sea fishing, rules etc

Joined: Jun 01, 2006 Posts: 2

Im a bit of a newbie to fishing but lately ive been going with a few friends down to the local fisheries.

The only fishing ive done before now has been fly fishing on lake vyrnwy and some on the welsh dee too. Frankly this carp and barbel stuff in a fishery I find boring!
So I thought id loose my mates! and go back to fly fishing but also try my hand at sea fishing.

Are there any rules to sea fishing, or seasons etc? Ive searched the environment agency website for byelaws etc but none refer to sea fishing. What rod license do you need? Can you keep your catch? (ive seen the NFSA size limits section on this site which I will keep a copy of)

On the off chance rules are area specific I will be beach fishing off north wales.... angelsey is where I have in mind.

many thanks, and congrats on great site!
Rik

Posted: Fri Jun 02, 2006 6:41 am

1. You do not need a rod licence unless you expect to catch salmon or sea trout. You are fairly unlikely to catch one of these fine fish except in certain river estuaries at certain times of the year. A regular angler I know has only caught two sea trout in 25 years. If you catch one 'accidently' you must put it back unless you have a licence.
2. The bass conservancy laws state that you are no allowed to boat fish for bass from April to October in certain harbours (most of them actually). However, you can fish from the shore for them in these harbours.
WARNING Some folk do contravene the bass laws but I wouldn't take the risk as the minimum fine is £2,000. A bloke I know recently got caught long lining for bass in a harbour entrance and got done £3,000!
3. Most of us stick to the NFSA advice although there are some idiots who take everything home (and usually foul up the beach with litter too.) There is no point in taking home flounders, wrasse, smoothhounds and mullet in my view they are either too bony or are not worth eating; I don't bother with pollack either. While I am on the subject, I do not see the point of catching loads of mackerel or bream either - a dozen has got to be enough for anybody, more than that is just pure greed and reduces stocks which is what the trawlermen have been doing for years. Because of their greed, there are no cornish pilchards left. no south coast herring, and North Sea cod is very much reduced. Hope you agree mate.

Joined: Jun 01, 2006 Posts: 2

Many thanks for your reply

So generally can you fish from the shore at any time of the year?

Member Joined: Dec 02, 2005 Posts: 92 Location: Dorset

Pretty much anytime anywhere

Member Joined: Jun 07, 2006 Posts: 33

so long as you can stand the weather Heh Heh

Posted: Wed Jun 14, 2006 7:00 pm

What weather would that be Codroe? Down here on Hayling Island the weather is great most of the time - got a bit chilly this winter but that's all sorted now. Me 'n Sean go down the beach pretty much anytime and if it's raining a bit, we tuck ourselves away in our bivvy. (LOL)

Member Joined: Jun 07, 2006 Posts: 33

AH the good ld bivvie many a time I have spent in their looking out at the weather.

Guest

I myself prefer the Ron Thompson Beach Shelter now thats a place to be in when the winds howwwwwwwwllllllllllllllllllliiiiiiiiiiiiinnnnnnnnnnnnngggggggggg :wink:

Posted: Sat Jun 17, 2006 10:38 pm

Ron Thompson? Who is he? Got mine from ReelDeals for £20, works fine no problems at all, don't believe in paying these rip off prices for a few sheets of plastic sewn together.

Guest

eccles wrote:

Ron Thompson? Who is he? Got mine from ReelDeals for £20, works fine no problems at all, don't believe in paying these rip off prices for a few sheets of plastic sewn together.

Quite right but mine was a pressie didnt cost me a penny. :wink:

Posted: Sun Jun 18, 2006 6:36 am

Ha Ha Ha, Touchez Seanny. Hey how's the summer fishing going up there? We seem to be doing quite well down here - plenty of bass around, mullet of course(will have to target them one day) and just had a nice little bream session out on our boat.

Guest

eccles wrote:

Ha Ha Ha, Touchez Seanny. Hey how's the summer fishing going up there? We seem to be doing quite well down here - plenty of bass around, mullet of course(will have to target them one day) and just had a nice little bream session out on our boat.

Well actually we are having a great summer so far a bit confusing though as we are catching plenty of COD 8O although they are undersized (They do of course go back unharmed as all undersized fish should) We normally dont catch much cod if any at this time of year.
Getting loads of pollock all around the 8-10lb size and just recently had a 1lb 3oz Wrasse what a day that was.
Have been out of the coast of Galway Tope fishing and have bagged one (Finally :roll: )wasnt a large one but the day was great and since it was my first I ws over the moon or thereabots. :wink:

Going Tope fishing again very soon with an even larger group(basically if I can catch then so could they)should be a good weekend.