Bass fishing during banned period?

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#1 Post by **simplywabs** » Mon May 16, 2011 2:23 pm

I know this may look a stupid of a question. I have a scheduled holiday trip over this bank holiday week end in June which falls right in the middle of the ban season. I would definitely be fishing for all sorts. But, there is a good Bass mark to where we would be going for 3 days and I would like to know if I can go Bass fishing if I am going to return every catch?

I just want to experience the different thrill of taking in a Bass but unfortunately all marks are far from where I am and wanted to chance upon this opportunity if it is ok.

I am hoping for some kind and honest replies on this.

Tight lines!

#2 Post by **Shambo** » Mon May 16, 2011 2:44 pm

8th post down http://www.sea-angling-ireland.org/bull ... &sk=t&sd=a

#3 Post by **The Austrian** » Mon May 16, 2011 2:45 pm

Bass Fishing Conservation S.I. NO. 826 OF 2007

The effect of this Bye-law is to impose a bag limit on anglers of two bass in any one period of 24 hours and to provide for a ban on angling for bass during the spawning season (15th May to the 15th June).

http://fishinginireland.info/regulations.htm

One month is not too long

#4 Post by **Donagh** » Mon May 16, 2011 2:50 pm

simplywabs wrote:I know this may look a stupid of a question. I have a scheduled holiday trip over this bank holiday week end in June which falls right in the middle of the ban season. I would definitely be fishing for all sorts. But, there is a good Bass mark to where we would be going for 3 days and I would like to know if I can go Bass fishing if I am going to return every catch?

I just want to experience the different thrill of taking in a Bass but unfortunately all marks are far from where I am and wanted to chance upon this opportunity if it is ok.

I am hoping for some kind and honest replies on this.

Tight lines!

My understanding would be it would be legal to fish a mark that gets bass but not to fish for bass even if you C & R but many anglers give up fishing bass marks for this period.. For instance in the case of Sea Trout the same lures will get pike. The ballifs check you have a wire trace or not if you claim you are only fishing for pike. I suppose fishing a large lug wait with a 4/0 hook on a surf strand might be illegal but size 4 3 hook flapper would be ok.

tonytoc11 · #5 Post by **tonytoc11** » Mon May 16, 2011 3:50 pm

I was thinking the exact same thing. Whether it's a catch and return policy or whether you just can't fish at all?

#6 Post by **MAC** » Mon May 16, 2011 4:16 pm

Donagh wrote:My understanding would be it would be legal to fish a mark that gets Bass but not to fish for Bass even if you C & R but many anglers give up fishing Bass marks for this period.. For instance in the case of Sea Trout the same lures will get pike. The ballifs check you have a wire trace or not if you claim you are only fishing for pike. I suppose fishing a large lug wait with a 4/0 hook on a surf strand might be illegal but size 4 3 hook flapper would be ok.

Interesting one Donagh,
I have this problem in June when I normally take a camping trip to wexford with the Family. I head off to the beach in the evening with the young lad for a spot of fishing. I am looking for smooth hounds so I am fishing bigger crab baits. The only thing I have in my defence for a balifs interpetation is that I fish at range this way. Hopefully that will be enough as I am deffo not fishing for Bass. I even try not to fish close in for small flats for the little lad as there is a decent chace of a schoolie this way. Hopefully other anglers out there do their best to avoid Bass during the ban. We work hard to lobby for the protection of this species. It would not hold any weight if anglers were flaunting the Law.

Kev

#7 Post by **JOHN LYNCH** » Mon May 16, 2011 4:35 pm

Do you think Bass should count if caught during a competition in the close season. My personal opinion is that they should not as this is the only way to 100% guarantee that bass are not been targeted during a match.

Do the IFSA have guidelines for the above issue?

#8 Post by **weedave** » Tue May 17, 2011 9:35 am

quick question - does the bann cover northern ireland?

dave

#9 Post by **Tommy B** » Tue May 17, 2011 9:40 am

weedave wrote:quick question - does the bann cover northern ireland?

dave

quick answer no

Tue May 17, 2011 11:13 am

no dave but in years to come as the northern and southern fisheries more than likely will join as one...its in the process now

weedave wrote:quick question - does the bann cover northern ireland?

dave

#11 Post by **g lennon** » Tue May 17, 2011 11:54 am

weedave wrote:quick question - does the bann cover northern ireland?

dave

Does it cover The Peoples Republic ???

#12 Post by **Stephen8wood** » Tue May 17, 2011 1:10 pm

I would have thought that it is all down to intention. If you go to the mark with the intention of catching bass you would be in breach of the bye law. If you go to a mark intending to target another species and by chance catch a bass and release it you are not in breach. I would also have thought that it would be very hard for the board to achieve a conviction unless you were caught in the possession of a bass during the ban.

I suppose it comes down to your own personal choice and your level of respect for the environment and the efforts others have made to protect the species and by extension the world renowned bass fishery that the the south east, south and south west coasts have become.

I hope you enjoy your holiday anyway and get a chance to catch a decent bass on your next one.

#13 Post by **Eoghan** » Thu May 19, 2011 9:49 am

I promise im not trying to stir things up here but I think the bass ban is flawed. Dont get me wrong, I am big into bass conservation as anyone who knows me will testify, but I think this month needs to be moved on a yearly basis. I think Bass will spawn based on temperature of water, severity of the winter just past, to mention just a number of things. So based on these parameters, marine biologists etc should make a call on when they figure bass are more likely to spawn. If it were me on holiday, I would fish the mark but target "flounder"..!

I presonlly think its more damaging to allow people to fish for Twait Shad, which are in a confined space in a river and are all on the way to spawn. (Or at least to the best of my knowledge they are)

#14 Post by **Donnyboy1** » Thu May 19, 2011 10:19 am

Bass actually spawn all year round but the majority of the action is seen from March to June.

Don't think of it as a rule that they spawn in May... rather think of it as a little holiday that we give them

To grow strong and fat and fearless

#15 Post by **RockHunter** » Thu May 19, 2011 10:33 am

Eoghan wrote:I promise im not trying to stir things up here but I think the Bass ban is flawed. Dont get me wrong, I am big into Bass conservation as anyone who knows me will testify, but I think this month needs to be moved on a yearly basis. I think Bass will spawn based on temperature of water, severity of the winter just past, to mention just a number of things. So based on these parameters, marine biologists etc should make a call on when they figure Bass are more likely to spawn.

The spawning time definitely varies from year depending on weather and water temperatures. This year I caught several large bass in April that were very underweight for their length, a sure sign that they had spawned. I also had a number of male bass emitting milt from early April. So it is likely that much of the spawning has already taken place in the Cork area anyway. However, last year bass were very scarce until late April and it wouldn't surprise me if the spawning commenced much later than 15th May.

However, a problem with having a movable closed season would be its effect on angling tourism. The best way to ensure that the ban on commercial bass fishing is to promote bass angling tourism. However, foreign bass anglers are unlikely to make booking in the April-June period if they don't know in advance when the closed season is going to come into force.

#16 Post by **MAC** » Thu May 19, 2011 11:22 am

RockHunter wrote:However, a problem with having a movable closed season would be its effect on angling tourism. The best way to ensure that the ban on commercial Bass fishing is to promote Bass angling tourism. However, foreign Bass anglers are unlikely to make booking in the April-June period if they don't know in advance when the closed season is going to come into force.

Excellet point Rockhopper. The other big issue would be communicating the ban date to all anglers. Thankfully most anglers now know of the ban date. If this was moved on an annual basis, not enough anglers would find out about it. There is also an excuse for those that dont care to say they never heard of the new date.... too many loop holes. I would much prefer a 6 week or two month ban targeting the spawning period. Perhaps an April and May ban would be better... Who knows

, but at least with a ban we are communicating just how important this species is to Angling and Angling Tourisim.

#17 Post by **JimH** » Thu May 19, 2011 2:36 pm

I'm sitting here in the sunshine of my kitchen with my business closed for bass fishing for the next four weeks - I fished two or three times before the close and stopped fishing when I realised a lot of fish were spawning possibly due to conditions - I wonder a lot about the closed season and I have always believed it to be a good thing - the important thing to me personally is that its there in some form - Since I started the business I have always been aware that I needed to absorb 'the close' as a business cost and have done so since the start.

Fishing in Wexford for bass prior to May 15th is often a difficult business and I would never encourage an International customer to invest in a bass fishing holiday on the south east coast until after June 16th - hence I kick off on June 16th and close on October 16th (weather pending).

All of my customers have a lot of respect for the fact that we have a 'closed season' as they perceive it - there is a secret admiration - they feel it contibutes to their ability to come here to Ireland and catch fish next year and maybe the next year - we have our priorities right in terms of management of the species -

Fish dont do calendars, they are instinctive and responsive and the close season is a movable feast - we fish when they are spawning before and after the close - as popularity rises in bass fishing there might be no harm in bearing that in mind and consider if its impactful or not.

#18 Post by **Eoghan** » Thu May 19, 2011 4:25 pm

All great points gents, particulary the "I didnt know the new dates" one, never thought of it like that.
Would give too many people an excuse. At least this way they get some sort of break so to speak.

Maybe a ban on keeping fish over 5Ib and under 10Ib..? Most likely the female fish in prime condition..?
Again hard to police but in a perfect world would be great..!

#19 Post by **MAC** » Thu May 19, 2011 4:46 pm

Slot sizes work, I 100% agree. As mentioned by Jim, it up to the considerate anglers to be mindful of these fish especially when the might be spawning outside the ban. As for the ban, it would be very hard on Angling Tourisim to lenghten the ban. For me I would like to see a two month window during spawning season (May/June) where there is a 100% C&R policy and they the regular law before and after this window. There are lots of ways to skin a cat

#20 Post by **Eoghan** » Thu May 19, 2011 4:56 pm

MAC wrote:Slot sizes work, I 100% agree. As mentioned by Jim, it up to the considerate anglers to be mindful of these fish especially when the might be spawning outside the ban. As for the ban, it would be very hard on Angling Tourisim to lenghten the ban. For me I would like to see a two month window during spawning season (May/June) where there is a 100% C&R policy and they the regular law before and after this window. There are lots of ways to skin a cat

Now you're talking..! Cracking idea..!
Very easy to police too.

We caught some Bass on Thursday night last, about 4Ib max, but the power was unreal.
Such a beautiful fish, would be great to have more of em around and bigger..!

Sea Angling Ireland

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