D-15 before the opening of the pike. On France Bleu la Rochelle, Bruno Garcia from the Charente-Maritime fishing federation explains why the pike is subject to protection while other species are not.
Bruno Garcia:
First of all, I wanted to tell you that fishing and fishermen have for some time been the subject of many criticisms. To caricature these criticisms I will sum up by saying that minorities stick on us a label of thoughtless predators, an image of somewhat primitive individuals. You should know that we have been carrying out studies for a very long time, carried out by highly qualified people, which allow us to define the state of health of most fish species.
And if we reason pike since it is the subject of the day, what is the diagnosis?
Our pike is not doing so well and for this reason nationwide measures have been taken for its protection.
So why isn’t this pike fishery totally closed?
Quite simply because fishermen should not pay the price for a totally inconsistent water management policy which endangers not only this species but many others as well. It is precisely there that the root of the evil is located and especially not because of the levy of the fishermen.
In concrete terms, what measures are taken to protect pike?
Already this closure from the last Sunday of January until the last Saturday of April on the 1st and 2nd categories. We know, here too, thanks to investigations carried out by scientists, that this three-month closure period largely covers this breeding period. We can also highlight the establishment of regulatory sizes. In general, in the department, any pike smaller than 60 cm cannot be kept. Which corresponds to a fish that has reproduced at least once. This measure is supplemented by an experimental approach on the Charente river where only pike between 60 and 80 cm can be kept. We also know here that beyond 80 cm they are the most efficient parents. And that’s not all ! It is imposed on certain sectors of the department an obligation to release pike
The famous no-kill?
Yes that’s right but I’m not very favorable to English expressions. If we go back to the history of France, we don’t really find any reason to value their language.
If you had one stream more than another to make this pike opening?
The major axes and some of their tributaries are the most favorable. I am thinking of the Charente river and the Seugne, the Boutonne, upstream of the Sèvre Niortaise, the Marans-La Rochelle canal, the Curé, etc.
Streams where you can hope for a pretty fish?
Sure ! What must be remembered despite these restrictive measures which aim, I remind you, to protect the species, is the pleasure that comes from catching a pike. It is a furious fast and powerful fighter that will bring you thrills. It is not by chance that our young generations of fishermen make it one of the priority targets.