Bumper Seabass hatch in 2002

Although only two netting sessions were made this year very positive and useful results were obtained. The first was in June at the head of Polwheveral Creek where at a conservative estimate 2,500 bass of last years hatch were netted, detailed counts were not made to avoid casualties and ensure their safe return to the water. This was a phenomenal catch with more bass in that one haul than all the bass recorded in these reports since 1994 and it amazed the volunteer helpers! The net was simply full of small bass averaging 10.6 cm fork length with only 8 small mullet and 12 small gilthead bream as a bycatch. Not only was it a bumper catch, but the fish were strong and had made good growth over the Winter in spite of what must have been keen competition amongst them for food.

To confirm the strength of the year class another netting was made, not in the best Main Channel site as no boat was available but in Bonallack Creek, a very difficult muddy site. Bass are there when the conditions are right and sure enough 122 bass were netted; again the bass were of good size 10.9 cm average fork length and this was by far the best recorded catch there despite the unavoidable disturbance caused by wading in very muddy shallows and swimming to haul the net. One team member parted company with his thigh waders, and another one had such tired legs that he decided swimming in a few inches of water over the mud was the easiest option. Again all fish were returned unharmed. To avoid discouraging would-be volunteers it must be added that it is only in Bonallack Creek that such muddy netting is done, and an honest advance warning was (as always) given.

These results alone prove that 2002 is an outstandingly good year class for the Helford, hopefully providing good fishing in 10 years time. These unusually large numbers were reported to Graham Pickett, a DEFRA fisheries scientist at the CEFAS Laboratory in Lowestoft. He was interested as the catch was not an isolated incident, and he is gathering evidence of what could be a massive year class in 2002. Amongst other reports, in the Tamar record numbers of this class were caught in two visits, and in the Thames 34,000 were recorded, where the previous best was 3,000. Climate warming is apparently having an impact on the production of bass. His view (as yet unproven) is that many bass are, as in the distant past, spawning inshore over a longer period. Many of these fish may be first time spawners that matured late and missed the offshore spawning run.

The good results in the Helford allowed me more time to be spent in the Fal searching for suitable sites for the 2002 class bass. A good catch in one site at Lamorran gave confirmation that 2002 was also a good year in the Fal. Netting continued in the Fal for this years bass "O" group, and a good catch was made in one site and a promising catch in another in July. The weather and tide was set fair to resume netting Polwheveral for this years bass on August 4th, but sadly this had to be abandoned. Hopefully it can be netted next year with perhaps another bumper catch of one year old bass.

The help given by John and David Ellis, Paul Bennetts, Peter Woodward, and Neil Hatton for the loan of his boat at Polwheveral is gratefully acknowledged. Special thanks were given to the National Seal Sanctuary for their support and allowing free access with our transport through their premises.

Derek C Goodwin
Bass Project Volunteer Team Leader

Extract from HVMCA newsletter No.27 Autumn 2003