Steve S

Lifting the bass drift net ban would be a disaster A recent call to bring back drift nets for commercial bass fishing risks undoing a decade of hard-won progress for UK sea angling and marine conservation. Back in 2015, the Government banned drift nets in the bass fishery as the stock collapsed. Banning these nets helped to protect seabirds, dolphins, porpoises and other sensitive species from indiscriminate bycatch, too. That ban has worked. Bass stocks, once on the brink of collapse, are recovering according to the latest scientific advice. Now, proposals are surfacing to lift the ban. We believe this would be an ecological and economic disaster. The facts: Drift nets are indiscriminate. They entangle dolphins, porpoises, seabirds, salmonids, sharks and more. Bass remain vulnerable. They are slow-growing, late-maturing fish. A fragile recovery is no excuse to return to unsustainable practices. Angling delivers more value. Bass are worth far more alive - supporting a £1.5 billion recreational sea angling sector and over 15,000 UK jobs. The law is clear. The Fisheries Act (2020) commits the UK to reducing and eliminating bycatch of sensitive species. Reintroducing drift nets would break that promise. Our position: Bass must remain a hook-and-line only fishery. Bringing back drift nets would risk another bass stock crash, kill thousands of protected species, and put at risk the future of both commercial and recreational fisheries. We are calling on Defra and MPs to hold the line – keep the drift net ban in place, support small-scale fishers with sustainable alternatives, and protect our seas for generations to come. This position is supported by: Angling Trust Bass Anglers Sportfishing Society (BASS) Royal Society for the Protection of Birds (RSPB) Bass Anglers Conservation (BAC) SOCIAL MEDIA Keep up-to-date with the latest sea fishing news - join our Sea Angling Facebook Group Stay up-to-date with all the latest sea angling news and join the conversation - become a member of the Angling Trust Sea Angling Facebook Group today!

Well worth reading this one. Advisory on Pollock, petition on bottom trawling and other news Sea News Update | September 2025 BLUEFIN TUNA Protecting our tuna fishery: Follow the Code to secure the future The Angling Trust has written to enforcement authorities urging robust enforcement of England's recreational bluefin tuna fishery. With growing angler interest, we must ensure this fishery develops sustainably, protecting both the species and future opportunities. Our Bluefin Tuna Code of Conduct outlines best practice for safe catch-and-release and responsible angling. All participants are encouraged to follow it closely to maintain high welfare standards and secure the fishery’s long-term future. POLLACK Pollack under pressure: Take the pact to protect the stock Scientific advice indicates that pollack continue to be in decline. Our Pollack Pact promotes best-practice handling and the use of descending devices to improve survival rates when fish are released. Anglers and skippers are urged to take the voluntary code and demonstrate their commitment to sustainable fishing. Together, we can help rebuild pollack stocks while safeguarding access for future seasons. The Pollack Pact encourages anglers to retain a maximum of 5 fish per angler per trip; avoid targeting pollack when they are spawning (Jan – March); adopt a 50cm Minimum Conservation Reference Size; and release unwanted and undersized fish using a descending device. MARINE PROTECTION Sign our petition to ban bottom trawling in more Marine Protected Areas The Government is proposing to extend the ban on bottom trawling to 41 additional Marine Protected Areas (MPAs) in English waters – a huge step forward for marine habitats, fish stocks and the future of recreational sea angling. The Angling Trust strongly supports this move, but we need to show there’s overwhelming public backing. Every signature counts in helping secure these protections and ensuring our seas are managed sustainably. AMPAIGNS Policy & Parliamentary engagement This month, the Angling Trust has: Submitted evidence to the UK Marine Strategy review, calling for stronger protection of marine habitats that support angling and recreationally important species. Responded to the All-Party Parliamentary Group for the Ocean, highlighting angling’s role in the blue economy and sustainable fisheries. Submitted to the Fishing & Coastal Growth Fund consultation, pressing for recognition and investment in recreational sea angling. Written to the Fisheries Minister, Daniel Zeichner, on the importance of investing in recreational sea fishing and coastal communities via the Fishing & Coastal Growth Fund. These efforts ensure anglers’ voices are heard where it matters most. ANGLERS AGAINST POLLUTION Estuary Water Quality Monitoring Network The Estuary Water Quality Monitoring Network is the newest addition to our Anglers Against Pollution campaign. In May we concluded our Ribble pilot project phase and officially launched the network to the public. The reception from anglers across the country was fantastic, with an outpouring of support and people interested in getting involved. Government bodies also took note, asking to collaborate and have our data feed into the work they’re doing. This support from both the angling community and government highlights estuaries as a place of cultural, recreational, and ecological importance which we desperately need to monitor. With the network now beginning to expand, we’ve taken on our first set of new volunteers which now sample in seven estuaries across the country. This is an exciting first step, and as more anglers join the cause, the power of the data we gather can only grow. Combined with our extensive River Water Quality Monitoring Network, we now can track water quality from source to sea in a way that has never been possible before. Thanks to funding from the Marine Management Organisation, we can partially fund kits for new volunteers joining the network. Now is a fantastic opportunity to join the initiative and gain new insights into the state of your coastal waters. If you would like to learn more about the project, please visit our homepage on the link below: If you would like to sign up and receive more information about joining, please fill out the brief contact form below and we will contact you with more information. ANGLERS AGAINST LITTER Free litter kits and recycling bins for clubs Sea angling clubs can apply for free litter picking kits and Anglers National Line Recycling Scheme (ANLRS) bins as part of our Anglers Against Litter – Reeling in Change project, funded by the Marine Management Organisation's Fisheries and Seafood Scheme. This initiative is designed to support our Anglers Against Litter campaign, sponsored by Shimano and supported by The Insurance Emporium, helping even more anglers join the effort to keep our coastal areas clean and beautiful. If you're part of a sea angling club and are willing to commit to at least two litter picks per year, all you need to do is: Apply for one of these amazing kits. Share your litter-picking photos with us. Litter kits include Anglers Against Litter High Viz vests and litter pickers made from recycled fishing nets. Interested? Send us an email with your club details to aal@anglingtrust.net ENGAGEMENT Got an issue? Get in touch with Peter Peter Morgan, the Angling Trust's Sea Angling Engagement Officer, is asking clubs and individual members to get in touch if they have any questions relating to issues they face in their recreational angling or to share news of success they or their clubs have had. Peter reports: "We already have a good group of regional volunteers who do a great deal of good work to help and promote the clubs in their areas. I want to build on this and help share details of our projects and regional and national policies that may affect them. "I am aware that we have member clubs who are based outside the borders of some of the regulations that we have here in England, but nonetheless I encourage them to keep in touch as it has been found that some of the pressures on recreational angling are similar in those jurisdictions and working together we may find solutions to assist." To contact Peter email peter.morgan@anglingtrust.net or sea@anglingtrust.net FUNDRAISING Gary nets £5,000 on our Anglers Lottery Anglers Lottery player Gary Kusak is still celebrating after winning £5,000 with our July draw. "It’s incredible to think that my small contribution has not only helped support angling across the country but also brought me this amazing reward." said Gary. The Anglers Lottery is a different way to support all of our work and have a great chance to win. The next draw takes place at the end of September so sign up by Saturday 20th September to get involved. By taking part, you’ll not only be helping to fund our vital work - you'll also be in with a chance to win up to £25,000. SOCIAL MEDIA Keep up-to-date with the latest sea fishing news - join our Sea Angling Facebook Group Stay up-to-date with all the latest sea angling news and join the conversation - become a member of the Angling Trust Sea Angling Facebook Group today! MEMBER OFFER Get a 10% discount on Veals Mail Order Veals first opened for business in Bristol in 1846 and have become one of the premier Sea Angling retailers in the country thanks to their exceptional customer service and vast range of products. To support our work, Veals have signed up as Trade Supporter members and are giving Angling Trust Individual Members 10% discount off all purchases! Click to find out more JOINING GIFT £20 tackle voucher for new Individual Members We are currently running a recruitment promotion giving new individual members a free £20 Fishing Megastore voucher if they pay by recurring card or direct debit. Fishing Megastore is the online arm of the Glasgow Angling Centre, one of the largest online and fishing tackle mail order companies in the UK. They boast a massive selection of fishing gear supplying fly, sea and coarse fishing rods from all the top brands, including: Hardy, Greys, Loop, Sage, Abu Garcia, Chub, Daiwa, Shakespeare and many more. To claim the free £20 voucher, new members must enter JOIN£20 in the promo code field when they join online or quote the code over the phone to the membership team. ADVERT Reel in a deal with The Insurance Emporium #Ad: Sea, coarse, match, fly, lure, game... however you choose to cast your line, if you are serious about your fishing, you should consider insuring your gear with The Insurance Emporium. You can reel in a deal with up to 30% discount* on fishing insurance. *The 30% discount includes a special 5% discount on your policy with promo code: “ANGLERS”. T&Cs apply, see website for details. The maximum available discount is 30% - this is a combination of 25% Introductory Discount and 5% Angling Trust member discount. The Introductory and Promo Code Discounts are available from the start of the policy until its first review/renewal date. TRADE PARTNERS The Angling Trust's work is supported by our Trade Associates Click on a logo to visit our Trade Associate partner's website We are a not for profit organisation, representing anglers, fighting for fish, fishing and the environment. We are recognised by the Government as the National Governing Body for angling in England and partner with Visit Wales and Natural Resources Wales to promote Fishing in Wales. We are a member-based organisation made up of anglers of all disciplines providing a united front to represent, grow and protect our sport. As the National Governing Body for Angling, the Angling Trust requires all members who fish Angling Trust Competitions to abide by Angling Trust anti-doping policies and UKAD Anti-Doping Rules as adopted. Details can be found on the competitions section of our website or search “Anti-Doping” on our website. By becoming a member of the Angling Trust you are helping to protect the waterways you fish in and the fish which live within them, ensuring their health and protection for future generations. Click here for more information about membership. Angling Trust Limited is a company limited by guarantee, company number 05320350. Angling Trust & Fish Legal, Eastwood House, Rainbow Street, Leominster, HR6 8DQ Telephone: 01568 620447 View in browser | Unsubscribe from all Angling Trust email communications

Augusts winner Bobi with a fine 3-14 trigger fish

Please add your fish/boat/marine views photo's taken this month here, most likes wins. Winner announced on the 5th of the month following. The winning photo will be added to the photo of the month gallery.

The Angling Trust's Peter Morgan will NOT now be doing a talk after the meeting. He told me he has been reassigned that day on some operational matters and could not now make the meeting. He ask me to express his sincere apologies to the club. We are aim to reschedule the AT talk for a later meeting.

Mal's brother Trev with a big trigger

Sorry to hear that you trip didn't go better Mal. I went inshore on Wednesday. Started for Solent gilts, no joy. With a load of rag headed off the beaches for plaice. There were quite a few around, lots of small ones and some mid size, the small bream were a pain some of the time. What I did catch however was loads and loads of mackerel of all sizes, best session for mackerel for a couple of years. I've enough now to last the rest of the year for bait and plenty for eating.

Nice one Charlie 😃

Please add your fish/boat/marine views photo's taken this month here, most likes wins. Winner announced on the 5th of the month following. The winning photo will be added to the photo of the month gallery.

I do the same as Charlie. When refitting make sure the splines are well greased, aids future removal. I apply a little medium strength Loctite on the nuts to save replacing them. If the props are removed every year they should come off no problem, if left you may need to get a mallet on them.

Well I've got one, you could borrow it, my boat is in Lymington, I keep it on the boat. Honestly I think it's better to buy one, they are not expensive and both props need removing every year to change the oil in the leg so it gets regular use. Note, mine may not be suitable for you, it's for a 2006 DPH drive.

Tigerfish and yachts in Dixcart bay, Sark

2 winners of FoTM this time

Please add your fish/boat/marine views photo's taken this month here, most likes wins. Winner announced on the 5th of the month following. The winning photo will be added to the photo of the month gallery.

Nice one Mal, a good session.

The way cod fishing is going these days Charlie, it could very well end winning the cod comp! I've only tried it with flubbers Graham, never tried on the pollock so far. It's not a 100% success return rate but the majority do swim down.