Maldon Angling Society

On Sunday 2nd August we will be testing out our pump at little parks main lake. We will be there for a couple of hours and there will be some noise and disruption. We are sorry for this, but we need to test it. And make sure the first response team know how to set it up if we had an oxygen crash on a water. Please do NOT come to the lake to see us in action. As social distancing still applies, and we don’t want everyone there. Just a selected team of bailiffs and those that may be fishing. So, this is a warning for anyone that may be fishing there Sunday. I am sure there will be some pictures and videos of it in action next week. Have a great weekend stay safe in the sunshine and I hope you all get to wet a line. Many thanks MAS Team

Beautiful 8lb Mirror captured at Little Parks by Reece.

Stunning Mirror from Little Parks

Following the lifting of restrictions by the government allowing people to stay out overnight, we are pleased to announce that “Non-Fishing” members are now permitted to stay overnight with their partner again.

WOODLAND WORKS – Commencing 1st July

We have been informed by the landowners of Totham Pit and Bog Grove that they have appointed a contractor to manage the clearance of trees within the wooded area between the Pit & the Grove which will commence tomorrow.

We hope there will be no impact to fishing other than the noise of chainsaws and machinery working in the wood.

If we do need to close swims or the lake at any point, then we will give as much notice as possible.

Apologies for the late notification of these works, the contractor only confirmed late this afternoon.

Correction and Update

• NON-FISHING Members “Overnight Stays” are SUSPENDED until further notice

Firstly, apologies for the confusion caused yesterday our Membership Secretary has now corrected me and confirmed that under usual (Non-Corona) circumstances the “Non-Fishing Membership” does entitle the holder to stay overnight with their partner.

Currently though, the staying overnight of “Non-Fishing Members” is SUSPENDED until further notice.  This is in alignment with and following the latest changes in the legal restrictions the government and DEFRA have agreed around staying out overnight (see details below)

Please be assured that once these restrictions are lifted by the government and confirmed by the Angling Trust, we will also lift the suspension.

New government restrictions

As you may know, a new document produced by DEFRA cast new doubt on the legality of night fishing earlier this week. Martin Salter has been working hard on this issue and we now have confirmation from DEFRA that night fishing is allowed. However, we need to stress to anglers that they have to be actively fishing. Taking rods in, sleeping through the night, and starting fishing again in the morning is not legal. Anglers are allowed to continue fishing throughout the night and may seek shelter in a bivvy, but they must continue to actively fish.

We have agreed with DEFRA that we will be adding the following to our guidance:

“Please note that under the current Coronavirus regulations camping is a prohibited activity and whilst night fishing is permissible within the guidelines angling should not be used as a pretext for a camping trip. When fishing is finished any night shelters must be removed and people should return home.”