Rules for species hunt 2006

[Rob M]

I don't normally get involved in these kind of discussions, but I might have to vent my spleen on this one. I joined the forum roughly a year ago after taking up sea angling after a long break. Everyone made me feel welcome and answered my questions and I gained lots of knowledge. Then I did a few meets and met some diamond blokes and gained more knowledge. Best of all I made some friends who keep in contact and share my love of fishing (and music! ). Last year the species hunt was launched and because of it I've taken up coarse fishing-something I would never have done before-and I love it (particularly for carp ) Now I'm an all-round angler and I have the forum and species hunt to thank. I even gained some points along the way.

What I'm trying to say is I'm not bothered about these rules, as I see the species hunt as a bit of fun that got me into other types of angling I may not have tried before. Fair enough, some anglers clearly are better and will rack up points, but all I feel is admiration for them. It's all starting to sound a bit too competitive for me and I might duck out next year and just enjoy my fishing

Rob

[Charter Skipper]

Well said Rob, a bit of fun it is,and i`ve not even taken part this year.Perhaps we can have 2 species hunts one for the serious among us ,and one for us less serious anglers.

Originally Posted by Rob M

What I'm trying to say is I'm not bothered about these rules, as I see the species hunt as a bit of fun that got me into other types of angling I may not have tried before. Fair enough, some anglers clearly are better and will rack up points, but all I feel is admiration for them. It's all starting to sound a bit too competitive for me and I might duck out next year and just enjoy my fishing

Rob

Here`s a couple of lines which i think apply very well for the less serious anglers...


There are 2 rules that apply :-

1.....THE RULES ARE,THERE ARE NO RULES ..
2.....YOU MUST ABIDE BY ALL RULES QUOTED IN 1.

[Old Smoothound]

Very well said Rob.

The species hunt has spiced up my fishing, which I am sad to say had been in the doldrums for a while.

I have attended a few meets, met some cracking fellas, who are as nutty about fishing as me. We have had boat and shore trips had great laughs and "Vecky Breckies" drunk some booze, fried some food and dunked worms, mackie, squid and even spun lures together. I've had the opportunity to take the P*ss out of people and they me, so for me it has always been and will always be a friendly sport and the Forum has been a way of meeting other like minded sportspersons.

If the species hunt gets too complicated and people do not enjoy being a part of it as a result, then its not worth running again in my opinion. Its supposed to be fun...isn't it?

Just my ten penneth...I'm off to catch a few more species now......hehe

Do Green lipped mussels count as a species????

[Drew]

Hi Folks,

After reading through what has already been said, I am of the opinion that Ben and Smoothy have hit the nail on the head.

I have nothing more to add, I love my monthly charter fishing trips, if I catch I am over the moon if I blank?? who cares as long as I have enjoyed myself.

Meeting up with some of the other members on the Forum has been a highlight of being a member of the Forum, I have made new friends and hopefully when I start beachcasting I will be able to meet up with more of you.(Andy G, I know that I keep repeating myself, but I will take the plunge.)

Regards

Drew

[fishypaul]

i was involved in a small way in the beginnings of the species hunt,i think everyone will agree it has been an unrivalled success.
if you all look back in the forum posts going back over a year it was clearly stated in the early days of forming the species hunt that it would be a trial for the first year,
the rules were discussed and finalised with the intention of tweaking them after the first year to change what needed changing.

i have thoroughly enjoyed it this year,it has even prompted me to visit venues i would not normally visit in pursuit of a particular species i knew frequented that venue. i have caught fish i would never previously have even contemplated fishing for .

this has been done in a great spirit of fun,i have had a few strange looks from other anglers ( "why's he photographing a bloody gudgeon " ) was heard on one particular day,
i emphsise the word fun,it was agreed early on that no prize would be awarded,and i think that is a good way of running this,if it gets too serious then we could see it getting a bit silly,i don't think anybody cheated at all this year but with a prize at the end of it the temptation would be there.

personally i wouldn't change it much,i think it worked well,i would agree with ben that a check-list would be a useful addition ,
if it aint on the list -- tough !.

[Fishing Forum Admin]

Well waited to post reply so that everyone has thier say .

First of all everyone has brought up some great pointers

As mentioned before its the first year and early on we agreed that next year we would have a proper list and if not on the list then no points

So if anyone wishes to make the lists up for both fresh and sea than we can take a look at it and take it from there

As for the fish i.e Carp being counted as one spieces well thats fine as long as its the same for all i.e wrasse / smoothounds ect

Pics - well I think it would be very unfair to make it pics only as a lot of people do not have the spare cash for a camera

As said before its only a bit of fun and thats the way its going to stay as I for one enjoy the banter and when things get competitive then you only end up with a few people doing it

Yes there are times when fish are open to what they are ,but stupid submissions are knocked back. I must admit all I do is post the catchs so if people do not think that a fish is what it is then just bang a post up and we can all have a good look . This way it is being run by all of us and not me being the bad boy

Prizes - massive thank you mate but there is no way of proving if the fish was caught by that person or what year it was in . So is wide open for someone to join next year and cheat there little heads off just to get the prize ( which will happen at sometime if money is involved )

It was started as a way of recording what you catch through the year and helps with making all of us think about targeting different fish

Sooooooooooo

Guys and girls if you want to start writing a list so it give us plenty of time to have a look at it then that would be great

Points system stays the same as it means everyone has the same chance ( ish ) no matter how much money you are on

It cannot get to complicated as people have to do the entering and maybe only mean 30 mins of thier time a week but its still thier time so simple works better

Its JUST FOR FUN and I love looking at the pics

Massive thankyou and hope this makes sense as have a hang over from hell

[Portland Pirate]

Hi Richard.

How about working off the British Rod Caught Fish Comitee list for most of the species. These are ready made up lists that make it fairly easy for us. I am sure that there are other fish that we can add.

Boat and Shore Saltwater list http://www.nfsa.org.uk/ntcg/brfc/record_list.htm

Mini Species list http://www.nfsa.org.uk/ntcg/brfc/rec...ni_species.htm

Game List
http://www.nfsa.org.uk/ntcg/brfc/rec..._game_fish.htm

Course List
http://www.nfsa.org.uk/ntcg/brfc/rec...oarse_fish.htm

[upnorth1]

Originally Posted by Charter Skipper

.Perhaps we can have 2 species hunts one for the serious among us ,and one for us less serious anglers.

that has to be theeee most ridiculous suggestion I've ever heard !!!!!!!

IT'S ONLY A BIT OF FUN, DON'T COMPLICATE THINGS....!!!!

[wellyfish]

like everyone says its been a bit of fun, and i think we should do it again the same way we done it this year!! maybe we could add 10 points to the team with the heaviest shore/boat/coarse fish cuaght at the end of the hunt!!! may i also add that if you get the chance to fish with old smoothy then you get to sample one of his veccie brekkies (cooked in the boot of his vauxhall vectra ) bring your own hp .............

[upnorth1]

that sounds fab Welly - smoothy, come to my beach!!!!