Localised Bass stocks

[scallywag]

I'm in a bit of a dilema. I've found a mark that seams to have a population of large Bass, fish of 5lb plus. From this mark I've taken fish of 5 and 7 lbs, my mate has taken a fish of 8 1/2 lb and I've spooked even bigger fish. My question is this, will these fish be replaced by other large fish or if I keep visiting the same spot will I fish it out longer term? Are these big fish localised or just passing through? Now I know where these large fish hang out the temptation is to go there once a week to get my big fish fix (now my drug of choice!), but I don't want to spoil it and fish it out. Any opinion is welcome.

 

[dyl12321]

bass are very slow growers and takes a very long time to mature. the chances are you wont see many fish take there place for quite a few year.

I have been told bass don't start reproducing until they are around 5+ pounds not sure how true.

wont be easy keeping your self from going there all the time i know i would want to go there quite often.

 

[foxfish]

I think that is a difficult question to answer!

We do know that bass return to the same area each year to breed but, where they go at other times is a mystery.
Maybe not a complete mystery though, as some fish that were tagged in the breeding grounds around Guernsey were re captured 100s of miles away. However from the 1000 bass tagged only two or perhaps three were reported as recaptured. (there was a £100 reward for confirmation)


If you have found a good spot, it might be because the spot offers good conditions for feeding bass or perhaps a good resting spot or maybe a place where bass return each year at a certain time?

Who knows for sure... I would take what you conscience feels right to take... I cant think of another answer!

 

[jaymz]

as with most hunting since the dawn of time... Take what you need =]

 

[sunfish]

Hi Scallywag, over the years I've been thinking over the idea that the same bass return to the same bit of shoreline at certain times of the year. The old "homeground" if you like. In the summer of 2010 I got talking to an angler about this and he mentioned that he'd caught a double figure fish three times at a certain location in successive years. He recognized that fish by a slight deformity of it's lower tailfin.
On August the second of that year I caught a bass of 11lb 3oz at that spot. (It took FOM and second place in FOY). Here's a picture of it.

If you look at the lower tailfin it seems like the same fish. I'm convinced anyway.
My advice to you is enjoy mainly looking at and photographing your "biggies" and take one rarely. Respect to you on finding a special site. Look after it.

 

[scallywag]

Thanks for all your comments. As far as I'm aware only my dive partner and myself are aware of this spot. I think the way forward will be a self imposed catch limit. Mind you it'll be hard to impose when you're scratching around for 2/3 lb ers when you know that just 100 yards away there may be a monster lurking! Need to get into photography.

 

[jaymz]

Scally, you said you wanna get into photography, why dont you regularly visit the mark and take pics/videos (without exposing the mark obviously). That way, your making regular trips, getting to see big fish, and have it all on cam

Im really getting into filming with my gopro lately. Im going to order myself one of the new dive housing cases for it and start making proper videos of underwater life. Not even taking the gun

 

[scallywag]

You're right. I've got the latest olympus tough camera, I know its not ideal but its 10m waterproof, takes HD film and 14mp photos so it'll do for a start.

 

[jaymz]

That will do the job. Trick is with ubderwater photography is getting the light absolutley spot-on. I took over 400 underwater pics in egypt this summer and about 10 came out worthy of showing people. Over here it will be even tougher because of visibilty. Get googling

 

[Bass-Debater]

I’m not sure like others have said. Its hard to answer. I have a few thoughts I’l let you all decide if they make sense.

I personally think bass come back to the same spots over and over again. Having seen the same bass in the exact same spot on different days. Albeit in the same season though.

I’d have thought, if you continue to fish the same spot with out rest there will eventually be no bass there. Through a combination of the fish you take and the fish you spook.

They are there due to the likelihood of survival. Food must out way the risk of attack If the risk of predators attack / perceived attack is greater than the worth of the food then the fish will move on.

Its hard to quantify the amount of times a spearo should visit his spots. I try to only go once a week to the same spot. Sometimes I will go on two consecutive days, depending on the first day’s results.


The dilemma I’m having is. Is it a good/sustainable idea to take the largest fish Given that this fish has proved its ability to survive the longest? It must be the most adapt at survival it has bred and will likely breed successfully again. Will taking it out weaken the overall numbers compared to taking a plate sized fish?

Should we so called sustainable spearos not go trophy hunting? (I’m also guilty of this)

Bass

 

[tribs]

Hi All,

Just a thought. If you ever read the 'Lobster' threads, many expert spearos will tell of their 'hole'. This is a hole that, however many times they empty it of quality lobster they return to find it replenished. I have a crack that i return to for mullet and it has never been empty in 3 years. I believe that it is the quality of the ground that holds the fish. The strongest, largest fish will dominate the area taking the best tide/rest areas. If they are taken the ground and its resources are quickly utilised by the next in the pecking order, therefore the best fish will always repopulate an area if it offers them the greatest chance of meeting their basic needs.Would you stay in your house if the mansion up the road became available free of charge???
Only my 2p worth

Tribs

out

 

[sunfish]

Hi Tribs, I agree with you about the lobster holes but in my opinion this doesn't happen the same way with bass.
A few years ago I showed a good local spot to Donnachad and then Johnnybuoy. We fished it a bit and in my opinion the numbers did drop a bit but not too badly. We then took a couple of divers we'd only just met and a few weeks later when Donnachad went there he met one of these guys coming out of the water with seven fish.
This spot is now mostly barren except for a few small fish. It was one of the best local places before and indeed is where Dennis shot the largest bass in Deeper Blue's "Hall of Fame".
We don't share our bass spots easily anymore and I believe it will take years to recover, if it ever does.

 

[Bass-Debater]

Hi Tribs, I agree with you about the lobster holes but in my opinion this doesn't happen the same way with bass.
A few years ago I showed a good local spot to Donnachad and then Johnnybuoy. We fished it a bit and in my opinion the numbers did drop a bit but not too badly. We then took a couple of divers we'd only just met and a few weeks later when Donnachad went there he met one of these guys coming out of the water with seven fish.
This spot is now mostly barren except for a few small fish. It was one of the best local places before and indeed is where Dennis shot the largest bass in Deeper Blue's "Hall of Fame".
We don't share our bass spots easily anymore and I believe it will take years to recover, if it ever does.

The reason it works for lobster could be that commercial fishermen target a specific size lobster. The larger ones can't get into the pots.

I can understand the logic tribs is using but I can only see it working if there is an endless supply of bass to fill the spot. Even if this did hold true. The fish size would decrease each time you killed the biggest.

I agree with Sunfish I think it will take years for the spot to recover.

 

[sjurba]

Possibly not relevant though,but in Norway we have seen a distinct drop in the size of antlers on elk due to trophy hunting,if I remember correctly there is a ban/strong suggestion to leave the biggest males nowadays.

 

[johnnybuoy]

I totally agree with that sunfish. I havnt been there in nearly 2 years but it certainly wasn't fishing well on my last dive there. I remember seeing 100 plus bass in one shoal. Amazing sight!! I think bass do return but not if the place is targeted constantly. They are starting to show up more now on the northern Coastal areas.

 

[scallywag]

Considering all the opinions voiced I feel the way forward is to look after the mark and take fish sparingly. The area seams to be either a resting place where the big fish sun themselves after a feed or it may be a breeding/spawning ground. Its quite different to the surounding area with a corse gravel/small stone bottom and medium sized rocks with no weed, in only a few feet of water. I think I need to study the life cycle of the fish so I can understand more what I'm dealing with. Every day's a school day!

 

[Bass-Debater]

Considering all the opinions voiced I feel the way forward is to look after the mark and take fish sparingly. The area seams to be either a resting place where the big fish sun themselves after a feed or it may be a breeding/spawning ground. Its quite different to the surounding area with a corse gravel/small stone bottom and medium sized rocks with no weed, in only a few feet of water. I think I need to study the life cycle of the fish so I can understand more what I'm dealing with. Every day's a school day!

Nice attitude mate.

 

[jowens94073]

hey . im very new to this online forum . just reading scallywags posts. i too have the this same question about catching the bigger fish in the same area. ive seen the same big bass i beleive on 3 out of 5 times ive been to this spot. maybe it wasnt him or her ! but the very same patch has fish relaxing on the same tide , everytime. its about 1 -2 meters deep. very kelpy. i read this thread a while ago and have been corcious about shooting the biggins. ive taken i few for family meals and they were beautys