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26 March 2005
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Under sized fish
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It was probably twenty minutes before it gave up trying and made one last desperate run for freedom with a jump to signal it’s distress. It was obviously irritated. The sea run brown trout had cruised by me several times and even tried to pass between my legs at one point causing slight worry for me. For a time, here and there, several bow waves showed as it darted and swam around held fast by my home made fly named the “rather ugly looking fly over a glass of Tullamore Dew”. (For those of you that read my previous article, you’ll know what I am talking about).
Back to the story - I wasn’t smart enough to anticipate it’s final move for freedom as it glided into my net displaying a silver coat, the Danish badge of the salt. As I lifted the net and held my rod at the same time, the trout flipped and plopped out of the net causing my tippet to tangle in the mesh. One last splash and…SNAP. The trout gently cruised away. It actually swam in a circle around me I might add, rubbing salt into my damaged ego. I stood in cold saltwater, as I had been for most of the day, a wet foot from some leakage, without anything else to ponder over, thinking how the hell all that happened. I was pleased in some microscopic way. For those that know me, I release everything I catch. Long gone are the days when I had to drag a once beautiful but now rather dull fish home to brag and prove that I caught something.
Earlier today, apart from being rainy and dull, I witnessed two German anglers carry away 3 rather small sea trout - clearly under the size limit. I cannot understand the mentality of some anglers. Apart from taking their car registration plate number and reporting them, I tried to explain, which I seem to be doing a lot lately, the size limit rules in force in Denmark.
I might as well of been from Jupiter. They cursed and raved in German, which could only be translated politely as “mind your own business you no good for nothing bald headed wet footed toffee nose butler weed”.
Don’t get me wrong - I am not against sharing the delights of the Danish silver torpedo or any other species that is over the legal size limit with any Nationality, but when I witness acts of disrespect and ignorance as I seem to be more and more the last 2 years, I can’t help but breed hatred towards those that think they are above the law. I just wish there was something that could be done to stop this.
Even if those at fault wanted to make a statement – and a rather pubescent male one at that like mine is bigger than yours – we are left with a rather stale example of modern angling culture and what will become of our waters?
Please, please if you are planning on angling in another country – Respect the rules and regulations as laid out by law or other authorities and follow them.
A last word…
I managed to get through winter with no illness even if there’s “something going around”. Everyone’s heard that phrase time and time again at it seems to only effect’s us humans. All living organisms suffer but nothing about this touches the human world until it reaches epidemic proportions.
Fish die. Old age, accidents, disease or being played to death by some over zealous angler, or bagged up under size, under weight with little respect.
ENUFF SAID.
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