June 2005
Largemouth Bass Fishing in Cyprus
The situation regarding freshwater fishing and especially Largemouth Bass fishing seems to be getting worse every year. Nobody talks about the big catch, or the new record or the great day out fishing any more. Everybody talks about the good old days. Memories and pictures of bass fishing two or three years ago or earlier, is all that is left. The reason?
We used to have great days out bass-fishing. Not because we were the experts or because we knew everything. We had great success simply because the number of people fishing for Largemouth Bass was limited. Ok, we knew a few things but that was not the main reason for our success. We know even more things now, but it doesn't seem to help much. Why? Simply because other people are fishing for Bass now and we are just "too many" for the conditions that exist in our dams today. All new true bass fishermen are welcome, but the increasing demand calls for immediate action from the Fisheries Department, and other units involved. After all the Government has a department dedicated for freshwater fishing, and the slogan "the dams were constructed for water conservation only" has to change.
The even worse situation regarding sea fishing makes more and more anglers turn to freshwater fishing. Then there is the big talk (usually far from the truth) from some anglers that think they know everything and boast about the big catches and methods used and all the baits that work, etc... thinking that this will earn them the respect of inexperienced anglers but all it does is harming the game fishing. It should be explained to future anglers to be, that Bass fishing is demanding, requires a lot of effort, knowledge only to be gained by study, practice and lots of patience. More and more people start freshwater fishing and especially bass fishing, based on rumors or wrong information given to them. Bass fishing does not provide for the dinner table. The cost of a lure could buy you a kilo of fish at the local supermarket. Bass fishing is a sport, and a very demanding one.
Our dams are small, not much is done to improve the quality of fishing and therefore the fish they hold are physically limited. The anglers have increased a lot in numbers the last two years. All fish caught are kept, regardless of size. Catch and release is just out of the question. The pressure being put on fish recently, is just too much. Unless something is done and done real soon, bass fishing will become a thing of the past. Most anglers are already disappointed and giving up. The Fisheries Department does not seem to cope with the situation now. How would we expect them to do later? As if all that was not enough, a pair of crocodiles imported illegally, was said to have been released on 21-06-2005 in Kourris dam by a non-Cypriot living permanently in Cyprus. All we needed in our reservoirs was crocodiles.!!!
Possible solution? Dams should be stocked with new species needed for the survival and proper growth of the Largemouth Bass and the widening of the options for the anglers (e.g Bluegill). The more forage fish in a dam, the more bass will feed and grow. The Fisheries Dept should patrol the dams often to make sure the law is not broken (fishing at night, using illegal methods, using more than one rod, garbage being left on the banks, polluting the dams, using boats, swimming, etc..). Access to few more spots should be carefully created. Other dams like Xyliatos and Vyzakia should open for bass fishing giving more space and opportunity for the increasing number of anglers who after all are citizens of this country and pay for the construction of the dams. Tamasos dam is perfect for Largemouth Bass but the Fisheries Dept just does not seem to do anything. Kalavasos dam desperately needs a forage fish (bass have turned to cannibalism to survive). Lefkara dam would be great for Largemouth Bass (some access points should be constructed - too many poisonous snakes - vipers inhabit the area). Dhypotamos dam offers a perfect home for Largemouth, but due to the existence of Zander, the food is limited. Again, a new forage fish is needed.
Soon the fisheries department might even have to consider re-stocking of Largemouth Bass unless they do something to protect it. The potential exists. Our dams no matter how small they are, have the potential for much better bass fishing. Its just that somebody has to do something about it. The fisheries dept and other officials have a responsibility against the anglers and this country in general. They are being paid by the people to do their job. And they should do their best. Anglers have also a responsibility against this country. They should respect our nature, protect it, and report immediately anything wrong or illegal they hear or see during their visits to the dams.
