Real Fishing, might be going wrong

[jaycee]

Hiya to all---I'm a regular pleasure fisher--though I have to admit there is an
elliment of crualty attached to it---I know there is a lobby out to get it banned
and i dont think we help our cause--I've been fishing since i was 12 years old
and I've never--ever used a Keep-Net---which i feel is a certain killer of
thousands of fish--they might swim off when u empty your net but they will perish
in hours---i've fished in Southern Ireland a lot and i've witnessed people with a keep-net with up to a 80 bream of 5/7 lb in them---most of those fish will not survive.
(1) Ban keep nets totally
(2) Ban match fishing

Match Fishing---is probably the worst offender--they have no regard for the fish
what-so-ever----just reel them in get em in the net and weigh them---and look at me folks i've won--146lb---half stressed half dead---but i won 200 quid.

I know this will offend lots---it was'nt meant to---just the way i see it-- (ta)

[delboy]

(whistle) well m8 you will defo rub a few up with that post pmsl ...i for 1 agree totally m8 match fishing does nothing for the fish....accept descale em .dont care what mesh you use it makes sod all diffrence to the fish ..lets see how well people would do stuck with 50 others in a lift for 5 hours ..hmmmmmmmm not so good me thinks (hic)

[mikey]

i feel the same as you its no good for fish not many venues you can use keep nets now so thay must now this.

[Eddie]

hi JC,

have to admit you are partialy right here,but dont just blame keepnets. a lot of comercial fisheries are stocked beyond what the waters should hold, match fishing on these waters where groundbait and loose feed is used in the kilo's can make the fish compete more for food. the use of groundbait and loose feed mean a lot of fish in these waters gorge themselves with the free food and as such end up killing themselves. i have seen the effect of kilo upon kilo of groundbait put in during a match,the fish are bloated with solid stomachs and cant digest the food quick enough resulting in death.
not all matchmen treat fish with disrespect,but the torn mouths (where hooks have just been ripped out) the damage to bodies caused by just throwing fish into keepnets,then not keeping them in the water until the actual weigh in, is obvious on most match waters.

the overstocking,the use of vast amounts of feed,and the bad handling of fish in the name of winning a match is totally wrong in my opinion. i dont know the answer to problem,until someone can come up with the answer i am sure more fish will die.
but (allus a but) lets not forget what angling has done for the rivers,lakes and ponds in this country,without angling a lot of these places would be dead,polluted beyond belief, the wildlife and bird life would be next to nothing, at least angling can be accredited to the cleanup of our natural resousces and the saving of many of our indigenous species of wildlife and birds.

There endeth the lecture,sorry to go on but what i have said is my own firm belief.


Eddie