There has been a lot of negativity about bass stocks and the state of the fishery over the last year. I have become friends with a number of commercial hook bass fishermen over the years and the word I am hearing from across the west is that the size of the shoals on the reefs are larger than we have seen for a good few years. Make of it what you may, I will just enjoy myself while it lasts.
This is great news and will hopefully encourage UK bass fishermen to get out there and fish hard for bass in 2016. We should not talk ourselves out of bass fishing just because elements of EU/UK fisheries policy understandably disappoint us right now. We have seen more positive steps to preserve bass stocks in the last 3 years than we would have imagined possible. The minimum landing size has increased. Commercial catches are now capped for the first time ever. The pair trawling fleet has been closed for 2 years and we have not encountered a cold winter for 4 or 5 years , so future stocks may well be receiving a much needed boost right now.
I need to put the negativity behind me and get back to doing what I love so deeply and that is fish for bass in Cornwall and preferably with a 9 weight fly rod in my hand!
For the first time in years my diary has spaces on prime tides in prime months. Please don’t let these golden tides slip away. Its just too much fun out there not to be out there fishing for them.
Cheers
Austen Goldsmith www.Bassfishingcornwall.com
