Your comments and opinion on game-fishing matters

Salmon and sea-trout enter the Ogmore River to be caught upstream by poachers acting with impunity

SHUTTERSTOCK

WHERE ARE THE POLICE?

I would like to inform your readers of the decisions made by the Ogmore Angling Association due to pressures on our river.

Firstly, we will cease the stocking of triploid brown trout that were marked with a blue dot so that members could take them. Unfortunately, members took very few and poachers took a lot. When the poachers were confronted, members and bailiffs were threatened with violence. One bailiff was forced to run for his car with the poachers attempting to gain entry as he drove off.

The situation eventually became intolerable and members felt unable to fish certain areas because they did not feel safe. I had a number of enquiries from members asking for areas where they were less likely to meet these individuals and more likely to fish in peace.

Catch-and-release of salmon is mandatory in Wales. From the 2025 season, we will also be enforcing 100% catch-and-release of sea-trout. Club members already release 96% of the sea-trout they catch, but it was felt by our progressive committee, backed by our members, that this is the ‘way forward’ due to dwindling stocks as a result of pollution and poaching.