Usually a denizen of the Mediterranean, a white bream has been caught locally.
THE different species of bream in Bailiwick waters continues to multiply.
In September 1967 the rod-caught list contained just two species, the black and the red.
Since those early days many others have been added. The bogue in October 1969, the gilthead in November 1973, the Couch’s sea in August 1993, the ascillary in October 1995 and the Pandora in September 1998.
In addition there have been authenticated reports of two others being landed by the commercial fishermen, the saupe and the two-banded.
These nine species have now been joined by the white bream, which is normally a resident of the Mediterranean, although it has spread to more northern waters in recent years.
Small specimens turned up in Jersey in 1994. They seemed to congregate in the warm water outfall of La Colette power station, although since that date they have spread out to many other marks around Jersey.
They have steadily increased in size where a Jersey-caught fish was approved as the British shore-caught record at a weight of 1-7-4.
Strangely the Jersey and Channel Island record is 1-10-11, a specimen that was never submitted for a natural record.
There has been an expectation for some time that they would reach our Bailiwick.
This finally happened last month when Andy Marquis caught an 0-2-5 fish at the Salerie. It’s been submitted for a Bailiwick record, although it’s a record that shouldn’t stand for long, if the Jersey experience is anything to go by.
As if to prove the point, a 2-13-3 specimen has been caught on a longline (trot) set in Belgrave Bay, a fish that would, of course, have smashed all the rod-caught records.
It has caused quite a stir in marine biology circles and is to be sent to the Natural History Museum in London for inclusion in their collection.
The moral of this story is obvious. If you catch a bream that seems to be even a little different to usual, get it formally identified. You could well have another first for the Bailiwick, or which would become a local or even a national record.
n THE place, Boatworks+, Castle Emplacement; the time, 5.30pm tomorrow; the occasion, the GBASS open bass festival registration.
The four-day event is open to all local and visiting anglers. Whether you wish to fish from the shore, from a boat, a kayak or a dinghy, you will find a prize waiting to be won.
Five thousand pounds if you beat the 18-6-5 shore record is the top prize, but there are awards for the top fish of each day, separate prizes for women, juniors and visitors, the top pair of anglers, the best catch and release specimens and the best shore and boat aggregate.
In both boat and shore sections, the top 10 will win an award, with the heaviest bass in each category winning £600, plus a rod and reel.
There are also the optional pools in both sections.
In addition members of both the Guernsey Bass Anglers Sportfishing Society and the Bailiwick Bass Club will be trying their hardest to find good fish to enter into the inter-club competition.
In short, there’s something for everyone, what is needed is good weather, big catches and a plentiful supply of sandeels for bait to ensure the event’s success.
It will all end with the presentation evening at the Wayside Cheer Hotel on Friday 28 August at 7.30pm.
n ROGER ROBINSON has won the West Coast Sea Angling Club’s all-night on Guernsey competition for the Carlton Cup. His winning bag was 29 mackerel for 15-3-0 and 118.75 points.
The match attracted 22 members and 10 found fish to bring to the scales.
Mackerel dominated the event with 41 being landed, with the remainder of the catch consisting of two grey mullet, two golden grey mullet, one bass, two ballan wrasse, two black bream, one garfish and one pollack.
The competition kitty was shared between Robinson, who had the heaviest bag, and Shane Toms, who landed the heaviest and only bass, a 6-6-0 fish.
Robinson’s win pushed him up from fifth to top of the Guernsey Shore Championship.
The previous leader, Shane Huxster, missed the match as he was out of the island and has now dropped back to second spot, 47.25 points behind Robinson.
Only one match remains, a harbour competition in early December.
In spite of his absence, Huxster has retained the top spot in the overall championship, but Robinson has jumped to second place just 15.5 points behind. Five matches remain in the overall competition, three in Herm, one in Sark and that harbour match.New species of fish in Bailiwick waters: Andy Marquis goes down in the history books
Article posted on 19th August, 2009 - 2.29pm
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