We have all heard the stories around the fire about the “good old days” when fish were abundant in our waters with bakkie loads of belman caught at Blake’s Beach, but now we hardly see a belman at that beach.

Unfortunately such days are long gone, our forefathers thought it was a good idea to catch and kill everything they caught, small or big, including sharks and even rays.

They had the mindset that there was no need for practising catch-and-release as there are millions of fish in the sea. Well less than 40 years later and we now see the devastating impact of there stupid actions on our fishing waters.

It’s frustrating to always have to refer back to the past when we speak of the big red steenbras. Why can’t I spend a Friday night excitedly preparing my heavy tackle, big 12/0 hooks, 100 lb lines and 1,5 mm thick hook snoots for a battle of the ages with the monsters of Rooi Els? Just imagine preparing to go and tussle with huge red steenbras, black musslecracker, red roman and the many beautiful fish caught on our doorstep, but unfortunately will never happen again in our lifetime, a sad reality indeed.

Looking at old pictures of the big white steebras caught up and down False Bay – Strandfontein, Macassar and Koggelbaai being the best spots – we still see pictures of 1 m plus steenies, those caught in Strand hanging with ropes through the gills from the guys fishing on the reefs.

Koggelbaai was a favourite area to target big steenbras, our very own little magical beach and rocky areas with big steamtrains cruising the sandbanks looking for prawn and worm.

These days we hardly ever see a double-digit steenbras in False Bay; guys come into the shop and moan that there are only tiny steenbras eating up their baits. The fish just don’t get a chance anymore. A white steenbras must be 60 cm minimum; the new standard is that a fish of 50 to 60 cm is a big fish, but really it is not. In fact, it’s still a baby, a very young fish that needs to be released to grow up and be able to spawn.

The Strand had an abundance of mussels, oysters, red bait, worm and prawn as well as all the bait fish and life that live between the reefs, which meant it was a fish paradise with plenty of food and shelter from weather and big predators.

We have simply raped our own waters and are now paying the price.

It’s time that we start realising and admitting our mistakes of the past and actually standing up and doing something about it as a fishing community.

It’s really simple; all you need to do is use your own brain and initiative, release undersized fish, release the big breeding stock fish and don’t keep more than you need. But, a lot of anglers still seem to think they can carry on like our forefathers, keeping and killing everything they catch, small and big fish, we simply can’t afford this kind of thinking.

It’s time we stand up as fishing communities and look after our own waters, stand together and take on the clowns who continue to rape your own fishing waters!

Let’s all take a hard look at what has gone on over the years, how bad the fishing has really become, not only in our areas or up and down the South African coast but all over the world.

We as humans are responsible for this, shift the blame as much as you like, only us as humans and fisherman can make a difference in sorting this out.

Start by educating and putting pressure on those who take more than they should. The law is the law and it should not be overlooked. If you are willing to take home undersized fish or more than your quota then you are also a poacher and breaking the law.

Start tagging more fish and getting involved in conservation initiatives. Start teaching the youngsters from a young age to look after and care for the fish they are handling as its basic humility and care for animals. Teach them to measure and tag and take pictures of there catches while they are alive and beautiful instead of leaving them on the sand to suffer and die and putting them in a freezer to become cat food.

Every single fish, big or small, has an important role to fulfil in the ocean!

If you are keen to get involved in conservation and want to learn more about fish species, tagging and conservation, then get in touch with us @fishingrepublicstore; or contact us on 072 552 4400. Alternatively, visit us in store.