Surprised that Rob was turned away there for fishing with legal terminal tackle...................the norm is a lump of lead festooned with trebles on line and boat rod that would hold a man eating mako shark, and I suspect that he may have been "spragged" by the small clique of poachers for whom honest anglers just spoil the free for all atmosphere.
Under the current permit rules (and presumably because King Dave the Second's Royal Charter of 1342 grants free salmon fishing to the residents), locals get a free ticket while residents in the Mearns/OAPs/kids under 14 pay £1.00 and others from outwith pay £2.00 per day. The fishing's been abused for years and when you hear we Kincardineshire locals calling it "Bervie-style", we are not being complimentary.
The DDSFB bought out the "superior" netting station there from Joseph Johnston & Sons in June 2003 and straight away asked the Stoney angling association (as a responsible and hard working club) to take over the "inferior" rod-and-line administration on its behalf. The SDAA agreed to do so IF the Board could confirm that the terms of the 1342 Royal Charter where it refers to "red fish" had been superseded by modern salmon statute law, at least in relation to allowable fishing tactics!!!!!!
Assuming this to be the case (and the decision is imminent), the Stoney club will probably take over the fishings, subject to its members' say-so at AGM in December. At which time it will invite local Inverbervie anglers (as distinct from 'snigglers') on board to give them essential stakeholder status down there. And bid 'adieu' to anyone who refuses to turn away from fishing in a manner where the lure takes the fish rather than vice-versa. Hopefully all this will be in place in time for the 2008 season...........a spokesfishperson for the Bervie salmon and seatrout has already expressed absolute delight at this prospect. Hope this helps explain fit's happening doon there.
