The ACA, which is a Facebook grouping of crucian enthusiasts, got together recently to hold a fish-in at Godalming Angling Society’s prestigious Marsh Farm fishery in Surrey. Some good crucians to 2lb12ozs were landed by the group which included angling artist Chris Turnbull and the Angling Trust’s Martin Salter, both founding members of NCCP. Top specialist anglers Josh Fisher and Tony King also attended.
A cracking brace of Rockland’s Mere crucian
The plan for a ‘Catch a Crucian Weekend’ came from Chris Netto, crucian enthusiast and organiser of the ACA fish-in. The idea is to create awareness of crucians as a species; to encourage crucian fishing and to promote fisheries where true strains of crucians can be found. The group will be seeking sponsors from the tackle trade so that prizes can be offered to those who catch notable fish over the designated weekend. There will be a number of categories designed to maximise participation including best fish by junior angler, best photo, best first ever crucian, best family fishing shot and largest crucian caught.
The event will be held on the first weekend in June 2016 (4 and 5th) with the backing of the Angling Trust and the NCCP. It is hoped it will become an annual event where crucians like the specimen held by Jim Burdett, below, make a good showing.
Explaining the idea behind the scheme Chris Netto said:
“Our ‘Catch a Crucian Weekend’ will bring some angling focus back onto this smaller, much-loved species. We hope it will help to send a message to fisheries, clubs and tackle makers that to many anglers a specimen fish that weighs under 4lbs is both an ambition and an achievement, and that catering for these needs can be commercially viable. We also hope to raise awareness of crucians through improved identification standards, as many anglers believe they have caught a true crucian when in fact it may well be a goldfish hybrid or a much-stocked F1.”
Chris Turnbull added:
“Now that too many fisheries in England are going over to stocking with king carp, traditional angling for a variety of species is in danger of becoming a thing of the past. How good it is then, to see increasing numbers of anglers saying enough is enough and working towards promoting one of angling’s most beautiful but potentially endangered species. With numerous fishing clubs and commercial fisheries gradually waking up to the potential of creating ‘true cru’ fisheries, we hope that there can still be a bright future for crucians and that the joys of traditional still water angling will not end up becoming a thing of the past.”
The idea has already secured the support of some the leading figures in angling including wildlife filmmaker and keen crucian angler Hugh Miles.
Hugh Miles said:
‘It is excellent news that the delightful crucian is receiving this boost in conservation initiatives and profile, for pure strain crucians are an increasingly rare part of Britain’s wildlife diversity and epitomise traditional angling values and those dwindling ponds in which they thrive.’
Speaking on the wider aspects of crucian conservation Martin Salter, National Campaign Coordinator for the Angling Trust said:
“When we set up the National Crucian Conservation Project last year we didn’t realise just how much it would capture the imagination of anglers. We now have a thriving Facebook group, a growing list of waters where true cru’s can be found, a new crucian ID guide to help with rooting out unwanted hybridisation, targeted stockings of crucians by the EA from their Calverton fish farm and more and more clubs committed to restoring crucian habitat and developing bespoke crucian fisheries.”
