Nine perch over 4lb to 5lb 2oz best
Fishery Watch wants its bailiffs to have power of citizen’s arrest
A HECTIC 15-minute spell resulted in three double figure bream landed by specimen angler Ian Hannaby, the biggest of which was 11lb 4oz.
Fishing three rods on three different spots around 20 yards apart, Ian had the quick hit of bream just after dark on a 10mm Ringers Chocolate Orange Wafters.
Although no other bream followed, Ian topped off with a 7lb 5oz roach/bream hybrid!
ANEW organisation is encouraging voluntary bailiffs to adopt a hands-on approach to tackling poachers on UK fisheries.
One of the main aims of the group, called Fishery Watch, is to make volunteers aware of their right to perform a citizen’s arrest on anyone unlawfully attempting to take a fish from private property, unlike the Angling Trust’s Voluntary Bailiff Service which does not make arrests.
The non-profit scheme is the brainchild of former Angling Trust area co-ordinator Adrian Lane, who said: “I’m not anti-Angling Trust and I have the utmost respect for its own Voluntary Bailiff Service, but there are some issues the VBS faces that need addressing.
“Bailiffs have limited powers on the bank, and there’s a limit to how far they can go when dealing with poachers.
“What we want to do is make them aware of their rights under Schedule 1 of the Theft Act, and give them the option to take action should they need to.
“But I would like to make it clear that we don’t want people running around thinking they’re coppers – we want our people to conduct friendly patrols and chat with anglers on the bank.”
Such is Adrian’s desire for the scheme to have a welcoming feel that he wants his volunteers to be known as ‘water keepers’, rather than bailiffs.
“I think the word ‘bailiff’ has negative connotations, so we want to stay well away from this.” Adrian added.
Fishery Watch has received plenty of positive early feedback, with Korum-backed Chris Ponsford and other high-profile anglers showing their support.
As the new organisation is non-profit, Adrian is seeking sponsorship from within the trade, but not in the form of cash donations.
“The most helpful things people can offer are items of equipment for the bailiffs,” he said. “For example, we will need badges, so a printer would be very useful.
“We’ve already had 120 people that have taken us up on our request, and with the scheme set to start in January 2020 we’re hopeful of obtaining a few more sponsors before then.”