Size matters...

[Plod]

Hi guys,

I know I've banged on about people taking loads of mackerel recently down Berry Head, but on that occasion at least all of the ones I saw were a decent size.
The last couple of mornings I have been down there on duty, and found that the size of mackerel being caught has dropped away, and some that were being left to flap about on the floor were very small.
Being a "townie" who has only been in to sea fishing the last few years, I wanted to say something, but as they say "Knowledge is power" and I didn't really have much idea as to where I stood legally, which would have been an issue as I was standing there in uniform. Needless to say, I voiced my personal opinion on the ridiculous amounts of fish being taken by everyone down there, and then left. (I checked the back of my jacket for spit when I got to the car!!)
I then got home, and checked for minimum size limit for mackerel and was amazed to find that it's 12". Some of the mackerel taken that morning were not half that size. I assume this also applies to Joeys that you intend to use for livebait.
I went fishing this evening down Broadsands, and with my dexter wedge caught a dozen or so mackerel. I kept a couple and measured the rest, and was surprised at how many were undersize, which I would have kept prior to finding out.
My point is, who enforces the size limits, and are they only really enforced on bass, cod etc as mackerel are seen as so plentiful that no one bothers about them. Does anyone else stick to size limits for mackerel?

Darren

[luke6661982]

to be honest, being a member of an angling society i do adhere to certain limits, either being weight or size.

when mackerel fishing, it is harder as you never stop to consider the size implications especially when bait fishing.

i found this on the nfsa website about how they adhere to the sizes
http://www.nfsa.org.uk/ntcg/min_sizes_2002.htm

I suppose it is impossible for the enforcement of measuring every single fish that is landed, being over 1 million anglers.

[CHUBB]

unfortunately, it is only when a fish is under serious threat that the size limits are really enforced!

[JuanPablo]

in my area there is one fishery officer for 70 miles of coastline! i have only ever seen him checking cockle pickers for their licences! extremely overstretched hence why so many undersized fish of ALL species are retained by anglers every day.
its not uncommon for entire shoals of smaller mackerel to move into an area and indeed 'hang around' for a good few tides. i have certainly noticed trends such as this though it would not seem to be due to dwindling amounts of larger specimens...
for instance during august in the bristol channel there are far more joey mackerel in the area which prove deadly for the bass at that particular time of year.

i do not personally like feathering for mackerel - i find it barbaric and whilst i admit it can be exhilerating nothing beats fishing for them with extremely light tackle and a single spinner! mackerel fight like hell - i say at least give them a chance to get away!!
not entirely sure if the minimum size limit is an NFSA ruling or actual law.. to my knowledge there wasnt a size limit hence why ammo baits can net joeys off cornwall ad then freeze to sell as pike baits.
would be worth checking with Sea Fisheries Committee.

I only fish for mackerel for bait - I dont take more than 5 at a time because i dont have an industrial blast freezer and therefore it would be pointless in bagging dozens and freezing them! - they thaw into skin-wrapped mush!

[john-boy]

I agree with JP here, I believe that the NFSA size limit is mainly a case of setting a size limit for competitions. I think it's probably set on the high side for mackeral to stop people weighing in loads when they're in and feeding (although I know some competitions have an arbritary limit on the number that can be brought to the scales anyway).

I also agree about the slaughter of 200000 mackies with feathers being barbaric. I enjoy catching a load when I was 11/12/13, cos it was the only time we ever really caught *anything* worth taking home, so made the most of it. It is much more fun to catch them on a carp rod on a spinner, or a couple of small hokkai! I wouldn't ever contemplate going for a day's feathering now, although I do have some feathers in my box, in case I need a few for bait and they're there.

I'm sure that aside from that, there is no legal size limit, other than the special ones, that Chubb makes reference to, when a fish is under threat, and then I think it revolves mainly around net sizes and those kept by commercial fishermen.

In general, I think most responsible anglers can be trusted to make a common-sense judgement. If it's too small to eat, an endangered species, or you're not going to use it as bait, then put it back. That's what I do, anyway, and I'm sure most others on here do that too.

Of course, I could be talking total drivel!

Cheers,
JB.

[JuanPablo]

there was another species which i noticed definately had no minimum legal size limit which was very surprising to me - the problem is its 9am and i have just returned from working in lowesoft for 3days so my brain is fried at the mo. i will remember and i will also research the mackerel size limits further but once i wake up a bit!!

[pixybasher]

"Said with tongue in cheek."

I thought POLICEMEN caught "real" criminals and drug dealers???
I've never seen any of those down Berry Head.

I never knew my council tax paid for jollys down to a remote part of the coast!!!
I must bring this up with my MP.
I'm in the security business and I never get the chance to do a spot of leisurely roaming around near the sea.

I must be doing something wrong.

[Plod]

Pixybasher,

At 5.30am there isn't a lot else to be doing in Brixham. It is hard work staying awake, those a nice walk in the fresh air does the trick!!

It is part of my patch, and I was just checking for boy racers in the car park.......you get a lot of those at that time of the morning!!??? Honest, you have to believe me, I am a copper!

Please write to your MP and ask for extra policemen in Brixham. I won't tell you how many of us there are most of the time in case this is read by undesirables (Or my boss!) but suffice to say, I spend a lot of time talking to myself!

Darren

[pixybasher]

I know exactly how many there are Plod cos the brother in law is on the force.
Hasten to say we could do with a few more!!!!
But to be honest even if they was some boy racers down there what they gonna do?...there's nothing to damage/set fire to down there. The worse they could do is a few wheel spins...big deal.

Brixham is pretty dead at night cos I normally walk home at 3-4am most nights.

Its so quiet that time of night all you got to do is stand still and you will hear if anything is going on.

I know you guys have to deal with some nasty shit sometimes but alot of the time its just criusing in the cars, When I go to work its non stop for 10-12 hours, I kid you not!!! I suppose you could call it crowd control,first aid issues and generally making sure people behave themselves.Lets just say also there's only 4-5 of us on to deal with 1000-1500 people at a time. There are occasions when we need you guys to lend a hand but its not often.

Maybe you could put a small hand line in the boot just incase you can find a use for it. Know what I mean ...wink wink

[Plod]

I like your thinking!! To be honest I've been tempted to put the spinning rod in the boot set up with a dexter wedge!!! If anyone run off from me I could practice my casting accuracy!!! A 28g dexter with trebles would persuade him to stop!!! You're right about what you say as well. Brixham is generally a VERY easy life. I came down from London, so I know what busy is. Problem is, when something does happen ie accident, serious assault etc there is not enough people to deal with it properly or safely. That's my beef.

Still, it was my choice to come down here, and I don't regret it for a second.

Darren