Dead pike have been found in Oulton Broad
Investigation launched after dead pike found in Oulton Broad
Anthony Carroll, Senior reporter
Monday, February 28, 2011
3:45 PM
Following reports from anglers of the deaths of several large pike in Oulton Broad in February, Environment Agency fisheries officers recovered the bodies of three pike from the northern area of the Broad.
One of the fish recovered was exceptionally large, weighing in at more than 30lbs.
The cause of the deaths still remains unresolved.
The Environment Agency is working closely with the pike angling community to assess a range of factors that could be playing a part in what many pike anglers believe to be a decline in the stocks of pike in the Broads.
Steve Lane, Fisheries Technical Specialist at the Environment Agency said: “We are working closely with the Broads Angling Strategy Group (BASG) to assess the current status of the pike population and examine a range of factors that may be adversely affecting the fishery.
“We are looking at a range of potential projects to help us gain more information on the pike population.
“In particular we are considering an innovative pike tagging project which will enable anglers fishing the Broads to help in the study of stock levels by directly reporting catch information to us.
BASG chairman and Regional Pike Angler’s Club of Great Britain officer John Currie said: “While there currently is no evidence to establish the cause of death of these fish, I would urge all anglers to help us protect pike stocks by ensuring they use the correct handling techniques and proper equipment at all times when pike fishing.
“Large pike in particular are very fragile and need to be handled very carefully.
“Many of the popular fishing banks around Oulton Broad are concrete or like a road surface and in these situations, a good quality unhooking mat is an essential piece of equipment”.
Anglers are urged to report signs of dead fish, fish in distress, pollution or suspected illegal activities by phoning the Environment Agency 24 hour hot line number 0800 80 70 60.
Latest News
Other News Articles
- Norfolk’s expertise makes it the ‘ideal’ location for a research and development centre
- Care centre’s name chosen
- UPDATE: Three arrested following suspicious death in Great Yarmouth
- Future of Costessey’s Beechcroft Surgery discussed at meeting
- Search is on for inspiring young people in Norfolk and Suffolk
- Lowestoft dentist dies
- Lound woman’s brave parachute jump
- Lowestoft’s Marina Theatre celebrates major refurbishment funding
- Save our Reydon youth club plea
- Concern about consultation on post office service in Beccles shop
- £4m savings from Norfolk and Suffolk mental health merger
- Heart health money for Yarmouth
- Composer writes fanfare for new Norwich bridge
- UPDATE & PICTURE GALLERY: Costessey blaze was “accidental”
- Wind farms at Chiplow and Stanhoe granted planning permission today after energy companies win appeals
Most Read News Stories See all
GALLERY: Celtic fans in Norwich in force for Adam Drury testimonial
Supporters of Scottish champions Celtic are in Norwich ahead of the Adam Drury testimonial game tonight.
- Ambulance called to Norwich pub after Celtic supporter suffers minor head injury
- Family of footballer fighting for his life after crash near Norwich ‘touched and overwhelmed’ by messages of support
- Norwich-born businessman Matthew Newbury to appear on tonight’s Secret Millionaire programme
- Entries open for fourth Breckland photography competition
- UPDATE & PICTURE GALLERY: Costessey blaze was “accidental”
Travel News
11 comments
First of all,I love fishing but never go pike fishing.I am against the use of live bait and trble barbed hooks but that is me.Last year we were on holiday on the Broads and went up river from Wroxham to Coltishall in our little day boat and we saw 4 smallish cruisers all trolling for pike.I reported what I had seen along with the boats registration numbers but did not even get any reply.Each of the boats had 3 rods hanging over the stern.These were private boats so we cannot blame visitors all the time.
Report this comment
john kendall
Saturday, March 5, 2011
personally I don't fish for pike, I never use a wire trace and never use treble hooks. But I have seen pike follow the fish I have on the hook. I also use barbless hooks as this makes it more of a sport to catch the fish as it has the chance to throw the hook. I would also like to see a ban on barbed hooks. Lets make fishing a sport again, not a sit and let the fish hook it's self and cant throw the hook.
Report this comment
AJC
Thursday, March 3, 2011
There is no doubt that Broadlands Pike are under a huge pressure and if things carry on as they are they will be hunted to almost extinction. The EA needs to take some radical action before its too late, and also enforce the current laws like trolling from the back of motorised boats which goes on regularly. John Goble's 45lb 8oz from the Thurne system looks like it might have been the springboard that will eventually cause the demise of the Broadland Pike.
Report this comment
chucky noris
Wednesday, March 2, 2011
I am sure there is a pun in there somewhere.
Report this comment
NchNthMan
Tuesday, March 1, 2011
Some extra good points made there Ingo, I hope the waters are checked reguarly but I guess that's more like wishful thinking. Anglia Water do test water quality for water that has been cleaned to go back into the rivers, one of those tests involves very young trout. That doesn't cover the water already in the river though and today farmers use millions of gallons of chemicals on farm land that is road edge to road edge, river bed to river bed, which of course does go into the water. We have a well water test kit as you might assume well water would be safe, in my case, for animals to drink, but as there is an arable field about 30m away we have to test it. Crop spraying is apprantly safe, although the health and safety executive say that when used correctly, which leaves a barn door open, they also say cancers and tumours occured in mice only when very high levels were used, so for them that doesn't mean it has an ill effect or is cancerous, but for me it means exactly that. And of course it could be none of anything any of us have said! But it wouldn't hurt not to catch, kill, or pump loads of pollution, chemicals into the environment either!
Report this comment
Jason Bunn
Tuesday, March 1, 2011
Is it the anglers that are impacting on the pike fisheries or is there another explanation, exc eptional run off from framland, agricultural pollutants? Are these pike going to be exhumed and analised by the relevant caring bodies?
Report this comment
ingo wagenknecht
Tuesday, March 1, 2011
Appallingly bad bite indication, linked with the ability of anglers to fish from a boat within a circle of far placed baits at all four points of the compass must be taking its toll on the pike population. A return to the two rod rule is a must, and a huge improvement in bite indication, even by experienced anglers, has to be the way forward. We have lost rather more than three specimen pike off Oulton Broad in recent years.
Report this comment
peter waller
Tuesday, March 1, 2011
I must agree with John and Jason. It has long been known that there seems to be a complete imbalance of fish in the Broads and as Jason and John point out you usually don’t have to look any further than man. The poor Broadland Pike have become commercialised are being used to attract vast numbers of predator angers to these waters for financial gain. This simply can’t go on and will eventually have a flow through affect and eventually cause a decline in all species. These fish cannot and I repeat cannot survive being continually caught time after time with what amounts to barbaric tackle namely treble hooks and wire traces. I agree that the Pike season should be shortened and a ban on using treble hooks should be introduced forthwith otherwise they aren’t going to be here much longer.
Report this comment
chucky noris
Monday, February 28, 2011
Or we just stop fishing and all other hunting until stocks have increased or even recovered, most of the time when animal numbers drop, our species points the finger at everything else when in reality they don't have to look any further than the ends of their own noses, fish numbers, well that must be Sammy the seal or comorants, decline in song birds, well that must be magpies, crows etc etc etc etc. nothing to do with intensive farming, pointless lowland conservation is it you numpties!?!?! Real answer: IT IS US! or should I say, IT IS YOU! Beware of the call to cull comorants and magpies coming from Viscount Coke head who is something to do with Songbird Survival Trust as they have no idea what they are talking about.
Report this comment
Jason Bunn
Monday, February 28, 2011
Or we just stop fishing and all other hunting until stocks have increased or even recovered, most of the time when animal numbers drop, our species points the finger at everything else when in reality they don't have to look any further than the ends of their own noses, fish numbers, well that must be Sammy the seal or comorants, decline in song birds, well that must be magpies, crows etc etc etc etc. nothing to do with intensive farming, pointless lowland conservation is it you numpties!?!?! Real answer: IT IS US! or should I say, IT IS YOU! Beware of the call to cull comorants and magpies coming from Viscount Coke head who is something to do with Songbird Survival Trust as they have no idea what they are talking about.
Report this comment
Jason Bunn
Monday, February 28, 2011
My feelings are that the Pike are under too much pressure. A while back the only time anglers used to fish for Essox was during the winter months now its right through the season and by many more anglers. And of course you now have more guides on the Broads who take anglers from all over the country on regular trips catching Pike. I have no doubt whatsoever the same Pike are being caught time and time again until they eventually die. The time has come to give this species much more protection and limit the season for Pike angling.
Report this comment
John L Norton
Monday, February 28, 2011