ANGRY sea anglers who believed they were being targeted to abide by catch quotas under the European Common Fisheries Policy will be relieved to learn they escaped an obligation to maintain reams of catch records demanded by article 47 proposed by the Community Fisheries Control Regulations.

ANGRY sea anglers who believed they were being targeted to abide by catch quotas under the European Common Fisheries Policy will be relieved to learn they escaped an obligation to maintain reams of catch records demanded by article 47 proposed by the Community Fisheries Control Regulations.

Instead sea anglers fishing from beach or boat are now exempt from all catch quota regulations in the immediate future, writes Roy Webster.

This was agreed at a meeting of the Agriculture and Fisheries Council in Luxemburg where a majority of members argued successfully that roping in pleasure anglers fishing for the family table within the catch quota scheme would not only be seen as unjust but also unenforceable.

Conservative MEP and fisheries spokesman Straun Stevenson confirmed that recreation anglers were now exempt from the quota system. “The initial plans put forward by the EC were frankly ludicrous and would have destroyed an ancient hobby and a large source of tourism revenue in the UK,” he said.

The decision will be regarded by local sea anglers as another victory for common sense.

“We forced the authorities to scrap a proposal to bring in sea rod licence, and our flat refusal to maintain catch records has forced the European Commission to think again,” declared Tony Thomas, match secretary of the Norfolk division of the National Sea League.

Local charter boat skippers will be delighted with this news. For if the legislation had gone through their vessels would have been classified as a commercial operation and trading would have ceased as soon as their quotas were filled.

Meanwhile beach and boat anglers are enjoying hectic sport with whiting and a few decent codling up to 5lb are also reported.

Keith Morley (Kessingland) won the Gorleston Tackle League at Yarmouth on Monday night with 9lb 7oz and the Gorleston Tackle match squad were joint second in the Norfolk division of the National Sea League at Bacton with 10 points behind Holt Blue with seven points.

Sea results - Gorleston Tackle Monday League: K Morley (Kessingland) 9lb 7oz, K Chilvers (Pakefield) 8lb 2oz, G Medler (Martham) 7lb 1oz. All dabs and whiting.

Next venue is central Beach Great Yarmouth 7pm.

National league qualifier (Bacton): T Thomas 3lb 14oz, G Stannard 3lb 12oz, J Carter 3lb 9oz. Teams: Holt Blue 7 points, Gorleston Tackle and Avenue Angling both 10 points.

Fresh water results - Burgh Castle Open: C Leonard 10lb 15oz, D Grimwood 9lb 14oz, M Bunn 8lb 8oz. Dodd group club (Holly farm). J Collinson 44lb 14oz, M Wyatt 12lb 9oz, R Brook 11lb 8oz.

Few fish of note were reported from the carp fisheries with Sundays deluge keeping anglers off the water.

Caister's Darren Stamp bagged a 24lb common at Taswood and Yarmouth's Mick Hicks reeled in a 22lb from the Lyng Kingfisher Lake.

On the upper River Thurne waters, quality pike have been reported with one of 30lb confirmed from Heigham Sands and a couple in the 20s from the river at Martham Ferry.

Unlimited fishing from boats ceased on Horsey Mere on October 31 but bank fishing is still permitted in the Horsey Mill dyke.