Cormorants on the rivers

[markcw]

Regarding cormorants and some commercial fisheries , you will see them come on ,but won't see them leave .
The ones that are raiding the rivers and fisheries somehow got lumped in with other species or cormorant as a protected species . It was a mistake that they won't rectify .
I was told this by a member of rspb at a game fair who is also an angler, and he is as unhappy about it as well

 

[Steve Arnold]

The barbel aren't under cormorant threat, so I would think in clear winter river conditions they will have a small window of activity around dark, on the small river some of us fish it is notably apparent barbel start moving around an hour before dark...I take it this must happen on most rivers at this time of year...

You may be right about the barbel moving at around dusk. But they harass barbel of a few pounds here on the Lot, I have caught several that size with the scars where the cormorant hooked beak has dug deep. I am pretty sure the damage to fins of chub and even 20lb+ carp has been caused by cormorants as well. Basically, if a cormorant sees it then it will strike!

 

[@Clive]

.....the extent to which cormorants actualy harm human interests is unclear. Some prey species are commercially valuable but the bulk of the cormorant's diet consists of species not valued by humans. And despite it's reputation for devouring fish, its daily food consumption relative to body mass is no greater than that for other fish-eating birds. To date no study has demonstrated that cormorants pose a threat to the survival of healthy fish populations in natural systems

I wonder what the author means by "fish not valued by humans"? The Dutch and other countries still farm and fish commercially for some coarse fish species. But, is angling and the angling economy considered?

She also seems to be classing fish by their commercial value, not the ecological impact of another predator affecting the whole situation.

 

[Alan Whitty]

You may be right about the barbel moving at around dusk. But they harass barbel of a few pounds here on the Lot, I have caught several that size with the scars where the cormorant hooked beak has dug deep. I am pretty sure the damage to fins of chub and even 20lb+ carp has been caused by cormorants as well. Basically, if a cormorant sees it then it will strike!

Definitely true, as they only have split seconds to grab their dinner, I've seen 2-3lb bream in a cormorants beak on the surface before the stupid bird realises it can't get the fish down and releases it, also on Grafham, several 2-3lb rainbows with cormorant beak marks...

 

[Ged28]

If anyone's in doubt of the size of fish they can eat there's a BBC springwatch video of one eating a salmon on the river Ness..

https://www.facebook.com/video.php?v=1087874651729219

I'm not suggesting this is typical, but shows their capabilities.

 

[Ged28]

If anyone's in doubt of the size of fish they can eat there's a BBC springwatch video of one eating a salmon on the river Ness..

I'm not suggesting this is typical, but shows their capabilities.

Edit
I tried to show the video but it won't allow me. A search for "cormorant eating salmon" should bring it up.

 

[wetthrough]

If anyone's in doubt of the size of fish they can eat there's a BBC springwatch video of one eating a salmon on the river Ness..

https://www.facebook.com/video.php?v=1087874651729219

I'm not suggesting this is typical, but shows their capabilities.

I read some time ago fish farm advice being if you have a cormorant problem stock fish 4lb or more.

 

[nottskev]

I read some time ago fish farm advice being if you have a cormorant problem stock fish 4lb or more.

Not easy if it's roach you want .....

 

[@Clive]

You may be right about the barbel moving at around dusk. But they harass barbel of a few pounds here on the Lot, I have caught several that size with the scars where the cormorant hooked beak has dug deep. I am pretty sure the damage to fins of chub and even 20lb+ carp has been caused by cormorants as well. Basically, if a cormorant sees it then it will strike!

Steve, my mate who fishes the Trent and Dearne at night often experiences large barbel rolling at night and sometimes during the day too. When it happens he usually gets a good result.

 

[nottskev]

Steve, my mate who fishes the Trent and Dearne at night often experiences large barbel rolling at night and sometimes during the day too. When it happens he usually gets a good result.

Same where I fish. Especially in summer. Biteless afternoon, then when you hear one or two crash out as the evening wears on, hang on to your rod.

 

[Steve Arnold]

Not easy if it's roach you want .....

I suspect the Cajarc barrage "lake" should have decent roach, but a roach of a pound is probably perfect size for a cormorant snack! With so many cormorants working this part of the Lot that might be an explanation for the lack of roach.

Having blamed the cormorants I cannot excuse the "anglers" as there are still a few old-timers that like to catch small roach and bleak. These old "dinosaurs" like to eat them tossed in flour and fried, I guess they will taste much the same as whitebait.

Very few of those old boys left fishing nowadays fortunately, the generation of anglers coming through now are mostly "no-kill" and even appreciate barbel as a sporting species.

The Lot used to be considered a top river for pike, but I do not think so now. I was talking to a local angler who was fishing a large rubber shad lure, he had caught a very good zander and returned it but was despondent about the lack of pike. I suspect there are still a few too many fishermen here that eat the pike, of course these pike are easy to catch and as a top predator there are not so many as the roach!

Anyway, those old boys have been choking on their brochet and gardon bones and have largely died off now. Hopefully the pike stocks will increase again, as long as the cormorants have left them some fodder species!

 

[@Clive]

There are far fewer fishing for roach over the last 12 years or so. It has diminished considerably and replaced by the carpistes who would rather make love to a carp than eat it, and lure anglers. I rarely see anyone fishing the grande canne these days. This is reflected in the policies of the departments of fishing. Carp and predator anglers used to complain that the old roach fishing commitee members were blocking the stocking of their chosen quarry at the expense of preserving the roach. Now it is totally reversed with 'No Fishing' reserves being created in carp spawning areas, more locations where night fishing for carp is allowed and the increasing stocking of black bass and other predators in lakes and rivers. It is also reflected in the shelves of Pacific Pêche where pole fishing tackle is in fifth place behind carp, predator, feeder and trout fishing tackle. There are two shelves dedicated to pole gear and whole sections stocked with carp & predator tackle.

When I first arrived here the local tackle shop had nothing for carp, feeder or float fishing with a running line. It was all roach poles, trout spinning and predators. Same in Decathlon.

 

[markcw]

When I was in Lymm AC . We made fish refuges for one of the waters , large circular wire frame ,covered with thick black pvc . These were placed in the the pool at various points, and pressed into the bottom of it . The fish could come and go from them .
Also lines were put across the pool to impede and cormorants from landing ot taking off .