SKIPPER’S LOGBOOK
Is it ground zero for bass fishing?
For many years, anglers have strived to catch one of the most iconic species to swim in the rich waters around the British Isles. The bass is legendary for its ability to outwit even the most sophisticated techniques. Its turn of speed and mobility leave anglers scratching their heads about what they have to do next to get the better of this amazing adversary.
On a good day, catching a bass is no more difficult than heaving a string of feathered lures amid a boiling shoal of mackerel. It’s as if they have a code of conduct regarding their feeding strategy – when it’s time to feed, then feed they will. At times like this, the uninitiated may wonder why the mighty bass carries a reputation of playing hard to get.
Here in the Bristol Channel, we often fish for bass on the drift with a variety of lures, ranging from soft worm imitations to hard plug-like objects, and even pirks.
To be honest, when the fish are ‘on’ it matters not what is presented to them as they will hit it! The tide of change comes when the bass decide, for whatever reason, that they are not going to play the game. When the switch is thrown, you can try whatever you like, but will struggle to get a take. It’s really frustrating!
Divers who have studied the antics of bass see a different aspect to them compared to the angling side of things. They see what the fish are doing, and are sometimes amazed by their findings.
Fish have been seen in large shoals simply resting motionless on the seabed with apparently no intention of moving for anything. On other occasions they have been observed chasing anything that moves, but not taking their prey. Such is the mystery surrounding this species, which probably adds to the attraction for anglers targeting bass.
From the stock’s point of view, I think our bass population seems to be as good now, if not better, than it has ever been. In recent times, some of the popularity of bass has created attention of a negative nature. Restrictions on the landing of bass catches by recreational anglers have been hitting the news, with devastating consequences for many parts of the recreational sea angling industry.
RESTRICTIONS
Two years ago (2016) saw a restriction of three bass per angler hitting the headlines, while last year the angler was further restricted to no fish from January to June, and only one per day from July to December.
It is argued that one fish a day is adequate for anyone to take home. If the area that the angler fishes in is well stocked with bass, and the fish are available to catch more or less all the year round, then yes, maybe one fish will suffice.
What happens in areas such as the Bristol
Channel, though, where the fish are not available at all for many months of the year? Diehard anglers still support local charter boats, tackle shops and hotels by taking the rough times, but are then unable to take a few fish home when they are there to be caught.
I’m not advocating that anyone should hammer stocks, far from it, but it seems unfair that these anglers should not be able to enjoy their bounty. Now, for 2018, the powers that be have introduced a total ban on bass takes – recreational anglers cannot take any bass at all.
Until this year, my late-summer season would see my bookings almost full, with around 20 per cent of the trips booked with the intention of targeting bass. Of that 20 per cent, probably half of the anglers would be grateful to have the honour of catching one or two bass, and would return their fish to fight another day, so no loss of stock at all. The rest would take a fish for the pot but, without exception, all anglers would not take more than they required.
This year, however, things are different. I have had several parties cancelling their bass trips altogether, leaving a substantial part of my diary empty. I’m not expecting the Fisheries Minister to take any notice of this, or even give a damn, but it surely makes me wonder what the Government would say if it lost the same percentage of its annual income.
You don’t have to be a genius to see the flaws in the latest legislation. Take a look at social media where, on a regular basis, we see videos of commercial vessels catching and discarding huge numbers of dead breeding stock bass. Being a very slow-growing fish, a bass of 10lb may well be 25 years old, depending on its feeding patterns.
Maybe if our Government did care, it would look into the inadequate policies and bring a modicum of sense back into the intricate world of the bass and its future.