YOUR LETTERS

Write to: Sea Angler Mailbox, Media House, Lynchwood Business Park, Peterborough PE2 6EA. Email: cliff.brown@bauermedia.co.uk

REALITY WILL BE FAILURE In response to Colin Chaplin’s letter in Sea Angler 540 supporting a rod licence, I would say absolutely not!

A sea angling licence is a good idea in principle, but certain to be an abject failure in reality because it will be similar to the fisheries protection vessels – underfunded and understaffed.

Regulation already exists concerning the retention of undersized fish. Ignorance has never been a defence in law. Sea angling’s appeal is bound up in its freedoms in a world of increasing bureaucracy.

As usual, it will be the guys who don’t take undersized fish or leave their rubbish on the shore who will buy a licence, while the thoughtless minority won’t bother.

Do we really want ‘beach police’ telling us we have to leave the shore because the sea is a bit rough, or measuring the bluey bait in our cool bag because they’ve no idea what they’re doing? Davy Goupillot, by email AVOID RED TAPE Regarding Colin Chaplin’s letter (Sea Angler 540) suggesting the issuing of rod licences for sea anglers, I would argue that we shouldn’t let sea angling get bogged down in red tape like river fishing.

I have fished all my life, I’m 65 and a recent convert to sea fishing because of the increasing persecution of anglers on rivers. I’ve always been a game fisherman and have never been greedy, but always delighted if I got a sea-trout or a salmon to take home.

Times change, though, and the sandeels are now netted nearly to extinction and will, in turn, cause the extinction of the seabirds that depend on them. We can’t take wild salmon now in many rivers through no fault of our own, and the taking of sea-trout is strictly controlled, making it practically catch and release.

My conversion to sea fishing has been very enjoyable because you can go where you want, when you want, and without stupid regulations. I haven’t caught a lot yet, a few dogfish, codling and some mackerel, but I’ve already met some very nice and helpful anglers. Ian McKenzie, by email WE NEED HARD FACTS I have read many letters for and against the need for a sea angling rod licence and think it is about time someone in authority worked out the cost.

It would be based on the number of wardens required to check licences, the administration, and a best guess of the number of sea anglers. Match organisers would be required to check the licences of competitors before they were allowed to fish a match.

Opinion is divided on the matter, but at least we’d have some hard facts to consider, rather than writing letters for and against the principle of such a licence. Jack Morris, Ilkeston, Derbyshire CONVERTED TO LRF Firstly, thanks for doing such a good job with the magazine. I live on the North East coast where the variety of species is reasonably limited unless you scale right down and go LRF. I challenged myself to get as many species as possible and managed 33, including some nice pollack to 4lb, and most came on LRF. Steve Brookes, by email ACCESS TO BACTON With regard to the Down Your Way article on Bacton (issue 540), I would like to clarify the parking and access.

The slope to the beach by the gas terminal is now closed to the public for beach access. The former Ship Inn car park is now private housing with no public parking, and the slip road off the B1159 towards the boat ramp has been blocked by concrete posts.

The only public parking space, which is very limited, is on the right-hand side of the road towards the beach, just past the former Ship Inn. Millie, Bacton, Norfolk HELPFUL COMMENT Thank you for the comments in your editorial in Sea Angler 541.

It’s really fantastic that you managed to find the room to comment on the

Tronixpro sponsorship package for the World Championships, and the really important part of that – making it easier for kids to compete. Thanks again, it’s much appreciated. Mike Thrussell Jnr, marketing manager, TronixFishing FISHING ABROAD As more and more anglers travel abroad it would be good to see a country featured each month.

Choosing the correct gear is a minefield. Even covering the basics would help many who take tackle abroad.

I found the articles on the cart baits and urfe rig interesting in issue 540. However, I was disappointed it would be issue 541 before it was disclosed how to assemble the rig. Mark Atkinson, by email CONFLICTING OPINIONS Being recently retired and a former coarse angler, I purchased issue 541 of Sea Angler with a view to getting up to speed on the scene.

I found conflicting views on respect for fish hard to resolve. Mark Crame’s article on preparing fish for the table interested me, but his advice on cutting the gill rakers to bleed the fish gave me pause for thought. Yet, according to Mike Thrussell in his piece on handling fish, the only acceptable way to despatch a fish is to strike a couple of good hard blows to the fish’s head; I agree.

Elsewhere, there was an account by Julian Lewis Jones of three men playing a 170lb tuna. In my book, if you can’t bring about a clean capture on your own, you have no business entering the fray.

Am I really so out of tune with the average reader? Gordon Mitchell, by email DANGEROUS PRACTICES. I was interested in the information in the Sea School article about preparing fish for the table (issue 541).

Kayak angler Mark Crame says he strings his fish and keeps them over the side. I cannot stress enough how dangerous stringing your fish over the side can be. My friend’s fish was attacked by a seal and capsized his kayak. He could not get back on his kayak as it sunk below the surface.

It was only by luck that someone spotted him and phoned the Coastguard. He was almost unconscious when picked up by the inshore life boat an hour later. Please do not string your catch over the side of your kayak. W A Pinto, Elwick, Hartlepool ANGLERS CAN TAKE FISH I am sure there are many replies to the letter from A F Parsons (issue 541) about pictures of double-figure bass.

Bass are being hit hard, and I approve of catch and release, but there is nothing wrong with taking fish for the table.

Since only eating what I can catch, I eat a lot less fish than the days when I bought ‘farmed’ and factory-trawled fish.

Mr Parsons suggests we should eat farmed fish. Has he any idea of the amount of marine life/fish that goes into producing each kilo of food? An angler catching food for his family is never going to harm the stocks. If that’s all he does he is protecting them, and a photograph is only going to improve our respect for the majestic beast.

Your argument, Mr Parsons, is only feeding the propaganda of the commercial lobby and their lobbyists

Tight lines and hot pans! Martin Chant, Southampton, Hants USING LIMPETS I was reading the question from Paul Simpson regarding limpets for bait in the Q& A section (issue 541).

He doesn’t mention what type of fishing he does, but I have caught some good plaice with them when bottom fishing, although they come into their own for float-fishing.

The way to prepare them is to just cook them until they come out of the shell, and no longer. At this stage, the gut should still be soft. If you overcook them, the gut becomes hard and splits.

To hook, put the hook down through the head and conceal it inside the gut without bursting it. Now you are ready to fish for pollack, coalfish, and especially wrasse. Ronnie Archibald, Limavady, N Ireland BEST ANGLER IN THE HOUSE A huge thank you for posting my son Will’s picture with an 8lb small-eyed ray in Young Rods (issue 541). He was buzzing with excitement, and has even taken it to school to show his mates. You really have made his day, I cannot thank you enough.

He was even joking that I’ve never had a picture in the magazine in all the years I’ve been fishing, so he is clearly the best fisherman in the house!

I had to concede he was right. Bill Copeland, by email GREAT SERVICE Having a problem with a broken zip on my Imax jacket purchased about eight months ago from Gerry’s Fishing, I took it to the shop and the staff exchanged it for a brand new one without any quibbles.

Now that’s what I call service above and beyond what I expected. Norman Telford, by email