Bass In The Teign

[devondave]

Originally Posted by 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.

great thankyou jules.

just one question.
because its a nursery you cannot keep the bass (shore or boat)and nor can you fish for them from boat?
so therefore you cannot keep and/or fish for them from a boat in any harbour?
as im fairly sure the harbour is also classed as a nursery.

[nimue4]

Thanks Luke,
yeah there are very different views on what should be a very simple law. I should of thought it out before offering the regs as they are many pages long. The guys are nice though...ring them and ask for the regs on 01803 853383.

They send them free of charge and we help the bass fishing!!! looking forward to catching loads this year. you live in Teignmouth?

Maybe come out on the boat? Do you know some one by the name of Mitzi?

Kindest regards, Jules.

[bassbandit]

Thanks for the info nimue4 great help. As a boat owner myself i tend to agree with your about people fishing off the bridge, but i think if every body is sensible there should not be a problem. With one exception this !!!!! woman who fishes with her husband (he's ok) is a right b!!!!!h if you see her fishing dont cut her line just keep on pulling it (he he). I'd love to see the results.

[lucky]

Thanks Nimue - BTW still haven't got a reply to my email from the DEFRA helpline.

[lucky]

Originally Posted by 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."

Hi all - here's the reply from DEFRA as regards the above enquiry I sent them. It looks like sand-eels from the shore are OK.

"I have been asked to respond to your enquiry.

The prohibition applies to fishing from vessels, it does not include fishing from the shore. The legislation is contained in The Bass (Specified Areas) (Prohibition of Fishing)(Variation) Order 1999. The following link should take you to the order, which should be read in conjunction with the previous orders S.I. 1156 of 1990 and 3027 of 1992 http://www.opsi.gov.uk/si/si1999/19990075.htm#note2

If there are any other matters relating to fishing in the area covered by this office (Start Point to Lyme Regis) please contact a member of the team on 01803 853383 or email sfibrixh@defra.gsi.gov.uk"

[bassbandit]

MANY THANK LUKY FOR THE INFO AND YOUR TIME AND EFFORT