The start of the new coarse fishing season has coincided with the introduction of new fishing by-laws aimed mainly at protecting certain coarse fish species and also extending fishing opportunities for brown trout and salmon.

The removal of pike from any water is now restricted to just one fish per day, and that fish must be no longer than 65 centimetres (25.6 inches) in length.

It is felt that pike longer than this length benefit a water as they only take sickly fish and are also big enough to eat their smaller brothers and sisters, thus maintaining a balanced stock in the water.

Grayling are being protected by limiting the number that may be removed to two per day.

They are further protected by limiting the size to any fish between the length of 30 to 38cm (11.8-15 inches) only.

Fish smaller or greater in length than these must be returned alive to the water.

Eels are given the ultimate protection by stopping their removal from any water entirely.

The eel population has been falling rapidly in recent years and now stands at only five per cent of what it was 20 years ago.

On all still waters, no coarse fish may be removed with the permission of the owner of the fishery.

If it is not possible to ascertain who the owner is, then no fish may be removed.

The close season for brown trout and salmon in totally enclosed still waters has been removed.

Since the definition of a totally enclosed still water may be open to different interpretations, the implementation of this by-law may rest with the owner of the fishing rights on the water.

The Environment Agency (EA) has also stated that it will continue to pursue rod licence dodgers, and since April last year, the Craven-based EA bailiff has reported 97 offenders for angling offences, most of which have been for fishing without a valid rod licence.

As a member of a team of Yorkshire bailiffs, his patrols are based on intimate local knowledge and, importantly, by reports from the bona fide angling community.