Received yesterday in English from Mora a Summary of New Rules issued by Agents Rurals according to resolution MAH/520/2006.

Discussed the above with them but approach seems to be very hard line and affects me as much as everyone else fishing the River from Mequinenza down to the Sea!

Allowed baits for Carp and Siluro & other (not trout).

Fishing with live or dead fish as a bait is forbidden in rivers. (Even squid and sea fish as I asked specifically).

2 Rods only and must be within reach.

Baiting up is only allowed for carp - and with natural baits only.

Commercialisation and possession of any kind of river crab (read crayfish) is forbidden.

To repopulate with any kind of exotic fish or crab (List follows) is an ecological crime.
I interpret repopulate as to put back -read on.

Common and Mountain Barbel, Carp, Chub?, Madrilla (Dace ?) and Eel have to be returned to the river alive.

All kind of exotic fish have to be killed IMMEDIATELY with the exception of Rainbow Trout, Salvel-Li (Brown Trout?), Carp and Black Bass.

That means that all Catfish (three varieties identified as present), Silurus glanis, Ameiurus melas and  Ictluraus punctatus (American Channel cats).  Zander, Pike, Sun Fish, Rudd, Roach & Bleak and Crayfish must be killed and there is a reminder to that effect at the bottom of the Resolution.
Also identified are gudgeon, tench, perch.

Obviously they are taking a hard line designating fish as either Species autoctona or as introduced species and with a few exceptions i.e. Trout, Carp and Black Bass all other introduced species are to be culled.
They are obviously trying to deal with two issues here, the introduced species and the fishing for catfish in the main as it reads as though prebaiting as per halibut pellet style which is allowed in the upper river in Aragon, is not going to be allowed here.
As usual the approach is hardline and uncompromising in discussion with and Agent rural (who spoke excellent English) and his senior partner, there was nothing up for discussion - from now on as stated above if it is illegal, it is forbidden and they are clamping down on it!
Be Warned!

Yes I can vouch for the rules being implemented, one of our friends has recently had his rods confiscated on the lakes above Riba Roja as he was using live bait and did not have a special daily ticket for fishing on the lakes, could be costly, I am in the process of investigating the fine now and will let you know!

Below is a link from the Media Ambient stating the rules, what it does not say is where you need special Day Permits and as usual all signs are in Catalan, so a tourist has no chance, and ignorance of the law and the language is no excuse, well they do not want tourism they do anyway!

http://mediambient.gencat.cat/eng//el_medi/pesca/com_pescar.jsp

So if you have freinds or family staying and they want to do some fishing make sure they know all the rules!!

Does anyone know why the Tortosa Forum translates your english into gobbldy gook, reversing text into confiscated his rods which was not the way i typed it? >:(

wrote on Sep 23^rd, 2009 at 2:22pm:

Does anyone know why the Tortosa Forum translates your english into gobbldy gook, reversing text into confiscated his rods which was not the way i typed it? >:(

see its done it again

90% of your posts are gobbledegook Stuart ;D ;D ;D ;D ;D ;D

What only 90% you are getting a bit generous in your old age Cactus!! ;D ;D ;D

Anyway re the fines on the fishing we have done the Media ambient in Tortosa and the media ambient in Amposta, and I feel a scenario coming on here, they keep shunting you from one department to another till you get fed up!!

Of to Mora Next and we still probably won't get any joy

I'm convinced these government agencies do these kind of things firstly,to justify their wages and secondly for a laugh.
The original thread was refering to 2006 legislation,it is nearly 2010 and nothing seems to have happened.No one has even checked my licence let alone what type of fish I'm catching (which is invariably none) and what I intend to do with it/them.The river baliffs just wave as they go water skiing past.
There is some say about 2 stroke engine being banned and only allowing 4 strokes on the river,depending on HP.This is to presumeably to reduce the vast amounts of exhaust being pumped into the river from the hordes of fishing guides that congest the water way and nothing at all to do with the power station up river.

wrote on Sep 24^th, 2009 at 1:22pm:

What only 90% you are getting a bit generous in your old age Cactus!! ;D ;D ;D

the other 10% I couldn't read because of the spelling  ;D ;D

I'm Not a warlock honest I don't do spells!! ;D ;D