• You need to be a registered member of Barbel Fishing World to post on these forums. Some of the forums are hidden from non-members. Please refer to the instructions on the ‘Register’ page for details of how to join the new incarnation of BFW...

What is it with match anglers and fish care … 😡

Too be fair, he was fishing for Small stuff, and he's un hooked it in the net, ok , very unconventional, for a near 14lb barbel, I think Cam didn't realize how big it was...
It was only our of the water for a minute!
Better than putting it on the ground!!
 
Jim Gregory said:
Too be fair, he was fishing for Small stuff, and he's un hooked it in the net, ok , very unconventional, for a near 14lb barbel, I think Cam didn't realize how big it was...
It was only our of the water for a minute!
Better than putting it on the ground!!
Click to expand...
Sorry Jim gotta disagree if a specialist angler treated a barbel like that they would get slaughtered
There’s a reason why clubs that have barbel in there stretches specify a minimum net size that fish was bent double while he was trying to unhook it ..the fish wasn’t rested just shoved into a keep net
That fish should have been weighed rested and put back
If the controlling club has a minimum net size all those fishing in that match should have to abide by the rules and that is what it is
If they haven’t got a minimum net size then the club needs to have a hard look at there selves
With a proper size net that fish could have been landed a lot earlier instead of of the 3-4 attempts he had
Because that net isn’t even adequate for a 5lb chub
The fact they are fishing a match is no excuse or have we got to the stage where prize money trumps fish welfare?
 
Terry Harman said:
Sorry Jim gotta disagree if a specialist angler treated a barbel like that they would get slaughtered
There’s a reason why clubs that have barbel in there stretches specify a minimum net size that fish was bent double while he was trying to unhook it ..the fish wasn’t rested just shoved into a keep net
That fish should have been weighed rested and put back
If the controlling club has a minimum net size all those fishing in that match should have to abide by the rules and that is what it is
If they haven’t got a minimum net size then the club needs to have a hard look at there selves
With a proper size net that fish could have been landed a lot earlier instead of of the 3-4 attempts he had
Because that net isn’t even adequate for a 5lb chub
The fact they are fishing a match is no excuse or have we got to the stage where prize money trumps fish welfare?
Click to expand...
You're right Terry, after watching the video again, he should have rested the fish , and obviously has no net big enough to do so.!.
 
Terry Harman said:
Sorry Jim gotta disagree if a specialist angler treated a barbel like that they would get slaughtered
There’s a reason why clubs that have barbel in there stretches specify a minimum net size that fish was bent double while he was trying to unhook it ..the fish wasn’t rested just shoved into a keep net
That fish should have been weighed rested and put back
If the controlling club has a minimum net size all those fishing in that match should have to abide by the rules and that is what it is
If they haven’t got a minimum net size then the club needs to have a hard look at there selves
With a proper size net that fish could have been landed a lot earlier instead of of the 3-4 attempts he had
Because that net isn’t even adequate for a 5lb chub
The fact they are fishing a match is no excuse or have we got to the stage where prize money trumps fish welfare?
Click to expand...
Or rather Rested first, for a good while, in a bigger net, then weighed, if the potential is there, for a large fish, then i agree, a minimum net size is a must. Or a smaller net, and a larger secondary net set up just in case.
 
Specialist anglers and pleasure anglers are often not in public view when fishing I’m sure bad practices go unseen. Match anglers are more likely to be seen. Joe Public may not see anything wrong with the way that fish was handled, we obviously do. It is important that anglers have high standards of fish care and it is particularly important if you are in the public gaze.
I’m sure Angling trust could lead the way with a code of practice particularly for match fishing where time constraints might lead to poor care but also for all branches of the sport even if it only best practice advice. I hate seeing fish which are obviously going to be taken for the table flapping about. If it’s going to die dispatch it with urgency.
It would be wrong to single out one angler to illustrate a point but these match anglers often have a lot of money tied up in tackle, being required to have more than one net set up should not be a hardship.
Working with the kit he had that match angler did not do a bad job, obviously easy to improve with other kit to hand.
 
That fish was foul hooked aswell, one of the reasons it took so long to land.

IMO match anglers see fish as a commodity and a way to earn money. They have zero consideration for fish care on any level.

When you consider the efforts carp anglers, specialist anglers and indeed pleasure anglers go to in the care of anything they catch, the match fraternity have a long way to go.
 
Ralph Harris said:
Specialist anglers and pleasure anglers are often not in public view when fishing I’m sure bad practices go unseen. Match anglers are more likely to be seen. Joe Public may not see anything wrong with the way that fish was handled, we obviously do. It is important that anglers have high standards of fish care and it is particularly important if you are in the public gaze.
I’m sure Angling trust could lead the way with a code of practice particularly for match fishing where time constraints might lead to poor care but also for all branches of the sport even if it only best practice advice. I hate seeing fish which are obviously going to be taken for the table flapping about. If it’s going to die dispatch it with urgency.
It would be wrong to single out one angler to illustrate a point but these match anglers often have a lot of money tied up in tackle, being required to have more than one net set up should not be a hardship.
Working with the kit he had that match angler did not do a bad job, obviously easy to improve with other kit to hand.
Click to expand...
There is a code of practice for barbel it was done by the barbel society https://thebarbelsociety.co.uk/handling-code/

I personally wouldn’t look to the angling trust for anything the only thing Jamie cook cares about is Jamie cook
But a match angler isn’t going to read the barbel handling code is he ? Because he doesn’t really care
It’s up to match organisers to lay down rules and that should include all participants should have a 36” net with them
If that fish was foul hooked and he put it in he’s keepnet to be weighed that tells you more about that angler than anything
 
Any member of Hereford Angling Club can raise the issue prior to the AGM. Even non members can make a comment on the FB page if they want and potentially that may lead to change.

They do have some restrictions. Such as 6 hours is the maximum you can use a Keepnet before having to empty it.

They also introduced a non braid hooklink rule a couple of years ago.

Heteford AC is one of the best run and baliffed waters in the Country IMO, but nothings perfect.

I don't think Mr Salters Godson at AT would envisage upsetting the Match fraternity.
 
Last edited:
Our local Club has now introduced a rule at our lake that if a carp is caught estimated at 5lb+ during a match it is weighed, independently verified and returned immediately.
The same rule applies to pleasure anglers and in fairness, any large fish are immediately returned to the water anyway.
The video of that lovely barbel being mistreated is EXACTLY the ammunition the anti-fishing brigade want to prove their case.
The organisers of that match should have rules and a contingency plan in place should a large fish be caught.
 
Graham Elliott said:
Any member of Hereford Angling Club can raise the issue prior to the AGM. Even non members can make a comment on the FB page if they want and potentially that may lead to change.

They do have some restrictions. Such as 6 hours is the maximum you can use a Keepnet before having to empty it.

They also introduced a non braid hooklink rule a couple of years ago.

Heteford AC is one of the best run and baliffed waters in the Country IMO, but nothings perfect.

I don't think Mr Salters Godson at AT would envisage upsetting the Match fraternity.
Click to expand...
I read the club rules Grahame and it states must have adequate landing net which that obviously wasn’t
 
Terry Harman said:
I read the club rules Grahame and it states must have adequate landing net which that obviously wasn’t
Click to expand...
Actually says a "suitable" net I think. No idea what that means match fishing. I think anyone targeting barbel could pulled up with a net that size.

So that will always be debatable. As I say, this maybe could be changed to a minimum size usage.
 
Sounded as though the barbel was an unexpected catch, but, I thought match anglers had several landing nets at had, possibly he forgot his larger ones?

I wonder what rod he was using, it hardly bent lower than the top section!
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top