Aims and objectives
The aims of the catch recording scheme are to obtain national and regional indicators of fishing productivity and quality, and show how this may vary over the seasons and the years. As well as providing angling information for members, this will provide valuable key data that can be shared with scientists working on bass research, and with fisheries managers.
A linked objective is to obtain information about which year classes are featuring in catches, both from the analysis of fish lengths, and by participants taking scales from the occasional fish from each size group they are catching. The ageing of fish from scales also facilitates the study of bass growth, and scales may also be used for other types of research.
Process
Any BASS member may participate in the scheme. Although involvement from the beginning of the year is best, participants may join at any time. Those joining the scheme part way through a year may usefully include trips for that year prior to joining on a retrospective basis where this is possible.
Participating anglers are asked to complete a catch return, recording every trip (including blanks) they make where they are targeting bass. This can be done in several ways:
- by using the spreadsheet provided (incorporating instructions for completion) to registered participants each year
- for those anglers who do not have access to Excel, a printed sheet can be sent by post for completion by hand
Note that completed spreadsheets, and paper sheets (or photos thereof), should be sent on completion of fishing for the year, and in any case no later than mid-January. - by submitting individual trip returns, as soon as possible after each trip, using the link to the bespoke e-form provided to registered participants
It is best to stick to one method, in order to keep track of which entries have been made, and avoid duplicate/missing entries. We will provide monthly updates for those using the e-form to allow them to check their submissions.
Details required for each trip will be:
- trip date
- County
- fishing platform (shore or boat)
- location type (open coast, estuary or estuary mouth)
- fishing method (lure, bait or fly)
- trip duration (time spent fishing)
- number of fish retained
- lengths of all fish caught (if applicable)
There are drop down boxes/entry choices for County, Fishing Platform, Location Type and Fishing Method.
Participants will record an id number on the spreadsheet (assigned by the scheme organisers), or email address on the e-form (name not required in either case). This id number /email address will not be divulged to others. A copy of the BASS Catch Recording Scheme Privacy Policy is available on request.
Considerations
It is appreciated that measuring the length of every fish may be time-consuming where multiple fish are involved. It is important that we have the best measurement possible for all fish, regardless of size. However, where a number of fish of the same length are being caught, it is acceptable to measure the first three or four and estimate the length of the remainder. This estimate must give a specific length, and not a size range.
Where measurement is difficult, for example when wading far from shore, it is acceptable to use, for example, your rod butt marked with tape at 5cm intervals to measure the fish. Results can be noted in pocket-sized notebooks, such as the ‘Rite in the Rain’ waterproof notebook, or other medium, before transferring to the spreadsheet/e-form when convenient.
Analysis and results
Examples of statistics produced:
- number of fish caught per trip/hour
- % of productive trips
- fish length and frequency of capture
- average length
- % of fish over 42, 50 & 60cm
- hours to catch fish over 60cm
The results will be used in BASS publications. Where individual anglers’ stats are shown, these will be under id number.
A graphical summary of their own results, and a copy of the full report of the scheme, will be sent to all participants.
Key Performance Indicators
Key scheme performance indicators based on participants fishing in areas with commercial bass fisheries (UK & Channel Islands) are available as a pdf download here https://www.ukbass.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/02/BASS-KPI-data-2025.pdf
Scales
Scale samples may be sent in by any member, as the collection and reporting of scales is run independently of the Catch Recording Scheme.
Scales should be sent to the BASS scale reader (see inside front page of the BASS magazine for address), who may be contacted for information and scale packets; if these are not to hand, any convenient envelope can be used. Please mark the packet/envelope with the fish’s total length (cm), date of capture, area of capture (e.g. County) and name of person who caught it.
Advice from the BASS Scale Sampling Guide includes:
Remove scales from the area around the point of the pectoral fin (see picture – red dot) using tweezers or fingernails and pulling away firmly. Scales taken from this area are less likely to be replacements, which do not give the correct age. Take 3 scales from each side of the fish if conditions allow; if not, take 6 from one side – not all together but from various points within the correct area; If you are going to keep the fish, then do take more, say 10 in total.
Scale replacement is common and occurs when the fish has lost scales though collisions, predator attack etc. The fish is able to completely replace the scale within a year of its loss (MAFF Fisheries Research Technical Report No. 103).
Robin Bradley and Danny Bowering– scheme organisers
On behalf of the BASS Science Group
July 2026
For more information, or to register an interest, email sciencegroup@ukbass.com
If you would like to receive a complimentary BASS tape, please let us know at the time of registration.
Please note that the catch recording scheme is separate from, and does not affect, the submission of ad-hoc catch reports to the BASS Catch Recorders.