units ... l+2005.htm

http://www.oireachtas.ie/documents/bill ... b2705d.pdf

[rapala]

Thanks a lot Sandman, just the ticket.

[m.b3]

it's hard to look at the conservation section because it gives you the same feeling u get when you see illegal netters, anglers keeping tiny fish, more than they need, killing and binning...etc. ANGRY. helpless to do anything.
this is not a cop out! i have made a trip down to the central fisheries board before about a trawler and not only could they not give me any information as to what to do they made me feel like i was a wierdo for caring!!!! so what can i do?!?!?!?!!

have to laugh at the 4000 grand fine and still being allowed to fish illigal nets. what a load of rubbish!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! that means they can just take more bass to pay the fine??????????????!!!!


i just do my best to look after the fish i catch n return, it would be nice to do more though...