Thanks, folks - far more useful info than I had expected. I'm off to get a £27 licence as soon as the PO opens tomorrow, then hope to try my luck on Windermere when I go to the Bushcraft Show.
Rod Licence - is it worth paying the extra?
- Thread starter Kerne
- Start date
They are becoming so rare now it's unbelievable. I used to catch loads as a kid too.
I was thinking about taking a couple of rods with me too. I hear there's not much joy to be had with trout but it might be worth a chuck.
yep really, they are on the list for endangered species these days, the EA website states that current stocks are less than 10% of the levels found in 1970 http://www.environment-agency.gov.uk/homeandleisure/news/109607.aspx, more info here as well http://www.environment-agency.gov.uk/research/library/publications/32671.aspx and here http://www.environment-agency.gov.uk/research/library/consultations/109501.aspx
You need a rod licence for Salmon ,trout and freshwater fish. Hence when I fish for what are considered sea fish such as bass,flounder or mullet that enter the the tidal stretch of the Arun at certain seasons I don't need a rod licence . To fish for the freshwater fish which also frequent the same stretch I do need a licence .
As has been said already though ,this does not mean you can enter private land willy nilly as you usually have to join a club,buy a day ticket or ask permission from the landowner . Some councils allow free(with the rod licence if you are after freshwater species ) fishing from land they control . Local bylaws may apply in variance to these general rules and In some places such as the nature reserve at Greatham only folk living the Parish enjoy the right to fish .
As for paying the extra in case you get among the salmon or sea trout. Generally speaking while you might pick-up the odd one (which you will of course return ) they are a specialist field .
As has been said already though ,this does not mean you can enter private land willy nilly as you usually have to join a club,buy a day ticket or ask permission from the landowner . Some councils allow free(with the rod licence if you are after freshwater species ) fishing from land they control . Local bylaws may apply in variance to these general rules and In some places such as the nature reserve at Greatham only folk living the Parish enjoy the right to fish .
As for paying the extra in case you get among the salmon or sea trout. Generally speaking while you might pick-up the odd one (which you will of course return ) they are a specialist field .
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that's shocking.. I know the elvers have become incredible valuableand rare but they aren't normal eels are they?
ah ok, I thought due to their migratory cycle they might have been a different speicies.
That might be why the adult eels are becoming rare then, poachers cashing in on the elvers!
was speaking to a chap down a market the other week and he told me people had been getting near £500 per lb of elvers from fancy resturnats in London.
The old boys I've spoken to said elvers were once so cheap only the poor would eat them.
I think this thread is a great read, alot of good info
I only fish my local river these days which is mostly brown trout- always released, but i used to fish in the sea alot, mackerel and cod mostly with a few dog fish and some other occasionally- once caught a conger eel- i thought i caught a shark when it bit and thought i caught a snake when i pulled it in!
I only fish my local river these days which is mostly brown trout- always released, but i used to fish in the sea alot, mackerel and cod mostly with a few dog fish and some other occasionally- once caught a conger eel- i thought i caught a shark when it bit and thought i caught a snake when i pulled it in!
I think this thread is a great read, alot of good info
I only fish my local river these days which is mostly brown trout- always released, but i used to fish in the sea alot, mackerel and cod mostly with a few dog fish and some other occasionally- once caught a conger eel- i thought i caught a shark when it bit and thought i caught a snake when i pulled it in!
dog fish have a odd texture, or atelast the fresh ones I ate did..kinda of mushy.
beautiful skin though, would be worth collecting a few skins to maybe use like leather.
I think it during HenryV111's rule ,if not before , that rules designed to preserve young fish and spawn were enacted . Elvering was one of those traditional local practices that seemed to slip under the radar (radar ? in those days ?) as long as it was kept local .
Once it became big business involving the supply of elvers for restaurents and overseas markets things started to become unsustainable . Worse still are the number of British elvers that are taken to stock fish farms on the Continent and as far away as Japan .
This commercialisation is not confined to Britain. I've read of elver boats costing a million pounds or more plying their trade on French estuaries .
The billions of eels that are produced in the breeding grounds are obviously essential to the survival of the species and there are limits to the size of the harvestable surplus that have been crossed .
Taking too many elvers not only reduces potential breeding stock but reduces the gene pool that can weaken any species .
Some anglers become a little agitated when someone mentions that they've taken the odd eel for the pot as if it was a heinous crime against conservation. In the great scheme of things its more likely the massive International trade in elvers and the fact that the RAuthority still allow banks of very effective commercial eel traps to be installed on some of their sluices that have caused the decline rather than pollution or the odd one going into the frying pan .
Sorry . I've gone on a bit .
