Cod Poll Results

The Cod Poll on the Boat Angling web site has built a nice little picture of our local cod catches this season so far, and the statistics are very pleasing. The majority of returns show more cod this year than previous years, some reporting smaller sizes, others similar sizes. This picture is backed up by reports from our neighbours fishing the Needles to Poole marks, and the sample of reports on web sites all indicate reasonably good catches but few of the sizes that were once common. In a few more years maybe the 6 to 8 pounders swimming around now will have filled out a bit. Thank you to those that have helped with the poll.

Guys from the Scottish Sea Angling Conservation Network have contacted me to spread the word on their work to increase the (voluntary) size limits for fish taken for the pot, which seems a good idea. This is to align the limits to the maturity of the fish so they have a better chance of growing big enough to breed: the recommended minimum size for cod is 50cm. More details will be posted on the Boat Angling web site soon.