Current Views on 2008 Lampuki Season?

[fishfinder]

I use Fresh Clamari in the beginning and then tunnagg when they grow up but this year it's a record. i never caught lampuki so small. it looks like we have to wait till October to catch some nice ones. I've heard that the biggest caught were from near M'scala fishfarms. The biggest we caught was 500grms.

[kennethb74]

I recently met up with Jonathan of "Sajd bir-rixa" fame.. 

He was kind enough to take me out on one of his fishing expeditions last Saturday. For somebody who has never managed to catch a decent sized fish before, (except a tunnagga a week or so ago which got unhooked as I tried to bring it onto the boat) it was a really great experience.  We managed a couple of lampuki and a tunnag (which I managed not to lose this time) and had some great fun.

Jonathan and Kathleen (his wife) have such a passion for fishing, and unlike many people, they love to teach and share their experiences.  I know that Jonathan provides sailing charters (yet another of his passions), hopefully he will start some fishing charters too..  I'm sure he'd get a good response from members of this forum who like me don't have access to boats or yachts to do some real fishing..

Keep it up Jonathan, and thanks for the experience..

[LapsiBoy]

Fishfinder from lapsi area ive managed to catch some lampuki of 750grams + but these where further out then on the other cimi u catch tiny ones

[rob1974]

Bearing in mind that I am not a regular with respect to fishing for lampuki, it seems that this season I am catching them in greater quantities and closer to shore.  We caught more amberjack this year than lampuki, and the odd tunnagg.

Rob

[Ke!tH]

This year was my first time for lampuki. We went out twice and caught around 10 each time, with more than half of them being of good size. We trolled on the west side of commino, and stayed on a couple of cimi very close to land. Last time we were out we caught about 3 in almost pitch dark with a pins minnow rigged on a rod. Hope the weather will be good tomorrow maybe we'll make a better catch.

[camkev]

Lampuki where about 9 euro yesterday per kilo!!!!I think they are a bit scarse this year.Is anyone catching lamuki?It's benn about 2 weeks we didn'tgo for them....not very good weather

[skip]

Wow ?9 a kilo mela there really aren't very many about!

[EmicMalta]

better Nick, belive me but I feel happy when I see lampuki at that price. The few they get in the market they sell it all  and when they have a lot no body wants them. As for me I ate them 6-8 times and its enough but still if i catch some more i will get another try.

Today I was diving on the west side and the sea was getting rough so while I was going in pushing (not pulling) my float (that one made of fiber) I was half of my body on it so I can rest while pushing, and when I wet back in the water I saw a shoal of around 1 dozen of Lampuki. Don t know how long they have been there but was a wondserfull meeting. Just 5 sec and they left. Not even the time to take a picture

ps. their size was a bit small for this time

[MartinB]

Same here usually ive caught a few nice sized fish by now by spinning but so far ive only had one small lampuka take a lure from a very small shoal of around 10 fish..& i must have managed to hook the smart one of the bunch as he escaped!!!
Guess we will just have to wait...however as rob1974 ive noticed alot more shoals of amberjacks around than usual..and also alot more imsell/garfish than usual too which wouldn't be so if the lampuki where here!!!!

[ramio]

I see lampuki season diminishing little by little, We used to tell our catch by the boxes. Rarely did I come back in with less than 3 boxes of fish. Now its counting the heads. Few people catch more than 10 fish. At least that's what you hear on the VHF. Some members mentioned larger numbers, but these instances were few.
I don't know where we are going to, or why.

[skip]

Ramio, over fishing, over fishing, over fishing! Bear in mind that in the past few years the number of people owning small boats has increased at a staggering rate, meaning now that hundreds of people go out for fish like lampuki. Put 5-10 per boat and you have your difference, probably also coupled with a reduction in the general number of fish.

At least that's my basic theory.

[rammx]

i think the over strict regulations regarding hunting has pushed a lot of people to start fishing..at least i think its one of the reasons

[The_Gaffer]

Fishing is fast becoming the national number one hobby.  We have reached unsustainable proportions in the number of fish being caught.  At this time of the year, Lampuki usually sell for 1 Euro a kilo, not 9 Euros!!!.
I feel we have reached a stage where we need a comprehensive approach to the ammount and size of fish caught in the Maltese waters. 
I know this will stir up some negative comments and controversy, but my feelings are the following:

1.  Total ban on pariti. This indiscriminate way of fishing is having a heavy impact on shore fishing, because all types and sizes of fish are caught in the nets, not to mention the hazards it presents to apnea divers
2.  Total ban on long lines within the 3 mile territorial limit.  Again, there is no limit to the size of fish caught on these long lines, and usually small fish cannot be released back to the sea since they are long dead anyway
3.  Total ban on nets cast from the shore (terrieha), used to catch shawls   of kahli, griewel etc.  Again, these fish sometimes spawn during their attractive displays on the surf, and sometimes females laden with eggs are caught!!
4.  Spear fishing:  Guys, I've seen a fair number of small octupus and small grouper being caught by spearmen, please respect the rules.

Some of you will argue that your livelihood depends on fishing using pariti and long lones.  But it just so happens that our shores are being over fished.  Just have a look at the number of nets(pariti) and long lines cast close to our shores next time you're out fishing.  And its not like the writing isn't on the wall....less and less fish are being caught;  and the only reason this is happening is because the amount of fish has depleted and the extent of fishing has increased.  To put it simply, the mechanics of supply and demand.  Demand has greatly increased while supply is decreasing.  This is called unsustainable fishing. 
Well my take on this is that sooner rather then later the authorities will put a stop to this indescriminate use of fishing equipment (if not, nature has its own way of looking after itself; just to site a few examples, is-sikka l-bajda, and hurds bank...nobody goes fishing there any more for the simple reason that there are no fish left to catch!!!!!). 
Just look at what happened to the hunters.  They ignored the early signs from the anti-hunting lobby, and now they are being continuously pursecuted and harassed by laws, CABS, birdlife, EU...etc.  Its only a matter of time before these lobbiests turn their guns on the fishing industry, and the general fishing hobbiest will get the brunt of their fire too.

[The_Gaffer]

...........and there's more....Gee, I'on a ball right now...........
The recent financial crisis should be a lesson to us all....when the going gets good, don't get greedy.  Thats what happened to the global financial institutions....the going was good, but they got greedy...then the whole racket came tumbling down....
Same with fishing....you find a good spot, you catch some fish, but you return and return always to the original spot.  Ultimately, that shawl is depleted to the extent that it can't regenerate.  So we move to another spot...and the cycle continues....
Just catch what you need, and release the rest.  Also, release the small ones or the pregnant females.

[rammx]

i totlay agree gaffer....even in shore fishing i try not to go the same place twice after eachother...even if its difficult due to the lack of fishing spots