Bass In The Teign

[lucky]

Thanks Luke - it sounds like sand-eels are OK from the shore but when I get a chance I'll email DEFRA and try to find out for sure.

[carlton]

Good fishing down there, stayed at Shaldon last year in a caravan park. HAd 2 takes on the becah caster over 2 days and they were 2 of the best ive ever seen on a beach caster. Must have been some cracking bass but i did'nt connect. I think your right about no being allowed to use live sand eels in the estury and Bass nursery.Its the same at Chezil beach. That from sore and boat.

[devondave]

yes the river dart is the same but i am with luke on this one i have always been led to believe its ok from the sure and not ok from boat.....however neither apply to me because its not an area i fish for the bass anyway!

but if what your saying is true and you cant use live eels in a bass nursery then your pretty stuffed in alot more places than just the teign... as far as im aware most rivers are nursery's as are harbours and some beaches....and i do use them in the harbours so it would be interesting if someone could get us a solid answer

[lucky]

Hi guys - from re-reading from link I posted I can see how you could interpret it both ways so I've taken Luke's advice and sent the following email to DEFRA's helpline...

"I am planning to do some fishing on the Teign estuary in Devon this summer which is a designated a bass nursery at this time of year. I am well aware that fishing for bass from a boat in the estuary is illegal during this period and also understand that the use of sand-eels (Ammodytidae) as bait to catch other fish species from a boat in the estuary is also illegal but am unclear if the ban on sand-eels as bait also applies to fishing from the shore of the estuary during the period. I would greatly appreciate it if you could clarify this matter."

I'll post their reply if and when I get it. It would be nice to know just exactly where we stood on this 'cause as devondave said it affects a lot of places. I think there's something like 37 of these areas around the coast.

BTW Luke is it OK to fish off the Shaldon/Teignmouth bridge? It's only about two minutes walk from where I stayed in Shaldon but I don't remember seeing anyone fishing off it. Mind you you we spent most of the time we were there either out in the boat along the coast fishing or having a pint in the Clifford. You can't really see the bridge from either of those places.

[bassbandit]

Fishing off the bridge is a sticky one, according to some local guys who have checked there is no regulations prohibiting fishing but there are signs up saying no fishing (so small its diff to read) also the local police have said they are not interested. My own view is that as long as people use common sense and don't cause a nusance, cause obstructions, pull your lines in when boats are passing underneath, keep the area clean and no obusive language to boat users. Last year i witnessed a woman fishing (oldish) who was using that sort of language to boat users on at least a couple of occasions. its the minority who could spoil it for everbody who uses the bridge for fishing.

[lucky]

Thanks bassbandit - that sounds like a fairly sensible approach.

[luke6661982]

There is no law saying you cant fish from shaldon bridge, some person took it into there own hands and put signs up saying fishing is not allowed. But after many people have been in contact with the council, they said it was absolute rubbish and you are free to use the bridge. You just need a bit of common sense and not cast as you might catch more than a bass!!!

[bassbandit]

MANY THANKS FOR THAT LUKE, WILL PASS ON TO OTHERS.

[nimue4]

Ok guys I can answer this one as my parents live in Teignmouth and I keep my boat moored there and have been boarded by the fisheries patrol boat! Boy it's quick!

A local bye law prohibits fishing from the bridge but everyone ignores it and nobody ever gets prosecuted so go ahead. As a boat owner its bloody annoying to try and get through all the lines in the summer! But I just carry a knife and cut them all....be warned if you see a shetland coming through!!!

Fishing for bass from march to november is against the law from a boat with any bait that will target bass I.E sandeels. the restriction is inside a line from the training light to the small lighthouse on the prom. However there is a loophole in that shore fishing carries no restrictions on bait. If you do catch a bass from the shore in this time you do have to return it unharmed but, of course, no one does. The fines are big but with 2 guys patrolling a million miles of coast what are the chances?

I was boarded because my boat is moored about a hundred yards from the fisheries patrol vessel and I was putting all my rods in the rod holders ready to to go out for the day. He thought I was gonna fish on the mooring.

So thats how it stands at Teignmouth.

Happy fishing....The guys from the fisheries boat forwarded me the entire list of restrictions in the south west if anyone wants them.

Regards.....Jules.

[luke6661982]

Thanks for clearing that up. It seems that every one that i have spoke to has a different view on what are the regulations.

on the point about the fisheries boat, ive only seen it used once or twice so far this year, waste of a great boat and engines. the fisheries person gill nets throughout the winter and summer, so it says everything about the fisheries!!!

It would be handy to have the list!

cheers, luke