Viewing 1 to 10 (10 Total)
Fish welfare

mickgrove

mickgrove
Total Posts: 107
Joined: June 2, 2015

Just wanted to share some thoughts on declining barbel numbers on Severn. For most regulars on middle Severn it is quite clear that in terms of numbers, the barbel population has declined over the last decade or so, Blame tends to be attributed to spring and summer floods, predation by otters, natural cycles etc. I just wonder how much angling pressure on barbel and in particular treatment of fish plays a part in mortality rates? We've all witnessed poor treatment of fish from the summer brigade who arrive in groups, chuck out pellet feeders until they eventually catch a fish and then carry it to the next peg to show their mates, prod and poke it, weigh it, photograph it and eventually stick it in a keep net after 5 or 6 minutes out of the water after a hard fight. Then of course there are the matches where half a dozen barbel or more can be kept in keep nets and then hauled up the bank to be weighed and then, in some cases, literally tipped back into the river. It seems a far cry from the more responsible attitude of the minority of anglers who treat their catches with a little more respect. Whatever happened to the spirit of Mr Crabtree - "nice fish Robert - now hold him facing the current until he recovers, it might take a few minutes, but when you feel him kick, let him go". A bit like litter - we really need to be less tolerant of bad practice and promote more responsible fishing rather than paying lip service to it. Apologies for the minor rant, but we could do so much more to help offset the pressure on our fish stocks than we do currently. Don't think situation is helped by poor practices on commercials, where inevitable fish losses are met with a shrug of the shoulders and a re-stocking.

Tags:
Posted on August 12, 2017 at 9:12 PM

curry

curry
Total Posts: 72
Joined: July 23, 2015

Re: Fish welfare

There's not much we can do as individual angler to educate the culprits other than lead by example and spread the message to any anglers when we have the opportunity.

I must say that most of the anglers I speak to around Arley are conscientious and caring. It surprises me because of the amount of litter around but maybe that's just a different problem.

Regarding the drop in numbers of barbel I think we may have a very strong year class of fish coming through. I've seem lots of half pound to a pound barbel this year, many more than normal. That's got to be good news for the future.

(I'm glad to see someone else brought up on Mr Crabtree books.)

Posted on August 12, 2017 at 10:38 PM

Johnny_Care

Johnny_Care
Total Posts: 407
Joined: June 10, 2015

Re: Fish welfare

Good post Mick, and spot on. The reason why unhooking mats should be compulsory whilst fishing for barbel. I'm a member of Lymm AA as well as the BAA, plus a few other syndicates etc, they all have a rule that everyone must use a unhooking mat.

Posted on August 13, 2017 at 9:15 AM

john_williams

john_williams
Total Posts: 181
Joined: February 13, 2015

Re: Fish welfare

Bandwagon time, yet again!

Posted on August 13, 2017 at 4:14 PM

mickgrove

mickgrove
Total Posts: 107
Joined: June 2, 2015

Re: Fish welfare

Not really John - just a personal view for discussion - thought that was the point of a forum. Mick

Posted on August 13, 2017 at 7:22 PM

john_williams

john_williams
Total Posts: 181
Joined: February 13, 2015

Re: Fish welfare

Mick, I agree entirely, that's what forums are about.
What I dissagree with is making sweeping generaliations about fellow anglers who may do things differenly to yourself (or other contributers). Those anglers who may choose to fish during the summer only, are not some form of inferior being!
With that, my contribution to this thread is ended

Posted on August 13, 2017 at 8:49 PM

onelastcast

onelastcast
Total Posts: 819
Joined: July 4, 2015

Re: Fish welfare

Oh! come on...how hard is it to take care of the Barbel? Just common sense really, and a message that should be repeated from the top of the management tree ...sure having to keep fish in a keepnet is part of match fishing, but Barbel don't take to kindly to being kept away from oxygenated water for too long, and they can die,

Perhaps Barbel when caught in a match could be weighed asap, and returned, as they do in some carp matches?

The Barbel is the jewel in the crown to most club waters, and BAA is no exception, surely we can at least try and protect these fantastic fish, they are unique in every way, not least that they do not tolerate being out of the water too long at all, I would say the maximum being two minutes,having even the smaller ones posing for the camera makes me see red.... personally I unhook when ever possible, in the net, any trophy shot is in the net on the mat, with minimum delay.

So a few tips if I may...

After landing the Barbel, rest the Barbel in the net before removing.

If you have to weigh and photograph, get all your gear ready beforehand.

If the fish has been out of the water for over two minutes, return to the river in the net to revive, and then finnish the sellfie's or what ever else you need to do.

When returning the fish, place the Barbel upstream, and hold, wait until you feel the strength return, and the 'kick', this can take several minutes, especially if the your Barbel was subjected to too long out of the water.

This might be all old news to the seasoned barbel angler, but to newcomers it is always worth repeating, and is not a anti matchman or any other type of Angler jibe at all.

To see a Barbel swim off none the worst, but perhaps a little wiser, is the most important thing to me.

Posted on August 13, 2017 at 9:55 PM

Hornet

Hornet
Total Posts: 108
Joined: June 23, 2015

Re: Fish welfare

Ditto the above post,

Here's a couple more..

If you find yourself without a mat use long wet grass or your net bag with the handles and/or any zips tucked away - try to avoid putting the fish on stones or gravel.

Crouch or kneel if taking a photo don't stand

Take as long as it needs to return a fish,

End of the day even if a few people take some of the tips listed on board it's helped a few fish, no harm in a bit of advice

Posted on August 14, 2017 at 4:31 PM

AlurnS

AlurnS
Total Posts: 53
Joined: July 7, 2015

Re: Fish welfare

It's not just barbel that benefit from proper fish care. Any fish that's big enough to be laid down to unhook should have a mat underneath them. I don't discriminate; barbel, carp, tench, bream, chub, whatever, they all get the same treatment from me.

Posted on August 15, 2017 at 12:05 PM

KenL

KenL
Total Posts: 280
Joined: December 27, 2015

Re: Fish welfare

Here we go again with the usual predictable "this is how I fish so I'm going to change the rules so you have to do the same" nonsense.
Are you seriously proposing that someone standing in the middle of the river trundling meat with a centrerpin has to have an unhooking mat?
We already have an idiotic rule that says that someone standing in the river chasing palm size brownies with a 3 weight fly rod has to have a landing net.
How exactly to you propose the bailiffs determine that someone is "fishing for barbel"?

FWIW, the river is stuffed with barbel in the 12oz - 1lb range because after the big weed kill a few years back, there was very little recruitment but now that the weed is back, the young fish are surviving to replenish the stock.

Posted on September 4, 2017 at 8:55 PM

We use cookies on this website for better user experience.
BAA Privacy & Confidentiality Policy

That's OK!