Babbacombe pier question..

[Simon TorbayFishing]

I've had an email from someone who has been told feathering from Babbacombe pier is illegal under local bylaws. I do know that there are a couple of elderly folk there who seem to think the pier is all theirs so I emailed back saying that I'd not heard of this and can they tell me what was said.

They replied:

"Thanks for getting back so quickly.
I am 100% certain it wasn;t someone windong me up. Apparently there used to be signage there to advertise the bylaw, but it has been ripped down and destroyed by some anglers. According to a local source, the signage gets put up each year and is removed within days. (Respected source being several local anglers of advanced years who seemed not only friendly enough to share some bait, but to pass on knowledge of this by law). The gentlemen concerned were most earnest in their explanations. (either that or they were just trying to save the skins of passing divers from multiple feather lacerations?). Perhaps they were just trying to wind me up as you suggest, but their very insistance of the fact (and their pointing out of the removed signage) seems to support the claim. Besides, it seems like the sort of thing the councial would do, bring in a law to prevent people enjoying themselves...."

Any of you local peeps heard of this before for this location?

[choosy54]

I have gone fishing down on the pier many, many times. Ten years and more I have fished there and only once did a gent of advancing years mention about some sort of mutual agreement about feathering. I must admit that we all gave him an abrupt answer. To our knowledge there has never been any sort of notice about this little known preference.
We took it as a jealous wind-up and I suggest you do the same.
Providing you are not putting anyone in danger from "flying hooks" I cannot see any reason for this comment being made.
Yes, divers do go there but when all is said and done they have to share the same resources as we all do.
Just a suggestion, see if you can check through Torbay council for any mention of aforesaid "byelaw".

[devondave]

ive searched the torbay council website for bylaws and cant find any!

but i would go with you simon they are a clingy bunch down there however i would say it isnt really practical to feather down there anyway the pier is very small and a couple of anglers fills it! but if your on your own i cant see it makes any odds.

[kiwimarty]

Originally Posted by devondave

ive searched the torbay council website for bylaws and cant find any!

but i would go with you simon they are a clingy bunch down there however i would say it isnt really practical to feather down there anyway the pier is very small and a couple of anglers fills it! but if your on your own i cant see it makes any odds.

This group of old codgers have been at this for years!!!LOL

Take no notice of them. As Simon has said, they think they own the pier and HATE outsiders.

I have fished that pier for about 20 years now and have NEVER heared of ANY restrictions.

[devondave]

yes a couple of times me and kev have got down there early morning before light set up a tripod each 2 rods on the bottom each and then float fished either side :) (that buggers em up!)

one particular morning this guy came down and told us we was in his spot!
after moving are boxes and searching around we couldnt find a name plate so told him to get lost and so he started picking up our gear and moving it!!! eventually he got the hint we wouldnt move and started trying to fish between us we warned him 3 times if he carries on we will cut the line...

he carried on.

4 lost sets of gear later he packed up and went home! and to this day he never bothers us when he see's us down there i think a lesson well learnt

[choosy54]

Yeah, I know what you mean Dave.

*edited by admin*

[JuanPablo]

Hey guys Babbacombe sounds like one crazy place!!!! not unlike a 'local' place from League of Gentleman! So far I have heard of die-hard elderly people and a seemingly deranged angler who liked Si and Rich!

what is it about the place?! lol

[devondave]

juan i think it has something to do with its such a small pier and its such a long way up and down the hill to get to it so when ppl get there they all want to be in that one spot and so the fighting bickering and so on continues.
i just dont fish at that place no more its not worth the hassle plus you can catch just as much if not more from oddicome

Hi Again

Just a thanks for the moral support offered by your reply posts ... I was the original angler who posed the question to simon..... Have since been back to the spot and had numerous run ins with the usual gents of advanced age..... (They DO NOT like rod stands.... or my new beachcaster..... hehehe)

Thanks for the advice and help guys