Sole / Bass

TRAWLING FOR - SOLE/PLAICE/SKATE/WHITING etc

General fishing gear rules

All mesh sizes given are minimum sizes. You can choose to use a larger mesh than that stated.

8mm maximum for single twine cod-ends. (Further single twine restrictions apply in Farne Deeps (5mm))
5mm maximum for double twine thickness
UK non-beam trawls operating in IVb and IVc north of 53°N using multi-rig cod-ends must be of ≥95mm.
Square mesh panel must be fully fitted within 12m of cod-line for cod-ends between 80 to 119mm.
The baseline mesh size in this area is now a 120mm cod-end and this must be used where catches exceed 20% of cod haddock and saithe combined.
If you have a landed catch of less than 20% of cod, haddock and saithe combined, then you may use a mesh size below 120mm as specified in the table below
North Sea prohibition on demersal towed nets of mesh size range 70 to 79mm in area IV

Fishery	Gear (s)	ICES area	Conditions
Plaice and Sole and non-TAC species	All demersal trawls	IVb	100mm cod-end and 90mm square mesh panel
Mixed demersal fishery including Skates and Rays, and non-TAC species	All demersal trawls	IVc	80mm cod-end, 90mm square mesh panel and 140mm headline panel.
Sole (minimum 40% sole)	All demersal trawls	IVc	80mm cod-end and 80mm square mesh panel
Squid	All demersal trawls targeting squid	IV	The removal of the squid mesh size derogation means that squid can only be targeted with at least 80mm trawls OR larger mesh sizes as required under existing regional technical measures.

Commercial Bass fishing:

For information on bass regulations for 2024 go to Bass Fishing Guidance 2024- GOV.UK (www.gov.uk)