Going fishing soon

Nice quiet afternoon, wind okay, no seaweed.  I'm off after my dozen herring (bag limit).  Hope I don't catch any Southern Gharfish as it will be a banned bycatch that I will try to return with minimum trauma to the ocean.

Still worried that they will be harmed as I try to return them.  Scales come off when handled and they often swallow the hook and have to be put down to retrieve the hook. I'm not throwing dead fish back into the water as there is a nearby swimming beach.  I will have to throw them in the bin as I leave the beach.

Please support a raise of ban to 6 per fisher.  Still think this will allow stocks to replenish and stop returning harmed Gharfish to the ocean.

I should add that I would rather eat Gharfish than herring.  I have worked out a way to fillet them that leaves a nice splayed fillet with no bones. I don't use the bottle rolling method.  Just need a sharp thin bladed filleting knife. Best to fillet after the have been gutted and left in there fridge for the meat to set.

Every voice makes a difference.  Raise the ban too 6 per fisher.

May the Force be with you!


GD

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