STATUTORY CONSERVATION REGULATIONS WHICH CAME INTO FORCE IN 2015

The Scottish Government introduced regulations in January 2015, which require the mandatory release of all salmon caught in the Tay district from 15 January to 31 March. All salmon must, by law, be returned to the water, even if a fish has died. The Board’s fisheries officer team will be enforcing this new legislation. Thereafter the Board’s recommendations continue to have effect.

BOARD RECOMMENDATIONS

From 15 January to end of Season:

All salmon and grilse should be released.

This download is laid out to be printed on both sides of a single sheet of A4 and makes a handy leaflet. If you are not sure how to identify a hen salmon please download the following salmon identification poster.

WORM FISHING

The Board has long requested that worms should not be used before 1 June nor after 31 August in any part of the district. As many fish are deeply hooked, the Board considered this method of fishing incompatible with conservation.

Now that the Board is requesting 100% catch and release all season, it now recommends no worming at any time of year. But should it be undertaken, only Circle hooks or Shelton release hooks which are designed to help prevent deep hooking must be used.

ENSURING RELEASED FISH SURVIVE

The purpose of releasing salmon is to ensure that they survive to spawn. They will not do this if they sustain injury or damage which allows fungus to attack. The fungus Saprolegnia, is an ever present menance and can quickly overcome fish which are stressed or damaged. The mucus is the first line of defence and should not be damaged. The following simple steps must be followed:

LANDING THE FISH

Use a fine, knotless meshed landing net and ensure the fish remains in the water.

Do not beach the fish, as abrasion can lead to infection. Knotted nets, gaffs and tailers are now illegal in Scotland anyway.

Minimise handling the fish. Fish should never be “tailed”.

REMOVING THE HOOK

Wet your hands. A dry, bare, warm hand can cause abrasion which later may lead to infection.

Remove the hook gently. If possible remove the hook using forceps or a hook disgorger, taking care not to squeeze the fish.

The use of barbless or micro barbed single hooks is strongly recommended, as they make removing the hook easier.

Take care with fresh, early fish as they are prone to damage and fungal infection.

RETURNING THE FISH

If possible, try to slip the fish out of the net without touching it!

If you really must, then support the fish, in a current, facing upstream and allow time for the fish to recover and swim away on its own.

Do not weigh the fish but estimate the weight of the fish from its length. Record all fish caught and released.

Photographs by all means, but do not remove the fish from the net which should remain in the water. However tempting, PLEASE DON’T GRASP A FISH’S TAIL!! This can result in fungal infection. The web is strewn with photos of salmon held like this. If you are to release fish, especially fresh run salmon, this is a recipie for trouble. The abrasion caused by fingers provides an inroad for fungus, especially around the tail. DONT DO IT!

REMOVE HOOKS FROM RAPALAS

Rapala and other multiple hook lures are popular on some beats on the Tay and in Loch Tay. As the number of treble hooks attached can lead to problems in hook removal it is recommended that such lures must be used with a maximum of one treble hook only.

River Tummel