Six huge barbel abused for publicity pictures and a video. The Thames Six

[Hallbo1]

I am rarely shocked but I was sent pictures and a video that were recently posted on Facebook of six large double figure barbel being shown off to an admiring public and it genuinely disgusted me.

They were laid out on a sheet and it was clear that they had been retained for a considerable time before being dragged around while gasping for life to take publicity pictures and a video.

The name of the individual is Justin Austin and the post was I believe on the River Thames Carp and Barbel Society page.

Hopefully the group will want to comment on the matter.

If someone says 'Lessons have been learned' or 'it will not happen again' needs to look again at what occurred and if they cannot understand the issues they need to ask their fishing club secretary for a response. It seems that other videos are available that show big carp being treated badly too.

What would Danny Fairbrass say if one his fisheries lost several fish because they were abused?

Every club does need to be aware of this matter and I personally hope that he is banned from fishing for life. His actions were indefensible and anyone who tries to justify what occurred needs to seriously consider their own reasons for fishing.

I am not complaining out of jealousy. I am complaining because his offensive and ignorant post showed multiple double figure barbel in serious distress and he clearly had little understanding of what he had done, and he did not care.

Every fishery owner and club should be concerned at this person’s actions. Barbel are scarce and they take long while to grow to double figure size. People will see these images and assume that it is okay to retain large fish.

Posting the images was not only stupid but it was also a challenge to other people to post a better picture and killing barbel poses a long term replacement issue. You do not press reset and start again. Once they are gone they are gone.

Let’s hope there are some decent anglers out there who will know him and let their clubs and syndicates know the risk that he poses and throw him out.

Horrific images and videos like these are also a great benefit to the anti brigade and we do need to respond effectively to such events.

I have not posted the pictures and the video because they are quite offensive.

 

[The Sogster]

I saw this t'other day. Not a good image today but acceptable when I was a boy and attitudes were different.
But while ever retaining slings are marketed at barbel anglers I'm afraid it will continue.

Do you have any evidence apart from your indignation that any of the fish died because of his actions?

 

[Hallbo1]

Hello Sogster

Most genuine anglers would find the incident shocking and find it hard to justify why it occurred.

When I was a boy a lot of things were acceptable but they are not allowed now and it is not about killing the fish.

The barbel were in serious distress and it was preventable.

Retaining barbel has never been acceptable and doing it to feed his ego and very likely his bank balance was wrong.

What is known is that six double figure barbel were retained in a keep net or a sack that was tied to the bank of the river or tied over the side of a boat. The current would push them up to the surface and the netting or material would wrap around them which would affect their breathing.

Now close your eyes and picture the situation as each fish was caught before it was put into a carp sack or a net, and then consider the distress that each fish would suffer.

Now open your eyes and do you think what occurred was okay?

 

[Alan Whitty]

Do you know I often am loathe to take a picture or weigh a fish that years ago I would have kissed the devil for years ago,a barbel,unless it's on certain venues would barely entertain a photo,I take it these fish were retained for purpose of the picture,something that worries me greatly,often a big fish would be rested between capture,weighing,photographing(if I bother with the last two),I normally only take one picture,often on the mat if nobody is about,usually deleting it after either posting it here,or showing close mates mates,it's my memories and pleasure these fish have given me and they deserve every chance of surviving seeing me...

 

[Hallbo1]

Hello Alan
I am like you and most of the time it is a private moment between me and the fish that I have tried to catch and finally achieved my goal of landing it.

Of course it nice to show your friends but the welfare of the fish is the priority and people who fish with me have a similar attitude.

The video is a nasty and I have been contacted by other anglers through my club and it seems that there are other videos involving very large carp.

Every fishing show and magazine emphasises the importance of fish welfare but the message is just not getting through and we need better enforcement to protect our sport. The easiest way is for clubs to ban members who do such disgraceful things.

 

[The Sogster]

Hallbo1, my eyes are open.
I haven't condoned the guy. Read my second sentence.

According to you the fish were either in a sack or maybe a net and pegged to the bank or a boat. Pure conjecture and rumours.
So which was it?

Again I ask, how many fish did he kill?

 

[mikench]

It smacks of the current craze for outlandish if not bellicose description of fishing in the media. Carp wars and Monster carp are just two examples. When did carp become monsters and how is their pursuit a war. Throw in imbecilic presenters like Dean Macy and Hamidi giggling like drunken mates on a lark and you have this deplorable form of presentation given an air of respectability to the morons who like it. Is it any wonder that the unfavourable scrutiny by the non angling public leads to the clarion call to ban the sport.

 

[Hallbo1]

Sorry Sogs
Just because you can buy something it does not mean that you should use it.

If the advert says that it is for barbel it does not mean that it is actually fit for purpose any genuine angler would understand the issues.

We all know what is right or wrong and best practice for dealing with fish welfare is to let them recover in the river after a fight. I personally use my net which is very deep and I will stay and hold it up if necessary with it while it recovers. That is not achievable with six fish and then later leaving them flapping on the bank while you set up your camera etc is reckless.

 

[The Sogster]

Sorry Hallbo1,
Angling stores, ebay and some companies manufacture or sell lots of products I wouldn't deem fit for purpose.
But I don't expect every angler to have the experience or knowledge to know that, unlike yourself.

Anyone can buy a licence and some tackle and go fishing regardless of level of knowledge or skill.

 

[@Clive]

Like Sogster I am dubious about your second paragraph. Stick to the facts, not conjecture and your points will carry more weight.

Any opinion about the way that fish are unnecessarily treated is personal and there are no regulations in place preventing the temporary retention of coarse fish. If you have a beef about this person I suggest that you deal with it as a personal matter.

 

[The Sogster]

Couldn't agree more.
Bans for life, black balling from current and future clubs smacks of 'cancel culture' to me.
The only thing you haven't mentioned are wanted posters.

Instead do your part by not further publicising the guy and educating/advising any inexperienced anglers you meet.

 

[Alan Whitty]

How do you know how many,or if any barbel died,when you keep barbel,then have them out of the water too long then barbel can swim off and then turn belly up,even many hours later,that is why your supposed to rest them properly before release,yesterday I spent longer resting fish than fishing....

 

[Hallbo1]

I was sent pictures and a video of the incident and my post was to highlight the issues surround him retaining fish and causing them distress..

I do not agree with what he did and if others think it was okay then there is a bigger problem than I thought.

Calling someone out for endangering barbel could be deemed personal but how would you raise the issue

Make vague remarks and hope that someone followed up the post?

Arguing that you can buy a specialised sack does not mean it is fit for purpose and anyone with common sense should see or question the issues of putting a fish into something that restricted its breathing.

You are right and I do not know what occurred before the fish were landed. Was he fishing six rods and had six takes at the same time?

What I can say is that it is highly likely that this person put six fish into something that was possibly poorly designed for one or how else were they retained.

The pictures confirm that he then laid them out for a considerable time while he had pictures and a video taken

Some people may have completely missed the point of the post or they may agree with what he has done.

If they think it was acceptable then they should explain why.

 

[@Clive]

You said that it was clear that they had been retained for a considerable time. How do you know that and what do you define as considerable?

Take your complaint to the owner of the fishery and stop trying to raise a posse.

 

[Hallbo1]

Hello Clive,
It is clear that you are more into the semantics of the argument than the reason for the post.

The fish's welfare is the priority and retaining them without good reason is not acceptable

If you have ever caught a double figure barbel you would know that it can take quite a while to land. The recovery for the fish can also take a long while and it is not about throwing it into a sack and ignoring it. You may have to hold it upright until it recovers enough to hold its own in the current. Let's call it fifteen minutes.

You then cast out and get a bite within five minutes and it is then another fifteen minutes playing and helping it recover. We are now at thirty five minutes from the capture of the first fish that may have recovered but "oh no" the mesh has wrapped around the fish and it is having difficulties. You put it into the sack and now you have two barbel that need help recovering.

Would you leave them to suffer or look after their welfare?

It seems that he continued fishing and had four more. The condition of the fish has not been confirmed but he then laid them out in the sun for publicity pics.

You may see that as trivial and the implication is that if not mentioned or highlighted that it was okay but that is your opinion and I hope that is a minority view.

I have said that it was wrong and made my argument based upon the welfare of the fish and best practice.

It is your right to challenge me but please base it upon the point of the post which was:

1. Is it acceptable to retain barbel.

2. Do publicity needs outweigh the welfare needs of the fish?

It was a great angling feat but the whole event was flawed because of the need to have multiple fish in the pictures. If he had posted a pictures of individual fish there would not have been problem.

You are right about the fishery owner and it was his livelihood that was at risk but until that is disclosed who do you tell?

I assume that you have seen or can at least comprehend the images that were posted so what would your response have been, were his actions acceptable?

 

[@Clive]

You obviously have an agenda. I won't be bothering you again.

 

[Alan Whitty]

There is no suitable method to retain barbel,as has been said 6 double figure barbel would be a highly unlikely occurance within one hour,simply not acceptable,in any circumstances,ever,full stop...great catch,not good practice.
As for publicity,some vain angler that,look at what I've caught,aren't I brilliant,really his actions would lead to a ban by many clubs I am and was a member of....

 

[Philip]

We all have a duty to treat fish with respect but you have to wonder when anglers champion fish welfare too vociferously whether they should be questioning their own motives as to why they go fishing in the first place.

 

[Telboy63]

Anyone who finds this acceptable in barbel fishing regardless of the circumstances or wether fished survived or not … needs to have a very serious word with there selves and maybe take up golf

 

[@Clive]

We all have a duty to treat fish with respect but you have to wonder when anglers champion fish welfare too vociferously whether they should be questioning their own motives as to why they go fishing in the first place.

Its the Barbel Police. If they are so outraged then they should report it to the fishery owner and not do their dirty washing on here.