Mike, I disagree. I don't think there's any Jealousy involved. Anyone of the guys on this site could go and catch a 30# fish, it's that easy since the biomass of large have taken up residence.
It more a case of total disregard for the species. It is one thing to catch large. It quite another to catch a 30# fish, hide it in the truck and take another just for the money made selling.

I seriously doubt that there is very much of that going on. One of my good friends lives near there and fishes the canal all the time and he doesn't tell any of those stories. Doesn't everyone really want the fish so abundant that they could catch like that everywhere?

https://www.surfcastersjournal.com/t...27s+Journal%29


we need a slot limit on Bass rec and comm its the easiest way to have the best of both worlds ..

Man made fish barrel

This comment was born from ignorance. If they are so abundant then why are the comms not catching their limit unless they are fishing the canal?
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Ignorance? It appears you can't even read! I said it was the desired state, not the current situation.

I’ve been fishing there a lot since the late 70’s.
It was never like this until recently.
Lots of reasons why, the bulk is easy access and instant social media fish reports imo.

Go take a road trip pre dawn on a moon tide there. You will be dumbfounded.
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I was referring to your opinion based on your friend "not telling those stories". Just because he doesn't speak about it or doesn't see it,really means nothing.But yes, safe to say we all wish more bass were around.
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so you admit that you haven't been there yourself, but also doubt the word of those who have been there to witness the sh!tshow first hand......?:huh:

^^^^ This

Every year I say it can't get worse.......Every year I am wrong

I only hit there once or twice every spring and it’s not bad....
I wonder how crowded if it where C&R only.... hmmmm
Man made fish traps prohibited.... :-)

the entire canal should be catch and release. plain, simple, effective.

Sorry mass Comm guys, you should have to work for your money, ya know, kinda like how everyone else does...

The last 2 mornings I was there before the flea market was a chit show, a blind drunk monkey could have caught 2 30-40 lb fish....

I'll be up there again a bunch before the market in august, calling the epo again when i see stupid people doing stupid things

its a portend of things to come....... too many big fish in a concentrated area.

the crash is a-comin'.........................

yup the crash has been coming ever since the last one ended

You can bet on it. It will happen again....sooner rather than later but no one wants to listen.
I had a long conversation with Mike Laptew last week and he and I are on the same page.

Game fish would mean more revenue for the hotels, restaurants, tackle shops, clothing stores, charter captains, boat rental and dealer ships to mention a few. I doubt any of these commercial guys are truly reliant on striped bass for a big percent of their income and if they made the switch to charter for catch and release; I suspect in the long run they would profit more. Florida and others are the perfect example, look at the economic impact their protected and priced game fish mean.
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Take a look at the ultra expensive trucks and boats at boat ramps Monday and Thursday. No one is living a hard scrabble, pay check to pay check life there. Wish I was that destitute.
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Like on shark week in an area of Mexico targeted for shark fins.
It is a targeted "kill zone".

Exactly. The politicians are too stupid to realize this. Look at the Snook and Tarpon fishery in FL. Now worth millions to the rec dealers.

Florida & Florida & RI is RI

a lot of guys , recs, familys , eat the bass .

see how bait shows feels if they can,t sell clamworms @ 8.50 per dozen & up .the Scuppers arn,t buying worms .
& terminal tackle ??????

Charter boats ..……… only in RI .I know there are plenty that catch & release , but also a lot do that plus the charters do want the option to take home one or two 0r a 50 #

Yet .rumor has it the RICBA isn,t happy with one bass per angler …….. that they are going to propose to have another exception for then next year .like they already have for all ground fish . they want two bass per angler per [TRIP] some make more than one trip a day .

yes most commercial R&R bass fisherman can,t make a living on stripers …………. but in RI you also have spear fisherman & trap fisherman that target bass .

also with few exception few commercials fisherman can make it on any fish & many fish >>any & everything to make a living .
traps , R&R , lobster, crabs, fish , digging .

IMO .which is all it is will only hurt the guy really trying to make a living ……… the black market will thrive & life goes on.

A real effort by enforcement with real high fines/penalities , instead of looking the other way . would really help to curtail illegal fisheries ……………. But at this stage I,m broken & tired of the B/S & sadly the boat has been at the dock waaaaaaaaaaaaaay more than I can remember .
Fishing & the life was good while it lasted ………...I just told my kid last week .that if I get altimzers [sp] & I start forgetting about ya Mom or I can,t remember the stories .P L E A S E . help me ……….. OUT :soon:

Went by the herring run around 3 this morn,,,, not a parking space left...
Westport ramp 4:30 no problemo , thanks Wayne

how about the goliath grouper fishery? that's not a glamour fish, but look at all the TV time it gets now that they're around...... people fish for them FOR FUN

this "fish have value when they're dead" mentality had got to stop

But how else will all thbe weekend warriors be able to pay for their boats and dockage?
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Hey guys! Long time no see!
I am proud to say I've never fished the canal, but l gotta say that something is VERY wrong when the only place on that part of the cape to catch good fish is the canal.
Are you guys saying that even the commercial guys that would otherwise be out in boats are now fishing the canal? Holy chit!