'60 Fish in 60 Days' signs off with 100lb-plus blue shark
FUNDRAISING angler HUGH Arnott signed off his ‘60 Fish in 60 Days’ challenge in style when he boated the largest fish of his countrywide conquest – a 140lb blue shark!
The pleasure fishing fanatic from St Albans was aboard KieLo Charters off the coast of Cornwall when the giant shark took his whole mackerel hookbait.
He told us:
“It was truly the catch of a lifetime and the biggest fish I’ve ever caught by about 30lb, not to mention the biggest of the challenge by a good 120lb!
“It was so long that I needed help from friends Steve and Chris to hold it up for the camera!”
Hugh easily surpassed his target of catching 60 species of fish, with the blue shark being the 68th of 75 he landed during the challenge.
During that time the 60-year-old travelled more than 4,300 miles and raised £3,200 for the Get Hooked on Fishing, England Disabled Fly Fishers and Fishing for Forces charities.
Hugh Arrnott with his 140lb blue shark. The 68th of 75 species caught in his fishing challenge
Bob and Paul back for Gone Christmas Fishing
Bob Mortimer and Paul Whitehouse are to return to television screens for an extended Christmas special later this Sunday.
Mortimer & Whitehouse: Gone Christmas Fishing will be broadcast on BBC 2 on Sunday, December 13. The hour-long episode will follow Bob back to his childhood haunts on the River Esk and Tees in Middlesbrough.
The comedy pair, who have completed three series of regular programmes, will attempt to catch grayling, while Bob’s task is to fill grumpy Paul with a bit of Christmas cheer after complaining the festive spirit has been lost to commercialism.
Driving Home for Christmas singer Chris Rea, a fellow Middlesbrough lad, will also make an appearance, alongside a familiar Secret Santa when Bob cooks turkey and all the trimmings.
As ever, Paul and Bob’s accommodation is vitally important to the show, and this time around they are lodging in fishermen’s cottages in the harbour village of Staithes before enjoying a night further north on the moors.
The programme, which is expected to be repeated over the Christmas period.
The Christmas special of Mortimer & Whitehouse: Gone Fishing will hit tv screens on December 13th
Where do our fish go in the cold?
YOU’LL often hear about swims on barbel rivers that will produce fish during the day, yet the chances of catching them from the same swim after dark are virtually nil. But why do fish often move in such a predictable way?
Moving is inherently risky and uses energy, so there must be a strong survival advantage to undertaking such journeys. From daily feeding movement, to annual spawning migrations, fish populations are constantly on the move, and those movements are often critical to their survival.
Finding fish can be tough in the winter
Day and night areas
Many fish species will move on a daily basis, often heading upstream at dusk and back down before dawn. These ‘diurnal’ migrations normally correspond to feeding, with the fish moving upstream to find areas where invertebrate food is most abundant. Often this will be directly below shallow riffles, where the stony riverbed harbours vast quantities of caddis larvae and other invertebrates.
During the day the fish will take advantage of areas offering protection from predators, perhaps beneath overhead cover, or in side streams where bigger fish cannot pass.
How far the fish will move from day to day really depends on the distance between their safe resting areas used during the day and feeding areas used at night. On a big river like the Trent, bream may move several hundred metres each night. On a small stream, fish may only need to move a few metres to find the right conditions.
Incredibly, each fish in a shoal can find its way back to the exact spot that it prefers, often to within a few centimetres. Experiments have shown that fish have a very detailed ‘neural map’ of their environment that enables them to navigate precisely over large areas. This explains why hooked fish know where every snag is!
Fish will often move upstream at dusk and into the night
Reward versus risk
In every population of fish, around a third will rarely stray away from their home range. As long as there is enough food to be found then this is a good strategy, as it minimises risk.
Another third will move over a wider area covering two or three times the home range. These fish may have access to richer food larders, and will likely have less competition for food, but this is countered by the increased risk. The final third are true wanderers that can travel many miles on big rivers and rarely, if ever, return.
These fish face by far the greatest risks, but the rewards may be greater too.
Fish that move further will be at lesser risk from local events, such as flooding or pollution incidents, that could otherwise wipe them out. While the local population could be catastrophically affected, the survival of the true wanderers will in turn ensure that future generations are protected.
In many rivers, well-known productive swims will often hold plenty of fish, but these might not be the same fish all the time. An overhanging tree may be a great spot for chub, some of which are likely to be living there every day. Some others, though, may be just passing through. So a swim can be productive, but not necessarily because the same shoal of fish lives there permanently.
An overhanging tree may be a great spot for chub, some of which are likely to be living there every day
Falling temperatures
As a general rule, in cold weather fish tend to become more lethargic and reluctant to move. As cold-blooded creatures, their metabolism slows, so they’re less inclined to feed as they need less energy to move.
At such times, they’ll often tuck themselves away in areas of slower water such as in slacks, behind cover that deflects the river’s flow, or on the edges of creases.
Many species will often also become more nocturnal during cold weather snaps in a bid to avoid warm-blooded predators such as herons, kingfishers and otters. However, after being harder to catch for the first few days, once they’ve adapted to the change in temperatures, their feeding and movements start to return to normal.
In the cold fish look to hide in cover or become nocturnal to avoid predators
Boundaries to fish
Natural boundaries, such as shallow riffles, may reduce fish movement in times of low river flow, but in a natural lowland river there are rarely any natural boundaries that will halt fish movement. Yet, humans have installed weirs, sluices and dams on rivers, which stop all fish passage. These barriers can often prevent spawning migrations, and radio-tracking studies have shown that even small weirs can block almost all upstream movements of powerful fish, such as barbel. Only during floods are such structures passable. Many fish will remain below the barrier before giving up, so the natural spread of the fish is disrupted.
By migrating upstream to spawn, fish give their young several advantages. Larval fish are poor swimmers and will often be washed downstream after hatching, particularly during floods. By spawning upriver the youngsters have the best chance of spreading out naturally and finding suitable habitat.
Once the adult fish have migrated back downstream the young will face less competition if they stay upstream, often in small shallow streams. Predation may also be less severe here as well.
So, while movements may consume precious energy and have inherent risks, they are an essential part of the behaviour of river fish, whether these are short hops to feed, or epic migrations. disrupted.
Weirs can be a real barrier to fish movement
Action group formed to return sturgeon to UK rivers within next decade
A THOUSAND years ago sturgeon were frequent visitors to our rivers, before overfishing and habitat destruction all but wiped them out. However, now an action group has been formed with the goal of restoring the species to UK waters.
The UK Sturgeon Alliance is a partnership between a number of environmental organisations including the Blue Marine Foundation (BLUE), Institute of Fisheries Management (IFM) and Severn Rivers Trust.
Within the next decade, the Alliance will be working to ensure UK rivers and estuaries are in a fit state to accommodate the critically-endangered species and enable it to migrate up our rivers once again.
Could the mighty sturgeon be back in UK rivers?
THE DECLINE OF STURGEON
According to Rory Moore, BLUE’S head of international Projects, the sturgeon’s decline in UK waters can be traced right back to the Saxon invasion.
He said:
“There’s archaeological evidence that suggests sturgeon strongholds were first plundered by Saxon fish traps over 1,000 years ago, when the species was prized for its meat and caviar – as it still is today. This overfishing was an early sign of what lay ahead for sturgeon and other fish that travel from saltwater to freshwater to spawn, such as shad and salmon.”
Rory also revealed how the sturgeon’s slow growth rate may have also attributed to the species’ decline.
“They are large, slow-growing fish that require 10- 20 years to reach sexual maturity,” he added.
“They reproduce only periodically, laying thousands of delicate eggs on upriver gravel beds where the water is cool and oxygen content high.
“Given these traits, it’s remarkable that these fish are still battling for survival in a world of intensive agriculture, overfishing, water insecurity and changing climate, but we have a chance to make a difference.”
A WIDER CONSERVATION
To help gain a better understanding of how they can safeguard the species, the Alliance is working alongside conservationists in France, Spain and Germany who have undertaken similar restoration programmes. Rory said:
“The last known spawning ecosystem for European sturgeon is the Garonne river and Gironde Estuary in southwest France, and it’s here that conservationists have started restoring the breeding and feeding sites for sturgeon, releasing tagged, genetically diverse fingerlings and improving water quality.”
Over the last couple of years trawlermen in southern England have been catching young tagged French sturgeon in their nets, which has prompted the Alliance to take action.
“Although it is unlikely that sturgeon have spawned in UK rivers for many years, it’s becoming clear that sturgeon originating in European rivers are again migrating to the UK to look for suitable feeding estuaries and spawning rivers,” Rory added.
IMPROVING ACCESS
While the Alliance’s work is still in the early stages, it’s already finding ways to improve access on rivers for migrating sturgeon. As the fish attempt to navigate their way through estuaries that eventually lead to rivers such as the Trent, Thames and Severn, man-made barriers like weirs and locks will prevent them from reaching the gravel beds which they need to spawn.
Unlocking the Severn, a project set up by the Severn Rivers Trust, has already helped the rare Twaite Shad navigate the river by building fish passes that bypass these obstructions, and Mike Morris of the Trust believes sturgeon could benefit from the project too. He told us:
“The project is opening access for all migratory species to their historic spawning grounds. The design of the passes should allow for sturgeon to migrate upriver alongside a host of other species. It’s a wonderful legacy of a project that is focussed on protecting the UK’s population of one species, the Twaite Shad, but will also provide benefits to other iconic species.”
(Credit - Unlocking The Severn) Fish passes like this will help sturgeon migrate up rivers
HOW YOU CAN HELP
As the Sturgeon Alliance’s efforts build momentum, anglers are being asked to report any catches of the species to the Institute of Fisheries Management. The IFM’s Steve Colclough said:
“Anglers and trawlermen have an important role to play. If you catch a sturgeon of any kind, it’s important to take quality pictures of the flank of the fish and note whether it’s tagged or not, before releasing it. Informing the IFM where sturgeon are being caught will help the Alliance identify likely spawning areas and non-native strains of sturgeon,” he said.
If you catch a sturgeon, email the details directly to Steve at srcifm@gmail.com
The Uk Sturgeon Alliance plan to bring the species back to UK river systems
A ROD-BENDING HISTORY
In the 18th and 19th Centuries, sturgeon were often from the rivers Severn, Wye, Usk, Thames, Medway, Towy, Teme, Tay, Forth, Tweed, Trent, Dee and Annan. A 320lb sturgeon is reported to have overturned two coracles and broke three nets during its capture on the River Towy in June 1896, but the largest officially recorded fish ever caught on rod and line from a UK river was a 414lb sturgeon, banked in 1903 from the River Severn.
This sturgeon was captured by salmon fisherman Evan E Davies from the River Severn in the early 20th century (Credit - Dave Griffiths)
THE UK STURGEON ALLIANCE’S GOALS:
Ensure that UK rivers and estuaries are in a fit state to accommodate critically endangered European sturgeon.
Restore suitable sturgeon spawning and feeding habitats.
Improve connectivity of estuary and river habitats to enable fish migration.
Prevent non-native sturgeon originating from the pet trade from escaping into the wild.
Increase public awareness of UK sturgeon, and explore ways under International Union for Conservation of Nature protocols to restore sturgeon numbers in the UK.
How much do our coarse fish eat?
FISH being cold-blooded, the amount of food they need to eat varies considerably throughout the year, with more energy required when the water is warm than when it’s cold.
On a typical summer’s day a carp will need to eat 0.1 per cent of its bodyweight. This means that a 10lb carp will need 2oz of food each day. That’s 50 boilies, 200 pellets, or a tenth of a tin of corn.
In winter, the amount the same carp needs to eat is massively reduced. Now, the same fish only needs 0.01 per cent of its weight each day. That’s five boilies, 20 pellets, or a pinch of corn. From these amounts you can see why you generally need much less bait in winter.
These figures are only a rough estimate and don’t take into account any natural food that the fish will eat, or that other factors such as dissolved oxygen can also have a big effect on how much fish will eat.
“Fats, which we often think are unhealthy in our diet, are much more important to fish”
What’s the food used for?
During the summer, any energy that a fish gains from digested food is split three ways. A big chunk is spent on just staying alive. Breathing, swimming around and feeding take up most of this energy.
Second, the fish will be growing in length, which not only means that the skeleton and organs need to grow, but the scales that cover the body also need to increase in size. It was once thought that fish grew right the way through their lives, but we now know, mostly from repeated captures of known fish over many years, that eventually fish will attain a peak size and stay around this length for many years. This is very obvious in carp, but has also been noted in chub, barbel, bream and pike, so is probably seen to some degree in most coarse fish.
Once the fish reach maturity, some of any energy left over will be used to produce eggs. The rest will become body fat.
This final part is important, because during the winter months it’s common among some species to not be able to consume enough energy to meet their daily demands, so they have to rely on their stored body fat reserves. For larger fish this isn’t normally a problem, because they have plenty of reserves, but especially in young fish less than a year old the amount of body fat can be very low in the smallest examples, and they can run out of their energy reserves and, in some cases, literally starve to death.
As the fat reserves are used up they are replaced by an increase in the amount of water stored in the body tissues, which explains why fish are often at their heaviest in spring, even though they have been using up their reserves.
Roach make a really good living out of leftover carp bait!
Which foods are ‘best’?
Just as with humans, there are good and bad foods for fish, although these differ quite significantly from what’s good for us. Fats, which we often think are unhealthy in our diet, are much more important to fish.
While humans and other mammals produce energy from carbohydrates (complex sugars), fish derive their energy directly from fat. Fish, then, don’t suffer from obesity in the same way as we do, but must have a relatively high level of body fat. The right level of fat in the diet also means that fish will use more of the protein they eat in building body tissue, so they grow faster.
A good diet for carp contains around 33 per cent protein, six per cent fat and three per cent fibre. Not surprisingly, this is what you will find in the carp pellets that many fisheries supply, and it’s also the basis for many boilies. Pellets with more protein or fat, such as halibut pellets, are simply more wasteful, as much of the excess goodness will pass straight through the fish and be excreted.
Bait such as sweetcorn contain much lower fat and protein levels than the optimal, but are useful in a mixed or balanced diet because they will counteract the impact of other baits that have higher levels of these nutrients. Baits such as luncheon meat tend to have much higher fat and protein levels, and so create more waste.
Of course, even when fish are fed a perfectly balanced diet the vast majority of the food will be wasted. Either it will not be eaten and break down on the lakebed, or it will pass straight through the gut of the fish and be excreted as waste. In heavily-stocked fisheries, trying to maintain a healthy balance of different foods (much of it bait) is important, but in this situation controlling the total amount of bait going into the water is more important to prevent it becoming polluting.
Some species of fish may make a great living out of waste carp bait. Anecdotal evidence points to roach, in particular, doing very well in heavily-stocked carp fisheries. It may well be that because they are omnivorous (reliant on a variety of food of both plant and animal origin), roach are able to make a good living by feeding on the scraps left over by the messy carp.
Two trots of the float and two PB chub - Matthew Fernandez
“I’d spent the night fishing a syndicate lake for big bream but I didn’t have a single bite, so in the morning I switched my attentions to the Dorset Stour and its big chub.
“The river looked in good condition to trot a float so I settled into a swim and began feeding it with red maggots.
“After an hour I started fishing and caught lots of dace and roach before I set the hook into a new PB chub going 6lb 10oz.
“Before I had a chance to enjoy the moment, though, my very next trot saw the float bury again and my rod bent into what felt like an absolute monster!
“From the off I was certain I’d hooked a barbel as the power of this fish was insane. Fortunately, my friend Matt was present and helped me net the fish.
“I’ve always dreamt of catching a 7lb-plus chub on the float, and the needle on my scales signalled my dream had come true.”
Matthew Fernandez and his 7lb 1oz Stour chub
Fisheries set for busiest winter ever as licence sales soar...again!
THE BOOM in angling participation has shown no signs of slowing down this month, with many venues reporting unprecedented numbers of visitors for the time of year.
After angling’s busiest-ever summer, it was anticipated that numbers on the bank would tail off as temperatures started to fall, but reports suggest quite the opposite, with fisheries saying business is still booming.
Surrey’s Bury Hill Fishery is one of the venues enjoying a productive autumn, as staff member Ian Chennell revealed:
“I’d say there’s probably a 40 per cent increase on the usual numbers we’d experience at this time of year. We sold a lot of memberships for our carp and predator waters, and these anglers keep coming back.
“In particular, we’ve had a lot more people interested in catching pike and zander, so as the temperatures fall, we hope these guys will keep fishing for these winter species.”
A similar trend has been witnessed further north at East Yorkshire’s Starcarr Lakes.
“We’ve had unprecedented numbers on our banks” said fishery boss Shane Turrell.
“I expect things to drop off a bit more when it gets really cold and the bream begin to back off, but if only half the people come who are currently visiting, we’ll still be doing much better than usual.”
In addition to the continued surge in bankside numbers, the Environment Agency has reported yet another boom in rod licence sales, with 36,851 people buying or renewing their licence in October.
This suggests the influx of newcomers to the sport is continuing unabated. An EA spokesperson told us:
“Despite colder weather, we continue to see thousands of people buying licences. We hope this shows that the current popularity of fishing isn’t just a summer trend but the revival of a much-loved sport.”
People can’t get enough of fishing and now look set to hit the banks all winter too!
Monster pike in harsh weather
TREE surgeon Jamie Barnes had poor weather to thank for the capture of a 34lb 5oz Chew Reservoir pike, after heavy wind forced him and his boat partner to target a sheltered bay.
Within two hours of fishing sprat deadbaits in the new spot, the 33-year-old managed six pike to 19lb before something much larger pulled his float below the surface.
“After an epic battle, which felt like a lifetime, we couldn’t believe our eyes when we saw the sheer size and length of this pike,” Jamie told us.
“I’m still on cloud nine!"
Jamie Barnes and his 34lb 5oz Chew pike
16-year wait for a 2lb roach ends with two in five days!
A PAIR of pink maggots trotted into a large eddy accounted for this clonking 2lb 13oz Hampshire Avon roach for specimen-hunter Tony Sweeney.
It was the larger of two hefty specimens banked by the redfin fanatic during the same week – the other, weighing 2lb 11oz, was taken during a visit to a private stretch the river near Fordingbridge.
Tony said:
“I caught my last 2lb roach around 16 years ago, but I’ve now had two within five days of each other!”
Tony Sweeney – 2lb 13oz roach
Cormorant control measures rejected by Government
A FRESH bid to add cormorants to the General Shooting Licence has been rejected once again by Government.
The proposal to try to limit the devastating effect the birds are having on fisheries was submitted by the Angling Trust, the Avon Roach Project and other partners, who are seeking to add cormorants to thelicence alongside jackdaws, magpies and pigeons to afford fish stocks better protection from unsustainable levels of predation.
Cormorants numbers have recently skyrocketed and there are thought to be 30,000 overwintering in England each year, with each bird known to eat more than 1lb of fish each day.
A case for increasing the current cormorant control limit of 3,000 birds in any one year was submitted, but it was rejected by ministers.
“It’s extraordinary that ministers continue to deny the right to a reasonable level of protection of our vulnerable inland fish populations from a non-native visitor,”
said Trevor Harrop of the Avon Roach project.
Martin Salter, Head of Policy at the Angling Trust added:
“The Angling Trust will continue to make representations to Defra and the devolved administrations about the need to manage the impact fisheating birds have upon fisheries”
Cormorant numbers have risen sharply in the past few decades
Call for kit donations to tackle mental health
THE FOUNDER of a newly-formed social club is appealing to the angling community for tackle donations in a drive to bring fishing to people struggling with poor mental health.
Tackling Minds is the brainchild of lifelong angler Dave Lyons, who’s started running free fishing sessions at Hollingworth Lake in Lancashire to provide incentives for those suffering from loneliness, addiction and homelessness.
He said:
“Having previously suffered with poor mental health I know exactly what people are going through, especially at a time like this, so I created Tackling Minds.
“Our aim is to gather enough fishing tackle to run a regular group and teach the wider community how influential fishing can be in life progression.”
Alongside his call-out for tackle, Dave is looking to expand on his team of volunteers and coaches. To donate your old and disused tackle or to volunteer your services, email your interest to Dave at fishing@tacklingminds.org.
Donated tackle will help teach those struggling with mental health to go fishing
River Severn barbel record smashed!
AN ANGLER from Birmingham has etched his name into the history books after slipping his net under a new River Severn barbel record weighing 18lb on the nose.
Dean O’brien with the new Severn record barbel of 18lb exactly
Dean O’brien was fishing a day session on a stretch of the lower river when at 6pm his luncheon meat offering was picked up by the powerful fish, signalling the start of a nervy battle.
It’s thought to be the third time in two months that the huge specimen, which has been given the name Red Spot due to a distinctive red colouration above its anal fin, has graced the bank.
“As soon as I picked up the rod the fish just hugged the bottom and powered off – I couldn’t stop it from charging towards an overhanging tree and snagging me up,” Dean told us.
“My mate Spencer Thomas caught her a couple of weeks ago at 17lb 4oz and mentioned that it felt like a heavy weight that just stayed deep like a 25lb carp, so there was no doubt in my mind what fish I’d hooked.”
By manoeuvring himself next to the tree, Dean managed to guide his quarry out from the underwater obstruction and recommence the battle in open water, before netting his prize 15 minutes later. By this point, three other anglers including Spencer and a member of the Barbel Society arrived to witness the weighing on Dean’s 60lb-rated Reuben Heaton scales. He said:
“When the needle read 18lb none of us could believe it. The fish had obviously been feeding up ahead of winter.
“It was only weighed once as I wanted to get this precious fish back into the water as quickly as possible, but we were all in agreement with the weight.”
Over the last three months the two previous captures of Red Spot have received scrutiny on social media over the proposed weight of 17lb 4oz, although Dean believes his catch will put all the doubters to rest.
“Having it weighed wrong once could be a coincidence, but it’s now been weighed three times over 17lb,” he added.
Current official River Severn record
16lb 11oz, Kevin Gittins, October 2014
Biggest confirmed Severn barbel in 2020
17lb 4oz, Andrew Hadfield, September
17lb 4oz, Spencer Thomas, October
18lb, Dean O’brien, November
EA backs down over Broads barriers
THE BATTLE to stop fish barriers being placed around an important bream spawning site on the Norfolk Broads took an important twist this week after the Environment Agency admitted to ignoring suggestions made by its own fisheries team about the dangers of such barriers.
Earlier this year the EA granted Natural England a permit to block off Hoveton Great Broad in order to ‘combat turbidity and promote better weed growth’.
The Angling Trust and Broads Angling Services Group challenged the EA’s plans and, following a judicial review, it looks likely that the permit will be removed, as Fish Legal solicitor Justin Neal revealed. He said:
“The EA Fisheries team warned the higher powers at the Agency of the impact these barriers could have, but none of this information was made available to the public. The EA has admitted to failing to properly consult on the application, and it now looks likely that the court will approve an order to quash the permit.”
Hoveton Great Broad would have been blocked off
Catfish are breeding in UK rivers - is this good or bad for angling?
A JUVENILE catfish has been caught from the River Trent and, while it won’t break any records, it could have a huge bearing on the future of Britain’s waterways.
Far larger specimens have been reported from rivers, including the Thames, in recent years, and they’ve always been regarded as one-off, fluke catches. But this ‘kitten’ suggests that the species may have started to breed in our running water venues. This development has sparked debate over whether the predatory species should be left to flourish as a viable angling target, or eradicated on the grounds of it being an unwanted alien invader.
Calum Fox, who banked the tiny cat, explained how his catch unfolded:
“At first I thought it was an eel, but when it surfaced and I got a better look I realised that it was very different from anything I’d normally catch,” he said.
“It came from a spot where anglers have had their tackle smashed by unseen monsters, believed to be large catfish or sturgeon. Perhaps those beasts were this fish’s mum and dad!”
Calum Fox with a baby catfish caught from the River Trent
So, is it possible for Wels catfish to breed in the UK’s relatively cool waters? Dr Paul Garner, an expert on all things fishy, sees no reason why not.
“I can’t think of any substantiated reports of people seeing them spawning, but I’d say there is no reason why they shouldn’t have spawned in the river,” said Paul.
“If you look at the range of Wels catfish, you’ll see that they breed in waters much colder than ours. Someone needs to spend a bit of time on the Trent next summer with proper fishing gear and do a bit of clonking!” he added.
A larger Trent catfish caught in 2018
While it seems there’s little doubt, therefore, that the catfish caught by Calum was born in the River Trent, the question remains whether the species will be a welcome addition to our river system, or an unwanted non-native pest that will upset the ecological balance of our waters.
Opinion among our readers appears divided. Some, like Alex Fanshawe, relish the prospect of targeting these hard-fighting monsters. Alex said:
“A river catfish from the UK is the pinnacle of all domestic angling dreams as far as I am concerned.
“They have been breeding in our river systems for decades, and represent no threat to our native aquatic life if you’re willing to take a holistic view. Nature has found a balance, as it always will.”
Others were fearful of the impact the species might have, with Italian angler Andrea Penso warning of the impact Wels catfish have had on fisheries in his home country.
“Cats are part of the reason our rivers are now messed up, compared to several decades ago,” he said.
“They’re everywhere and have had a huge impact on our native fish species. But since everyone seems to enjoy a lengthy tug of war with an ugly fish, nothing will be done to eradicate them. I just hope that England’s outstanding chub and barbel fisheries will not be affected by their proliferation.”
These sentiments were echoed by Simon Clarke, a passionate catfish angler who is also managing director of tackle firm of anglers regularly doing battle with huge catfish from UK rivers remains a long way off at present.
“While I love catfish, in my opinion they shouldn’t be in our waters because they’re simply not native. Until global warming has a significant and sustained impact on our water temperatures, they won’t be a fish we’ll regularly see.
“Our population of Wels catfish is at the northernmost latitude in Europe, other than a few in Sweden. As a result, our summers are shorter and cooler than those in southern countries, which leads to lower water temperatures and poor breeding success for catfish.
“We know they’ve been in the Trent for up to 30 years and in the Thames for possibly 70 years. If they haven’t established themselves in that time frame, I think we’ve got a fair old wait yet before they breed successfully and really settle.”
Until they do, Simon revealed that the burgeoning catfish population in UK rivers could actually help to eradicate a non-native species considered to be a scourge of angling.
“Crayfish make up a large portion of their diet, so they could actually help to tackle the UK’s population of American Signal crayfish, which are a truly threatening, invasive species,” he said.
Another shot of Calum Fox’s Trent catfish that got people talking
Angler given 'Flame of Hope' award for fishing cancer charity
A PENRITH angler has received a special commendation in the Cancer Research UK Flame of Hope awards after raising nearly £15,000 for the charity.
Mike Smith (36) was honoured with the Pioneer of the Year award after his ‘Bite out of Cancer’ initiative inspired hundreds of anglers to donate the weight of every fish they caught in money.
Mike was inspired to fundraise for the cancer charity after losing both his grandfather and his dad to the disease.
A Bite Out Of Cancer’s Mike Smith with the award
For more on A Bite Out Of Cancer read our interview with Mike - click here.
WORLD record brown trout!
A COLOSSAL brown trout eclipsing the current world record of 42lb 1oz has been recorded from a canal in New Zealand.
The incredible fish measured 44lb 3oz on the scales and was taken on a spinner from the Mackenzie Hydro Canals, located near to the South Island town of Twizel.
Its captor, who’s requested to be referred to as Seamus from Turangi, decided to keep the prized trout and donate it to the local Razza Bar and Bistro to be stuffed and hung up proudly next to the bar’s other mammoth catches on display – including trout of 38lb 2oz and 38lb 9oz.
The world record brown trout at 44lb 3oz - what a monster!
Angling club beats local council in legal battle
SOUTH Wales angling club has won £39,000 in damages and legal costs after winning a seven-year battle against its local council. Rhymney and District AS launched the case after its Deri Lake was drained, without warning, by Caerphilly County Borough Council back in April 2013.
“The council came to de-silt the lake. It didn’t warn the club, and it opened an outlet pipe through which fish were sucked until there was only 6ins of water remaining,” said Andrew Kelton, the club’s legal representative.
An image of how the lake was left by the council
Club members who turned up the next day were greeted by a scene of devastation, with most of the fish they had stocked just a few years earlier either dead or struggling in what little water remained.
“When the club asked the council for compensation, it claimed that Rhymney had no proof of the fish being lost, and this remained its position for seven years,” Andrew added.
Club Secretary Jesse Pugh measuring the depth
Reflecting on the final outcome of the case, heard at Cardiff County Court, the club’s honorary secretary Jesse Pugh said:
“It’s a massive boost and will set us up for 10 years or more. I’m just worried they’ll put my council tax up after we beat them!”
Rhymney Lake in normal conditions
UK anglers call on record captors to "submit claims" and "ignore the trolls"
THE VAST majority of anglers believe that Matt Atkins and Wayne Mansford, captors of record-breaking perch and carp respectively, should submit official claims for new British bests.
Not long after making the extraordinary captures, both anglers admitted they were having second thoughts about applying for records for a range of reasons, chief among which was the amount of online abuse they received from ‘trolls’ – individuals who use the internet to mock and discredit fish.
Matt Atkins was not sure if he would submit a claim for this record perch of 6lb 4oz
One man who’s fully aware of the unwanted attention that can follow a big fish capture is Neill Stephen, current joint holder of the British records for perch and chub. He’s adamant that the two anglers shouldn’t let the trolls get their way.
“I have every sympathy for those on the receiving end of negativity,” he said.
“These are two incredible fish and the captors should only be congratulated.
“I don’t see how applying for a record makes any difference. The catches have already been publicised and the application process is just one simple form. The fish either do or don’t meet the criteria.”
Neill has noticed more negativity about Wayne’s 75lb 2oz carp, and while he laments some of the changes in carp fishing over his lifetime, he believes that people should be allowed to enjoy whatever form of the sport they choose.
“We’re living in a world where more people like to target big fish,” he added.
“It’s a different type of fishing to what used to be around, but why shouldn’t people enjoy it? Choose what you enjoy, and let others do the same!”
Wayne Mansford with a massive 75lb 2oz carp - will he claim the record?
The trolling of catches online seems to be a growing problem, and it’s not just specimen anglers targeted either. Browse Facebook for any length of time and you’ll see young kids right through to veterans having their catches ridiculed, with one of the main accusations being that the fish ‘don’t look the weight’ or that computer software has been used to make them look bigger.
This latter accusation was levelled at Matt Atkins soon after pictures of his amazing 6lb 4oz perch were published. However, it appears that anglers as a whole are now becoming fed up with the online critics and their baseless claims.
Angling Times reader Michael Bilbie said:
“They’re just jealous keyboard warriors, who probably don’t know one end of the rod from another - pathetic! People should be congratulated for catching records and PBs. I saw the photo of the potential record perch and it looks the size stated all day long.”
These sentiments were echoed by fellow reader Ross Hunter, who said:
“Claim the record, forget the haters, because they’re just that – haters who wished they could have caught the fish themselves.”
The controversial subject of fish ‘not looking the weight’ in catch photos is as old as the hills, and it remains the main bone of contention in the digital era too. Yet, as legendary angling photographer Mick Rouse points out, images can be misleading. Mick, who was head of photography at Angling Times for decades and ‘snapped’ countless famous fish, said:
“By using computer programs like Photoshop or wide angled camera lenses you can make fish look bigger, but it’s not as simple as that because it can be difficult to make smaller species look their true size.
“Take roach for example. It’s tricky to make a fish of 3lb look the weight, and the same goes with perch. If you put their dorsal fin up, they look much larger, but with the fin down, as was the case with Matt Atkins’ fish, they look smaller.”
Mick added that while we do occasionally get anglers who lie about fish weights, these are generally known ‘individuals’.
“In the end, they’re only lying to themselves,” he added.
“I like to think that truthful anglers are in an overwhelming majority.”
Photo quality seems to be all important when it comes to silencing online fishing trolls
SAVE OUR SEVERN! - Anglers unite as plans for mega-dam are revealed
ANGLERS are being urged to join an action group and challenge a proposal to build a dam on the River Severn amid fears it will cause catastrophic flooding. Save Our Severn (SOS) has been set up by a team of Shropshire farmers and residents to counter Severn River Partnership’s plan, which would see a £40 million water barrier built on the river within one mile of Shrewsbury town centre.
The Severn River Partnership’s plan, would see a £40 million water barrier built on the river within one mile of Shrewsbury town centre.
The partnership, which is a consortium including the Environment Agency, Shropshire Council and Severn Trent Water, believes a dam would protect 2,500 homes south of Shrewsbury from flooding and pave the way for a massive development of up to 47,000 newbuilds.
Following an independent investigation carried out by SOS, however, the action group is arguing that the dam would be too small and could overflow within just 2.5 days of a full flood – submerging at least 10,000 acres of farmland and riverbank.
The news is a cause for concern for a number of angling associations, including Shrewsbury Anglers Club, which owns six popular stretches of the Severn in the area. Its secretary, Chris Wood, told us:
“Last winter’s floods were devastating and if we have similar cases, this dam could spell disaster. Aside from it creating a barrier to migratory species like salmon and eels, it’s likely we’ll see immense flooding.
“The dam will also need to release water to stem the floods which, depending on the volume, could remove large areas of gravel downstream and change the river’s topography. Local residents need to seriously consider whether they think this is the right course of action.”
Now, the action group is raising as much awareness as possible to highlight the damage a dam could potentially cause. SOS’s joint chair, Ed Tate, said:
“Flooding is a serious issue on the Severn and we want to see a good solution to the problem, but building a dam isn’t it. We’ll create a petition to try and thwart the plans, but making people aware of what’s happening is our primary goal right now.”
Save Our Severn
FOR MORE INFORMATION
join the SOS action group, visit www.saveoursevern.com
Anglers given the green light to go fishing during second England lockdown
While outdoor sports like golf, tennis and basketball are prohibited, angling’s status as an outdoor recreation has allowed it to continue, with a handful of restrictions.
“Ministers have recognised the benefits that angling brings, not only in terms of health and well-being, but also in getting us out in the fresh air”
The Angling Trust, which has lobbied government on the benefits of the hobby, has produced guidance to anglers after picking through the latest regulations with legal advisers.
Those regulations are still in draft form but sources at the Trust are confident their interpretations of the law will stand up.
Martin Salter, the Trust’s campaigns manager, told us:
“We are delighted that ministers have recognised the benefits that angling brings, not only in terms of health and well-being, but also in getting us out in the fresh air where we love to be and not bunging up already-crowded public spaces.”
The former MP added:
“If the Government had wanted fisheries to close, as it has, inexplicably, with golf courses, then they would have said so. The Government clearly expects angling to continue.”
The only major blow for anglers is the temporary suspension of match fishing, which is caught in the ban on ‘sport below elite level’.
Mr Salter said:
“We are an outdoor recreation like bird watching. We’re only a sport when we are match fishing, which is why that has been banned.”
Match fishing will be banned under the new restrictions
Driving to venues, night fishing and day-ticket angling are still permitted, though Government guidance urges people to stay as local as possible for outdoor activities. Tackle shops must close, but can operate on a click-and-collect basis. Anglers from different homes can also only go fishing in pairs, rather than the previous ‘rule of six’.
Angling Trust chief executive Jamie Cook urged anglers to stay sensible and be aware that their actions will be closely monitored.
He said:
“We’re pleased that fishing can continue during lockdown, even with the restrictions in place. Angling has conducted itself safely and responsibly throughout this pandemic and the Trust is determined to ensure that our chosen form of outdoor recreation remains part of the solution rather than the problem. To do this anglers must continue to fish responsibly.”
“Anglers must continue to fish responsibly,” says Jamie Cook