Paul J

Well done Rob, a Bass in Feb, thats a tough one Re the braid, do you have a damaged eye on the rod? check them with a Qtip for cracks PJ

Leon sums up the situation very well Last edited by Leon Roskilly; Yesterday at 10:02 AM.

Well done you've passed the test, sorry its spelt Friess Bernhard.Friess@ec.europa.eu

Just copying and pasting this would help: BASS wants the Working Party to implement the following to improve the management of our bass stocks: • The 80% cut on bass landings that ICES stated as being needed to prevent bass stock collapse to be fully implemented in the near future. • An annual no take season for both commercial fishermen and recreational anglers from 1st January until 30th April for coastal and offshore areas. This will protect the pre-spawning bass aggregations, allow them to breed unmolested, and maximise the value of those bass harvested given these are out of condition fish and of low relative value. • A minimum landing size for bass of 48 cm. This is the minimum bass breeding size of 42 cm plus one years further growth. It should enable all bass taken to have bred once before they can be harvested. • The suggested maximum landing figure of 1 or 1.5 tonne(s) of bass per month to be set far lower – if it is used at all. At this level it would only limit a few commercial boats, plus it is also hard to police with trans-shipment between boats a potential problem. • Consideration of making the bass fishery rod and line only. This would largely eliminating considerations of problems of undersize fish being returned dead as returned undersize fish will be returned to grow into mature fish.

I need some help getting the message to the 4 mentioned in the blog- PJ http://www.ukbass.com/eu-soon-to-discuss-further-bass-measures-our-bass-need-your-urgent-help/ EU Soon To Discuss Further Bass Measures: Our Bass Need Your Urgent Help! Posted on 3 February 2015by Bass.Blogging.Team The European Union working party on Internal and External Fisheries Policy meets this Thursday (5th February). This is to discuss further measures to bring about the 80% cut in landings ICES stated were needed to prevent a collapse of the stock of our bass (some recent background can be found here: http://www.ukbass.com/the-view-of-bass-keep-pushing-for-our-bass-and-our-sport/link). BASS wants the Working Party to implement the following to improve the management of our bass stocks: • The 80% cut on bass landings that ICES stated as being needed to prevent bass stock collapse to be fully implemented in the near future. • An annual no take season for both commercial fishermen and recreational anglers from 1st January until 30th April for coastal and offshore areas. This will protect the pre-spawning bass aggregations, allow them to breed unmolested, and maximise the value of those bass harvested given these are out of condition fish and of low relative value. • A minimum landing size for bass of 48 cm. This is the minimum bass breeding size of 42 cm plus one years further growth. It should enable all bass taken to have bred once before they can be harvested. • The suggested maximum landing figure of 1 or 1.5 tonne(s) of bass per month to be set far lower – if it is used at all. At this level it would only limit a few commercial boats, plus it is also hard to police with trans-shipment between boats a potential problem. • Consideration of making the bass fishery rod and line only. This would largely eliminating considerations of problems of undersize fish being returned dead as returned undersize fish will be returned to grow into mature fish. In order to help, firstly, please spread message far and wide on social media and on angling forums etc in the next 2 days. Secondly email the working party (send it to: Niki.Marlow@consilium.europa.eu and Secretariat.dgb2a@consilium.europa.eu ) to tell them what our bass need (your own words are best but just copying and pasting the above bullet points is still excellent!) Also ask them to circulate your email request to other members of the working party. Finally copying your email to karmenu.vella@ec.europa.eu (EU Commission, Head of Fisheries) and Bernhard.Friess@ec.europa.eu would add yet more impact to your action. Thanks from BASS and our bass for your ongoing help! http://insideangle.anglingtrust.net/2015/02/03/proof-that-people-power-really-can-work/

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From the latest Commission Staff Working Document http://www.parlament.gv.at/PAKT/EU/X...e_10526733.pdf Item 10.) The sea bass stock in this area has recovered from a very low level since the beginning ofthe 1990ies but has been declining rapidly since 2012 and will according to ICES approachits historically lowest level in 2016. The number of young fish adding to the stock (socalledrecruitment) has been declining since the mid-2000s and has been very poor since2008; this has been the longest period of low recruitment on record. Fishing pressure (socalledfishing mortality) has continuously risen since the early 1990ies and reached an alltime high in 2013. ICES now advises a severe reduction of catches, by 80%, to stem therapid decline in biomass.

One for Lofty http://best4fishing.net/video/300-Pound-Marlin-Tows-Kayak-11-MILES-1

Anglers Celebrate As EU Bans Trawling For Bass Trawling for bass during the spawning period has been banned in a historic set of emergency measures aimed at averting a total collapse of Europe’s bass stocks. The ban on pelagic trawling – which accounts for 25 per cent of the impact on the stock and includes the controversial method of pair trawling – will begin immediately in the Channel, Celtic sea, Irish Sea and Southern North Sea and run until April 30th during which time adult bass aggregate to reproduce and are most vulnerable. The EU is putting forward further measures to deal with the impact on bass stocks of recreational and other commercial fishing methods. For recreational bass angling the proposals include a three fish a day bag limit and an increase in the legal minimum size of bass from 36cm to 42cm. The European Commission is also proposing limiting catches for other commercial bass fisheries and is working on a proposal with member states which will be taken to the Council of fisheries ministers as soon as possible. The emergency measures have been introduced following scientific advice in June 2014 that recommended an 80 per cent cut in catches from the previous year and confirmation that continued fishing pressure was leading to serious harm to the reproductive capacity of the stock. This is the first time that Article 12 of the reformed Common Fisheries Policy has been invoked due to, “A serious threat to the conservation of marine biological resources..”. The Angling Trust and our partners at the Bass Anglers Sportfishing Society (B.A.S.S.) and (European Anglers Alliance) have been campaigning tirelessly for the introduction of conservation measures for bass – a crucially important recreational species and one that generates hundreds of millions of pounds and supports tens of thousands of jobs across Europe. In 2012 the Angling Trust organised a delegation to the then Fisheries Minister Richard Benyon to press the case for bass conservation measures in the face of evidence demonstrating that stocks were in trouble. The Angling Trust will be continuing to work with the UK and the Commission to ensure that the measures to limit other commercial bass fisheries are in proportion to the new bag limit and minimum size being proposed for recreational catches. In addition the Trust will be working with the UK to agree on what additional measures the UK can take to restore the UK bass fishery. David Mitchell, the Angling Trust’s Marine Campaigns Manager, said; “Emergency measures such as this, can last for a maximum of 12 months so it is crucial that the Commission and member states now follow through on the commitment to develop a long term bass management plan which the Angling Trust and our partners will play a key role in helping to develop. This is an historic decision for recreational fishing and hopefully represents a sea change in public policy towards marine conservation. However, there's a long way to go yet to achieve what is needed for a truly sustainable fishery." Mark Lloyd, Chief Executive of the Angling Trust, said; “Bass anglers have been calling for action to protect stocks for nearly a decade and it seems that the UK government and European Commission have at last acted, in the face of undeniable scientific evidence and a concerted campaign by the Angling Trust and BASS. The immediate emergency measures that have been confirmed are very welcome and the intention to follow these up with further restrictions on commercial exploitation is encouraging. “ Nigel Horsman, of the Bass Anglers Sportfishing Society, said; “This is a great day for Dicentrarchus Labrax, the fabulous European Sea Bass, and what we have been working so hard and waiting so long for. We also look forward to the production of a long term management plan for bass, which will lead to healthy stocks of all sizes of bass for the benefit of everyone who uses this stock sustainably. I would like to pay tribute to the fantastic work of everyone in the Bass Anglers Sportfishing Society (BASS) and the Angling Trust who campaigned for this for many years. The strength and breadth of that support has been invaluable in achieving this amazing result. We know that recruitment to the adult stock will be weak for the next few years, but I hope these measures will ensure that the current stock remains broadly stable until environmental conditions allow a full stock recovery, which we can cherish and then enjoy great British Bass fishing for many years to come." -Ends- Notes to editors Bass Stocks Background The latest scientific advice issued by ICES in June 2014 recommends a 80 per cent cut in landings of bass across the EU for 2015. This follows advice for a 36 per cent cut in 2013 which was not acted upon. The decline is the result of intensive overfishing, increasing fishing effort and successive years of recruitment failure. Successive Fisheries Ministers have been well aware of the current parlous state of sea bass numbers around the inshore waters of England and Wales and the long overdue need for the government to introduce measures to prevent a catastrophic stock collapse. The results from this year’s Solent bass survey confirm five poor year classes in a row (2008 – 2012) which offers a bleak prospect for the future. The EU Commission has produced a guide to the measures which can be downloaded HERE Lots more information on our bass campaign can be found on our website HERE. Angling Trust The Angling Trust is the national representative and governing body for angling in England. It is united in a collaborative relationship with Fish Legal, a separate membership association using that uses the law to protect fish stocks and the rights of its members throughout the UK. Joint membership packages with Fish Legal are available for individuals, clubs, fisheries and other categories. Find out all about the Angling Trust and its work at www.anglingtrust.net or call us on 01568 620447

http://ec.europa.eu/information_society/newsroom/cf/mare/itemdetail.cfm?item_id=20186&lang=en European Commission acts to protect sea bass stock(26/01/2015) The European Commission has announced measures to avert the collapse of the declining sea bass stock. Immediately effective emergency measures will place a ban on targeting the fish stock by trawling while it is reproducing, during the spawning season, which runs until the end of April. This will be complemented by further measures to ensure that all those who fish sea bass make a balanced and fair contribution to saving the stock. The European Commissioner for Environment, Maritime Affairs and Fisheries, Karmenu Vella, said: "The impact of this stock collapsing would be catastrophic for the livelihoods of so many fishermen and coastal communities. This is about saving sea bass and saving jobs in the commercial and recreational fishing sector. I am proud of our quick reaction to what is an immediate danger to the stock". The pelagic trawling ban is a critical first step in this package of measures. This ban will protect the stock from being targeted when at its most vulnerable – when the fish is coming together in shoals during the spawning season to reproduce. The spawning season is already underway and will last until end of April. Pelagic trawling on is a major source of mortality and reduces the spawning stock as it makes up 25% of the impact on the stock. With a reduced spawning stock further actions and any rebuilding of the stock would be endangered. The measure will therefore come into force immediately and last until 30 April 2015. It will apply to the Channel, Celtic Sea, Irish Sea and southern North Sea. Commercial and recreational fishing In order to help the stock of sea bass recover, more action is needed to address the impact of all other commercial and recreational fishing activities. Therefore the Commission is currently making a renewed and urgent effort in order to help Council and Member States put in place a package of measures to manage commercial and recreational fisheries on seabass more effectively. For recreational fishing which accounts for 25% of sea bass catches, this would include a limit of three fish per day per angler. Member States would also need to set a minimum size of 42 cm so that fish are not caught, or are released, before they have reproduced. For other commercial fisheries than pelagic trawling, this would also include limiting catches. The Commission is working with the Member States involved to prepare a proposal to the Council of Ministers as soon as possible. Background Sea bass is one of the most valuable fish on which many fishermen, especially small fishing enterprises, depend. Recent scientific analyses have reinforced previous concerns of unsustainable fishing advising urgently a substantial reduction in fishing mortality. We are witnessing a rapid decline of sea bass that risks leading to a collapse if no action is taken. International scientific bodies have called for an 80% reduction in catches to turn the situation around. Around 100 fishermen depend to a higher degree for part of the year on pelagic trawling of sea bass, while during the rest of year their income is made up also from other fisheries. There are however several hundred small scale fishermen that depend solely on sea bass for their income and for whom finding another source of income is much more difficult. With over 1.3m recreational anglers in France and another 800 000 in the UK, many thousands of jobs also depend on recreational fishing. Following a lack of agreement between Member States since 2012 on coordinated and effective measures to protect this important stock and another lack of agreement of EU ministers in December's Fisheries Council, on 19 December 2014 the UK made a formal request to the Commission to take emergency measures. The Commission then consulted the Member States involved and analysed the scientific evidence available. On the basis of discussions with all Member States and based on the scientific evidence the Commission has taken its own decision. The Commission has previously taken such emergency measures to protect vulnerable stocks, most recently with anchovy in the Bay of Biscay. More information Protecting sea bass

Latest from the AT as of yesterday: http://www.anglingtrust.net/news.asp?section=29&sectionTitle=Angling+Trust+News&itemid=2438 AT Urges EU Commissioner To Introduce Emergency Bass Measures Now! Earlier this week the Angling Trust wrote to European Fisheries Commissioner Karmenu Vella ahead of the crucial EU Fisheries and Aquaculture Committee meeting taking place today, Friday, urging the EU to resist pressure from French and other commercial fishing interests and proceed in full with emergency measures to close targeted mid-water and pelagic trawling for bass in the English Channel, Southern North Sea and Irish and Celtic Seas. Further meetings are planned over coming weeks to address the impact of recreational fishing and other commercial fishing fleets before the full package of EU emergency measures is known. Following the outcome of the EU’s measures the Angling Trust is due to meet with officials from Defra to discuss what measures could be taken at UK level to further protect and restore British bass stocks. We expect the measures to be passed so hope to be able to pass on good news early next week. Watch this space! > Read more http://www.anglingtrust.net/news.asp?section=29&sectionTitle=Angling+Trust+News&itemid=2438

It was good to see a few of you there. Its really important that the response from anglers is large and loud, Nigel H is doing a fine Job on our behalf at Sifca but we need to support him by sending in email responses before Jan 31st. If enough Anglers write in asking for what they want then the better chance we have of getting some of it. What do you think about the one bass bag limit? - tell them What about inshore netting? tell them if your happy with your fishing then tell them Cheers PJ

Merry Christmas and best fishes for the New Year PJ

Ill be down about 4pm It would send the right message if this was well attended by anglers, a show of strength in numbers can help focus the mind. it has always been the case of those who shout loudest.... and up to now we've been a mere whisper. Minimum landing sizes and inshore netting restrictions will be high on my agenda as will protection of bass, but by targeting the biggest culprits not Anglers PJ

Thanks for the reminder, I'll go along to the Thistle hotel on Tuesday pm Public consultation on Review of Management Measures Southern IFCA are seeking views of stakeholders including commercial and recreational users, to shape the way their fisheries are managed in the future. The questions we are asking are; Whether you agree with key objectives and focus areas that have been identified? What measures you think are necessary to fulfil our objectives for each of the focus areas identified? Where can we work together with stakeholders to gather additional evidence are fulfil shared objectives? How can we best involve the community in the management of the Southern IFCA District? A series of public meetings are to be held in January 2015: Weymouth Angling Society, DT4 8NF Monday 5th January, 15:00 to 19:00 The Thistle Hotel, Poole, BH15 1HD Tuesday 6th January, 10:00 to 18:00 Eastney Cruising Association, PO4 9LY Thursday 8th January, 15:00 to 19:00 Riverside Centre, Newport, Isle of Wight, PO30 2QR Friday 9th January, 15:00 to 19:00 Full details of the consultation can be viewed here and the consultation document can be viewed here. For further information please contact the Southern IFCA office at enquiries@southern-ifca.gov.uk or on 01202 721373.

I told George Eustice that i will be voting UKIP unless he grows some balls or words to that effect

My Navionics gold card has worn out and is knackered Anyone got a spare they want to sell me? Cheers PJ

From the AT "BBC South East news picked up on the Blue Marine report and ran a story about bass today. Thanks to Tim for doing a great job and getting out on the water this morning. The item starts 12.20 minutes in "http://www.bbc.co.uk/iplayer/episode/b04sxbss/south-east-today-05122014

here's the debate- long but interesting and good to see so much time devoted to it http://www.parliament.uk/business/publications/hansard/commons/todays-commons-debates/read/unknown/1256/#c1256

This is worth a look http://api.viglink.com/api/click?format=go&jsonp=vglnk_14172816498029&key=bbb516d91daee20498798694a42dd559&libId=12c51b01-3b21-470a-a41a-02465a14a6e3&loc=http%3A%2F%2Fsaltflybum.proboards.com%2Fthread%2F2614%2Fmore-fish-flicks%3Fpage%3D17%26scrollTo%3D39657&v=1&out=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.youtube.com%2Fwatch%3Fv%3DPRJjjt98lfs&ref=http%3A%2F%2Fsaltflybum.proboards.com%2F&title=More%20fish%20flicks%20%7C%20Saltwater%20Fly%20Bums&txt=tuna%20and%20dolphin%20footage

Anglers Challenge EU Commission Over ‘Unbalanced and Unacceptable’ Bass Management Proposals as Government's Strategy Unravels. Sea anglers have reacted angrily to proposals published earlier this month by the European Commission on the management of (sea) bass which would see anglers restricted to keeping one fish, per person per day, while commercial trawlers would still be free to scoop up vast quantities of fish with minimal new restrictions. Angling organisations claim that that the EU proposals will deliver no real reductions in commercial bass fishing mortality at all and that landings in 2015 might even go up despite the International Council for Exploration of the Seas (ICES) recommending that catches should be cut by 80% immediately to restore bass stocks hit by years of overfishing. The 'wholly inadequate' proposals from the Commission have exposed the flaws in the UK government's strategy of relying on Europe take action to limit bass mortalities rather than coming forward with their own bass management plans. Other EU countries including Ireland and The Netherlands have introduced tough measures to protect bass stocks in their inshore waters and the Angling Trust is now calling on the UK government to follow suit. Last month Fisheries Minister George Eustice, in response to a Parliamentary question from Angling Trust Ambassador Richard Benyon MP, said: "When it comes to bass, I can tell him that we expect to have an important breakthrough in December. We have always said that there should be technical measures. The stock has been fished unsustainably and there is a tentative proposal, which we expect to be raised at the December Council, that will look at both bag limits and catch limits, so that we can preserve this vital stock." Angling Trust Campaign Chief Martin Salter said: "George Eustice and his officials at Defra need to up their game considerably now that their flawed strategy of leaving the future of British bass stocks to the unholy horse trading processes of the European Commission is unravelling. The Angling Trust has warned Mr Eustice and MPs that the Commission was likely to cave into pressure from the commercial sector and that it was foolhardy to talk of breakthroughs and to resist drafting much needed domestic measures that could complement whatever was eventually agreed in Europe." The Angling Trust has helped to draft a briefing note in a partnership between the European Anglers Alliance (EAA), the European Tackle Trade Association (EFTTA) and the International Forum For Sustainable Underwater Activities (IFSUA) to influence the Commission and Member States before the Council of Ministers meets on December 15th-16th. The briefing paper highlights the Commission’s proposal for a one fish, per angler, per day bag limit on recreational catches as unfair, unbalanced and disproportionate as well as highlighting the failure of the Commission to put forward serious measures to reduce bass fishing mortality from commercial fisheries which account for more than 70 per cent of the total recorded bass fishing mortality. The briefing paper questions the EU Commission’s powers to introduce a bag limit on recreational catches which EAA now understands could apply to bass caught from the shore as well as from boats. It also highlights the lack of data on what the bag limit would deliver in terms of reducing fishing mortality. The briefing note goes on to highlight deficiencies in the proposals for commercial fishing including: Criticism that the proposals include no specific details on catch limits for vessels fishing in restricted areas important for bass spawning. Criticism that the proposals will affect too small an area and only a very limited number of fishing vessels in area VIIe off the south coast of Devon and Cornwall. Criticism that the proposed measures neither close these important spawning areas completely nor ban all trawling in them. Suggesting that restrictions should apply beyond the short window during the peak spawning period. Criticism that the proposal makes no recommendations for mixed fisheries despite being the cause of approximately 40 per cent of bass fishing mortality. The paper goes on to argue that the proposals could deliver no real reductions in commercial bass fishing mortality at all and that with the introduction of the landings obligation, and a reduction in available quota for other species, commercial landings of bass in 2015 might even go up – a situation that would be catastrophic for the stock. The International Council for Exploration of the Seas (ICES) has recommended that catches should be cut by 80% immediately to restore bass stocks. What Should Happen Next? The briefing paper argues for: Proposals for a recreational bag limit to be dropped until there is more data available on its effectiveness in reducing fishing mortality and until more serious efforts are made to restrict commercial bass fishing mortality in a fair and proportionate way. A total ban on all fishing in and around key bass spawning areas. An immediate increase in the Minimum Conservation Reference Size from 35cm to at least 42cm. (The Angling Trust wants see this raised to at least 45cms as soon as possible) An immediate review of available technical measures and a cap on bass caught in mixed fisheries. The paper highlights the immense economic contribution recreational bass angling makes to the economy and warns against damaging this through badly thought-out and disproportionate proposals that favour exploitation by the much less economically valuable commercial fishing sector. The paper states that, “The case for managing bass as a recreational asset is overwhelming, however the Commission seems unable or unwilling to authorise management of the resource for purposes other than commercial exploitation.” Members of EAA will be meeting representatives of the European Commission in Brussels over the coming days where these, and other concerns over the proposals, will be spelled out before the Council of Ministers meet on December 15th – 16th. David Mitchell, Marine Campaigns Manager for the Angling Trust said: “These proposals are outrageous and utterly inadequate to deal with the crisis facing bass stocks. Given the EU’s failure to come up with any sensible proposals, we call once again on the UK Government to take unilateral action to protect stocks in UK waters, as Ireland and the Netherlands have done. We will continue to fight on behalf of our members in Westminster and Brussels to protect fish stocks and anglers’ rights to fish for them.” Ends.

Here's the video:

im on Virgin, plus net before that- both good

indeed, this is good news, http://www.anglingtrust.net/news.asp?section=29&sectionTitle=Angling+Trust+News&itemid=2352 Nigel Haywood is a friend who fished with us in the states this year PJ

i have an inflatable roof rack if you need it, fits any car