Angling enthusiasts in the UK are being encouraged to temporarily put down their fishing rods to put forward their ideas on how the European Union's Common Fisheries Policy can be reformed.

The World Wildlife Fund (WWF) is inviting anglers, as well as students and entrepreneurs, to make suggestions for new fishing gear that could reduce the number of discards and avoid species being caught accidentally.

"Discards occur for a number of reasons including legal constraints on landings, commercial choice and insufficient selectivity in the fishing gear used," explained WWF-UK fisheries policy officer Giles Bartlett.

He added: "We look forward to seeing many entries from the UK."

First launched in 2004, this year's competition will award $30,000 (£18,500) to the best idea and is also offering runner-up prizes of $10,000.

The total discards among the world's fisheries weigh 7.3 tonnes, accounting for eight per cent of the total recorded catch, according to United Nations estimates.

Anglers may have their attention on the news rather than on their fishing rods tomorrow (February 29th) when a verdict on the future of fishing discards is expected.

The European Union's (EU's) controversial policy has divided the opinions of many in the industry and Scottish Fisheries secretary Richard Lochhead has written to the EU Fisheries Commissioner Maria Damanaki ahead of the announcement, the Press Association reports.

In the letter, Mr Lochhead claimed that fish discards had been reduced in Scottish waters "at a faster rate than anywhere else in the EU" and urged the organisation to follow the country's example.

"I welcome that a process is finally under way to address the problem," he added.

The Scottish government has also joined campaigns for a solution to the policy.

Last week, members of the National Federation of Fishermen's Organisations offered Hugh Fearnley-Whittingstall advice on how to implement the changes he called for regarding to discards policy.

A new measure has been put in place near Tewkesbury to benefit elvers and eels, whose scarce population may have been impacted by anglers who use their fishing lures to entice them.

The Environment Agency has replaced a flap gate that restricted the movement of the species with a 'fish and eel friendly' version on the Mythe Brook outfall, which links to the River Severn.

The operation's senior technical specialist Charles Crundwell said he would be monitoring the recent installation to see if it would assist the movement of eels in the water.

"My initial thoughts are that it will work very well for fish, allowing them to move more easily around the river and its tributaries and will be particularly important to eels getting to the best habitat," he added.

Such initiatives intend to address the short supply of elvers across Europe, where the population of the species has decreased by an estimated 95 per cent.

Overfishing, as well as many other factors, has played a part in the plight of eels on the continent, expert Professor Peter Maitland told the Scotsman today (February 21st).

One angler used his fishing rod to bag an impressive haul in spite of last weekend's gales.

Fishing short was the secret of Jon Whincup's Decoy Lakes match victory amid strong winds, reports the Angling Times.

"The wind was absolutely horrendous," he told the publication, adding that "even fishing at seven metres was hard going because it was impossible to present a bait all that well".

Mr Whincup alternated between single and double reds as he fed maggots by hand.

The angler caught many different species from both swims but he only really began to enjoy a run of success in the contest's final hour, when he used a four-metre line to scoop some large F1 hybrids, leading him to a 74-12-0 triumph – finishing well ahead of runner-up Nigel Baxter.

Last week, the publication speculated on financial troubles facing match-fishing anglers, reporting that many are cutting down the number of festivals they attend.

One publication is calling on British anglers to briefly put down their fishing rods and join a new campaign.

The Savay Lake in Buckinghamshire is due to close to make way for the proposed Birmingham-London high-speed rail link and the Angling Times is supporting a petition urging the government to reconsider.

Tackle company owner Martin Locke told the publication that the lake "is quite simply the most stunning place I've ever fished", stating "it must be saved" and joining calls for anglers to add their names the petition, which has acquired over 30,000 signatures.

According to the document, such plans were originally announced by the previous government and would have cost £11 billion to implement.

The rail link will now amount to £25.5 billion, based on current estimations.

Last week, the Angling Times threw its weight behind an awareness campaign to highlight the threats of hydropower, cormorants and poaching to the industry.

The memorial sea fishing match for Barry Tweddle – who died tragically in March last year – saw a large turnout of sea fishing enthusiasts last weekend.

Overall, 427 participants took part in the event, with fishing tackle manufacturers Mustad of Norway awarding the match their prestigious Golden Hook, the Sunday Sun reports.

Trevor 'Doppa' Ferry bagged the first place with 11 flounders weighing a total of 11lb 1oz, while Tony Rutherford took second place on the day with a catch of 9lb 12oz of flounder caught at Blyth Beach.

Elsewhere, the Wiltshire Times recently reported that Tony Gilbert last week won the Wilts Angling Open at Hordle Lakes.

His total catch of 44lb 4oz of carp was enough to take the first prize at the event, with Pete Neate of Holt coming in second with 42lb 6oz, followed by Matt Skyrme of Trowbridge in third with 31lb 4oz.
 

The Crusader took to the waters earlier this week off the Plymouth coast to enable enthusiastic anglers a spot of sea fishing.

According to local publication The Herald, the top-weight Pollack caught on the day was 21lb 6oz and was hooked by Steve Webber of Plymouth Angling.

The largest catch of the day, however, was by Mike Bennett of Estover, who bagged a 32lb 4oz ling, while a plethora of bottom feeders including squid and mackerel were hooked by the fishermen during their day on the waters.

Skipper Richard Matthews took the vessel out as part of the ongoing winter wreck fishing season, with further jaunts expected in the coming weeks.

Meanwhile, the Yorkshire Post recently reported many angling competitions are set to get underway in the region now the freezing weather of recent weeks seems to have passed and waterways are thawing once more.

This comes at a time when significant fish deaths were reported in the region due to the poor weather of late.

Fresh versus frozen bait is an argument that has faced fishermen for years, with many believing there is no substitute for fresh to catch the biggest and best fish.

However, Journal Live reports that Dennis Stewart of Corbridge was able to catch a pair of 2.5lb Codling while sea fishing in a competition at Dunstanburgh using three-year-old mackerel that he had kept in the freezer and that was starting to turn yellow.

Mr Stewart had little luck earlier in the day, casting with more traditional baits, but found that the older stuff really did the trick, even if it may have been just for that day.

Meanwhile, the Fenland Citizen recently reported that anglers on the Old Nene in Ramsey were able to put to bed rumours that the spot might be past its best by hooking some significant catches last week.

Danny Mason with 23lb 7oz took home the biggest total catch of the day, pipping runner-up Dave Priestley with 22lb 13oz.
 

Individuals interested in sea fishing might be interested to learn that the Marine Conservation Zone (MCZ) Project Board has agreed extensions for the four regional MCZs to deliver their responsibilities.

Third progress reports will now be due by February 28th 2011, while June 1st will see feedback provided by the Science Advisory Panel.

August 31st is the new deadline for MCZs to deliver final recommendations and September 30th will see the final delivery of cumulative impact assessments, while November 30th is when the Statutory Nature Conservation Bodies must deliver its final report to government.

This new timetable will provide added time for the MCZs to carry out their work properly, meaning future sustainability could be improved for sea fishing enthusiasts.

"I'm delighted that the Board has agreed extra time to enable the regional projects to complete their MCZ recommendations and impact assessments," James Marsden, chair of the Project Board, said.

A pair of Essex anglers were in luck when they took their sea fishing rods out of storage to catch some gargantuan cod earlier this week.

Sea Angler reports Mick Toomer and Graham Pitching were able to hook a brace of stunning specimens while sea fishing off the Sussex coast – the biggest of which weighing in at 20lb 8oz.

The pair were having little fortune with their original tactic of fishing on the bottom, but when they changed to using a lure the bites started to come thick and fast.

Meanwhile, the Fenland Citizen recently reported that following a thaw in the frosty weather being seen across the UK, anglers in Cambridgeshire were able to get out the rods and take part in competitions again last weekend.

Barry Mason from March had one of the highlights of the weekend's events, catching 17lb 12oz in total of assorted fish in a competition at Townsend Lakes at Upwell.