Why do SACS support the European carp angling facet and not the conventional angling facet as educational platform?
The question is raised to SACS more frequently; hence I decided to provide clarity on the question involved.
The European facet of angling provides for proper fish care. It is a priority, even more important than actually catching fish. The Europeans learned years ago to respect and protect their fishing resources for generations to come, hence proper fish care is taught to anglers from a very young age. It is a way of life and is not being regarded as being forced on anyone.
In European angling only one hook is used with a rig that incorporates a weaker hook link and break-away weight or a way for a fixed weight to be dropped if the line breaks. Conventional angling allows for two hooks to be used while fishing, allowing for a free moving hook to hook onto and injure the fish on the face, eyes, head or fins. Many conventional rigs do not allow weights to break free when the line breaks.
In European angling thicker line and stronger fishing tackle are used in order to manage a large fish more effectively when it is heading for snags. Big fish can also be bullied away or even out from snags with strong line whereas thin line used in conventional angling would allow fish to swim straight into snags ensuring a snagged fish and the parting of line. The use of thin line could also cause a fish to tow along a distance of line if it breaks off.
In European angling fish safe equipment including an unhooking mat, soft mesh landing net, weigh sling and soft mesh carp sack is used in order to minimize injuries whereas inferior equipment could cause many injuries to fish which could even lead to death. Many conventional anglers still use inferior landing and keep nets which injure fish tremendously.
In European angling rig tubing is used above rigs in order to minimize injury to fish caused by fishing line scratching the face of fish or slipping under a fish’s scales and breaking it free. This could cause huge infection on the fish’s injured exposed skin. Conventional angling rigs could be adapted for the use of rig tubing but it is never done as it is not part of conventional angling.
The purpose of this communication is not to “name and shame” but rather to show the difference between European angling compared to conventional angling; hence to clarify why SACS makes use of European angling as the preferred educational angling method in South Africa.
There are various ways for conventional anglers to adapt their tackle and rigs to make it more fish friendly. The use of stronger fishing line, one hook, rig tubing and break away weights is a few positive changes to consider.
The South African Carp Society (SACS) is a member based organization with the sole purpose of promoting the sport of catch and release carp angling in South Africa as well as taking on environmental challenges that could have a negative impact on carp angling. Furthermore, SACS is constantly trying to procure proper and safe venues for members to fish.
SACS wishes to invite all anglers who are in the process of converting from conventional carp angling to European carp angling to join the SACS Management Committee and its members in providing SACS with a stronger voice to take on the challenges facing carp angling in South Africa. Kindly join SACS with your mind set not only to fish SACS venues but also to assist in bringing change. SACS wants to equip its valued members with knowledge as well as safe and proper venues to fish but SACS also relies on getting more members, in order to grow even larger as an organization, to bring proper change.
Please feel free to contact SACS at members@sacarpsociety.co.za or Francois Pretorius at chairman@sacarpsociety.co.za if you have any suggestions / enquiries.
To join SACS please download your application form under the tab “Join the Society”, complete it and fax it to the number indicated on the form. It’s that easy!