Prince Albert Angling Society Bailiff Team
In order to preserve both the fishing and environment on all of our waters, and ensure they are in the best possible condition for members, we have a large active bailiff force.
Our team are on patrol throughout the year, including close seasons, and night surveillance teams cover each area. Teams have no set waters to cover, acting on information received and visiting waters, which are known to be at risk from poachers.
Bailiffs liaise and work with The Environment Agency, the Police National Wildlife Crime Unit, and the Angling Trust’s Fisheries Enforcement Support Service.
The roles of the bailiff are many. These include, patrolling waters each week, checking for pollution vermin, invasive species and other problems, which could endanger our fisheries or compromise members’ safety. They check member’s rod licenses and permits. They also report the working parties’ needs on each water. Many also run our working parties, maintaining pegs, controlling vegetation, and opening new pegs. They also ensure that members fish within the rules of the society. Ignorance of the rules relating to a water is not regarded as an excuse!
The most important duty of our Bailiffs is to protect the members’ fishing, by evicting non-members and gathering information on poachers for prosecution. However, the local bailiff will have a vast amount of information on the water and will gladly pass it on, i.e. where to fish, best methods for the conditions of the day, bait, rigs, etc. If they can help, they will. For the less mobile and older members, the officials assist in any way they can.
