Commercial Fisheries governing body

[craftytafty]

Last weekend in a local winter league a guy landed a pike around 15lb and some of us were surprised that it was allowed to count.( one guy was fuming as it cost him money and league points)

to my knowledge most places don't allow them (although I think they are in Angling Trust rules)

This made me think should Commercial fisheries all have the same set of rules to fish to and also should they have to be a member of a ruling body, whether that's the Angling Trust or an offshoot to deal specifically with Commercials.
Should they have to comply with a set of regulations on all aspects from fish welfare right through to the facilities, disabled access, toilets on site, café, first aid trained employee on site insurances and I'm sure there would be many other aspects.

( there may be regulations in place relating to running such a business regarding disabled facilities, toilets etc etc but I don't know)

If they are run properly I wouldn't imagine any fishery would object to being a member and should it be a requirement to run or hold club matches.

I believe other sports have various requirements to hold competitions or compete.

What thoughts have you got on this

[joffmiester]

I think this is a very good question a set of complying rules would be nice as would a general list for banned baits as most vary from fishery to fishery with some individuals being penalised for their results on a particular bait

[Soar_Angler]

The Angling Trust do not allow pike or zander to be weighed in in their coarse competitions.
Lots of the big commercials belong to the Angling Trust and use their model match rules which allow fisheries to set their own rules on baits and bait limits.

[MartMart]

So what's to stop someone just turning up with a spinning rod and chucking a spinner out all day? I think allowing them to be weighed in is absolute madness!

[darkhorse]

we used to get guys fishing big lobs for them , matchwinners too!!, not right when you work hard for a net of canal bread roach and idle anglers sitting all day for one fish :(

[Dodge]

As long as any Commercial is making a few bob they dont give a flying crappity smack ! Money rules !!!!

[joffmiester]

Commercials are here to stay some are really looked after and some run great silverfish matches and look after there fisheries .maintenance and up keep of pegs road or tracks fish management these do deserve success .like dodge said some are only interested in what they can take with very little return or reward to the customer

[craftytafty]

As long as any Commercial is making a few bob they dont give a flying crappity smack ! Money rules !!!!

I think there are exceptions but certainly a lot just want their peg fees for as little work as possible.

[bill yards]

There are a lot of issues here.

I always take a deep swallow when I hear that phrase 'fish welfare' in relationship with commercials.

The EA have guidelines on what density of fish to stock per size of waters but who takes any notice of this?

I know I have said it before but if a farmer put a thousand sheep or any other animals in a one acre firld he would be up in court via the RSPCA and every other body that has the capabilities to screw him down.
Fish welfare----crappity smack joke

Dark Horse mentions pike and I well remember running a league match on the T&M at Stoke some years ago. It was the first round and the Rules strictly stated 'no pike' to be counted (printed on the flyer everyone had! My reasoning behind this was that lots of them found there way in the cut via Westport Lake and the temptation to leave a fish bait on should be eradicated.
One weighed one in at around 6 lb and blew a fuse when he was told they don't count. He wrote to every mag and organising body he could think of saying how skilfully he played this pike and it should have counted!!
He was laughed at by all and sundry and he don't fish now, we are better off without these guys.
He wanted me banned for banning pike

This could also come under the 'fish welfare' phrase.

Fact is a fishery owner can set whatever rules he wants, - you don't have to go.

After working in angling for a lot more years than I tend to remember I have come across some quite bizarre rules.

[big_cup]

Fished a match between Christmas and new year on a commercial, lad on opposite bank had a pike 22lb on sweetcorn. It was weighed and returned whilst the match was still in progress and it counted to his 2nd place 51lb odd

[darkhorse]

bill, yeh it was the t&misery at stoke, after a few matches the match organiser banned them, it became a joke and ruined the match, remember before they found their way into the canal it was stuffed, i think middleport ac used to run pike matches to remove them, dont know state of canal today havent fished it in over ten years