TomBettle Posted April 10, 2006 Report Share Posted April 10, 2006 http://i61.photobucket.com/albums/h69/casc...ye6thApril1.jpg Don't know if the link will work, but I was really pleased to hear of a super haul of Plaice by a chap on another forum fishing down in Kent. Then I saw the picture and felt a knot in the pit of my stomach. I thought the days were gone when a superb haul of 28 Plaice would have all been killed, but the proof is in the picture and what makes it even worse is that it only a couple of fish look like reasonable "keepers". No names or forums mentioned here, particularly as I have a dialogue with the chap about fishing down our way and me and my two size 9's seem to stir stuff up enough, but in this day and age would you brag about a catch like that, how many fish would you have kept (between 4) and if you had kept them would you have taken a photo such as his? Personally, I would have been chuffed with a couple of reasonable keepers for me along with one or two for the old dears in my flats as it keeps em sweet. A single picture of a nice fish with the trace still in it's mouth would have made his catch report. Credit where credit is due, 28 fish (particularly where we are all struggling) is a superb catch, but 28 small dead fish? Tom EDITED to say it was between 4 and not 2 anglers. Still a good haul, but it is the pic that bothers me and the size of the fish kept. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
markee_b Posted April 10, 2006 Report Share Posted April 10, 2006 I largely gave up fishing on piers because of the muppets you'd meet who'd refuse to return anything....seems this guy is a dye-in-the-wool pier fisherman who got sold a boat...I see its a Quiksilver...did you sell it to him Tom Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
TomBettle Posted April 10, 2006 Author Report Share Posted April 10, 2006 I largely gave up fishing on piers because of the muppets you'd meet who'd refuse to return anything....seems this guy is a dye-in-the-wool pier fisherman who got sold a boat...I see its a Quiksilver...did you sell it to him Tom Ahem! I don't sell Quicksilver! Mark, I have to say, I have chatted with him about other stuff on the phone and he seems really decent. Just was gobsmacked when I saw the pic. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
markee_b Posted April 10, 2006 Report Share Posted April 10, 2006 In all seriousness I too think it's a very poor taste photo...I'm not massively pc about these things, but I just like to think that people partaking of this hobby/sport would be somewhat more conservation minded. Is easy fodder for the antis seeing rubbish like that too... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Maverick Martin Posted April 10, 2006 Report Share Posted April 10, 2006 So So sad, Good job he didnt post it on AN they would have ripped him to pieces Martin Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Newboy Posted April 10, 2006 Report Share Posted April 10, 2006 A tad small ain't they? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Adam F Posted April 10, 2006 Report Share Posted April 10, 2006 This is the chap who was angling to tag along with you to Alderney this year Tom?? From Worldseafishing by any chance? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
TomBettle Posted April 10, 2006 Author Report Share Posted April 10, 2006 Adam, you know who I mean, I just didn't want to point too many fingers etc. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Afishionado Posted April 10, 2006 Report Share Posted April 10, 2006 Incredibly small penis is what this lad has. He finds the need to compansate with heroic (sic) deeds. A common fault with the drivers of Honda type R's too Mad Mike Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
TomBettle Posted April 10, 2006 Author Report Share Posted April 10, 2006 It isn't particularly the number of fish that is the problem. 7 fish each is a really good days fishing, and assuming that they all get greedily eaten by friends, family and so on then no problem. My particular problems lie with the photo that shows a stack of dead fish lined up for the "trophy" shot. I've taken shots like these. About 15 or 20 years ago when it was the "in" thing to do and before we all became much more conservation minded. The other problem I have is that they seem well chuffed to have banged on the head a bunch of small, potentially immature (marine biologists please correct me) Plaice. Yes they do appear to be over the legal size limit, but by most peoples standards they are small Plaice. If you are catching loads and they are smallish then keep one or two for tea, but stick back others so they can get a bit fatter. ...IMHO it is a similar thing to the Bass issue and small fish. Oh well, rant over. Tom Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
duncan Posted April 10, 2006 Report Share Posted April 10, 2006 look like dabs to me.............. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Swainiac Posted April 10, 2006 Report Share Posted April 10, 2006 Tom, we had a guy on the boat last tuesday who bagged a 5lb fish, the third over the gunnels for him, and the first was placed back by the unhooker......who shall remain nameless....and the captor was not amused!!! Even the largest of his fish idnt have too much in the way of meat on it, indeed my 4lber only had a pound and half of meat when filletted. Shame when these fish are getting harder and harder to squeak out. Rich Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mike Fox Posted April 10, 2006 Report Share Posted April 10, 2006 Tom, Male plaice reach sexual maturity between 2 and 6 years, and females between 3 and 7 years. The length/size of the fish depends upon the growth rate, which in turn varies by diet, location, temperature etc. Male plaice of 2-3 years are typically around 25cm long, and females of 3-4 years are typically around 25-30 cm. Correlation between age/length and weight is not widely documented, but a plaice of around a pound in weight is just about mature on this basis, and may have spawned just once. Keeping tiddlers is clearly not a good idea! Mike Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
TomBettle Posted April 11, 2006 Author Report Share Posted April 11, 2006 Thanks Mike I guessed you would have the answer. Well it seems this chaps Plaice had probably had a season of "fun". What bugs me, is people on this forum seem to see me as having a go at him even though I have actually said well done on a good session. Bugs me that people are so short sighted. I bet if a small boat had been out on is spot netting the day he was fishing, he would have been grumblng something rotten if he saw those fish coming over the side. Tom Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
duncan Posted April 11, 2006 Report Share Posted April 11, 2006 What bugs me, is people on this forum seem to see me as having a go at him even though I have actually said well done on a good session. is there another thread on this or are you getting phone calls Tom? whatever, give me a call if you want someone behind you.............. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
TomBettle Posted April 11, 2006 Author Report Share Posted April 11, 2006 Duncan I meant on the other forum, who's name will remain unknown, but most of you know it as it claims to be the best fishing mag on the web. It really isn't the fish that bug me, but the photo's of all the dead ones. I guess "having a go at me" is just a wee bit of an over statement, but they are definitely supporting the angler for banging them all on the head and then laying them out for the trophy picture. I have tried directing guys over to here to see what pictures in a decent catch report should look like (the nice ones with a live fish held up for the camera, shining skin, trace out of it's mouth sort of thing. Oh well, it seems that we are the only decent forum on the net where views of all kinds can be exchnaged in friendly banter, but a pile of dead fish won't be tolerated. By all means tell us about your wonderful days fishing, keep your catch if they are sizeable and you are truly giong to enjoy them, but don't photograph the whole pile just to make you feel big. That was the sort of photo that was well eceived 20 years ago, not now. Tom Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Newboy Posted April 11, 2006 Report Share Posted April 11, 2006 Tom, so of the angler are still from the old days, catch first, keep it second, then decide whether to bin it when they get home.... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Recommended Posts
Join the conversation
You can post now and register later. If you have an account, sign in now to post with your account.