Fishing is a popular activity in the harbour. A small number of commercial fishing boats reside and work in its waters, and large numbers of recreational anglers can be seen on its shores when the weather is good. A number of angling clubs operate around the harbour, details of which can be seen on the Links page. Langstone harbour is a designated Bass nursery under the Bass Order 1999 and as such fishing for bass, or any other fish using Sand Eels as bait by any fishing boat in any part of the harbour, is prohibited between 30th April and 1st November. Although this prohibition does not extend to fishing from the shore it is expected that shore anglers will respect the need for this prohibition and return to the sea any Bass caught in nursery areas. It is an offence to sell any sea fish caught from a vessel which is not correctly licensed and registered in accordance with current regulations. The Southern IFCA (Inshore Fisheries and Conservation Authorities), formally Southern Sea Fisheries District Committee, regulate fishing activity in Langstone Harbour. Fishing is one of the most popular activities in Britain, and when enjoyed responsibly can be a very rewarding pastime. Always remember to take your fishing litter (including bait bags and old line) home with you and dispose of it safely - 15% of the litter in British seas is fishing related. Stick to minimum landing sizes, pay attention to closed seasons and only ever take as much bait as needed. Minimum Landing Sizes in cm Bass 36.0 Cockle 2.38 Crab (brown) 14.0 Crab (spider) 12.0 (F) 13.0 (M) Crab (velvet) 6.5 Mackerel 20.0 Mullet (grey) 30.0 Mussel 5.0 Oyster 7.0 Pollack 30.0 Close Seasons Cockles 1 Feb – 30 Apr Oysters 1 Mar – 31 Oct Winkles 15 May – 15 Sep Bass 30th April - 1st November |
