I'm noticing something.
 

Of the hundreds of bass I've been lucky enough to catch this season. From a bunch of different locations south and north of the cape. There was not a single fish under, say, 22 inches.

I am usually pretty good at "kibbie " fishing, the last few years not so much.

Where are they ?

I have a good idea why.

Sounds like a repeat of the late '70s and '80s.

It means I shouldnt waste my money on fishing gear for my young son...

Again, they are here in Westport. By the millions. I had an all out blitz of 14" +/- fish last night. Was wild to stand and watch. After dark was aggravating digging hooks out of them, especially since my eel was longer than most of them. Could have live-lined some of them. TINY.

If there are only very localized schools of kibbies, seems like that should trigger some concern.

How many people are targeting small fish....it may also have something to do w/ the size bait/lure being used.

14" eels aren't going to result in an abundance of 12" schoolies.

I could also be a result of larger bass and other predators keeping them at bay. Since bass are cannibalistic, and we have plenty of other things that would like to eat a small bass (bait?), it seems to me that they may not have migrated to the areas we used to see them.
It could also be the result of the fish staying where the food is.
If certain bays and estuaries are loaded with small bait, why would th smaller bass want to leave, unless they were forced to by other influences?

22-32 inch fish are goign to be dominant beause we ahve a couple of super year classes in that size range....the little ones are not as many but are around...

Saw a guy pull out a maybe 14" fish jigging the canal this morning. His buddy gave him a lot of **it. It was pretty funny.

My main point was the little rats used to be ubiquitous, blanket coverage early spring and late fall. No matter where I was, mouths the size of nickels. I'd get a hundred a tide on my trout gear if I wanted.
Remember, I'm an old cynic, so I look at this as a canary in a coal mine.
:stir:

Makai, no one listens to us old bastards. I've been complaining about the lack of schoolies (along with Clammer) but no one believes us. Wait, you'll see in a few years. We lived through it. You guys will also.

The little one are the building blocks for the future. we've been this route before. How much does it take to learn that this isn't a good sign. Ah but what the heck as long as a buck can be made by a comercial who gives a damn right. I find small fish i stop fishing and walk away from them they're way to important.

when all the puppies went missing

everyone knew why

I will say that I didn't run into my normal run of schoolies this spring on the north shore, my first fish this year was 27 inches! I usually catch dozens of sub-20 inch fish in May, this year only a handful.

I fly fish from shore almost exclusively, sunrise and sunset in Scituate or Sandwich. The bass I catch are small and total numbers are down from previous years (about 75 year to date). I'm with Patrick regarding the YOY index. Last year I joined MSBA and plan on being in Deham to support the MSBA position.

I've never seem less small bass since i started fishing. I had friends who guide at MV tell me the same thing, no small fish this spring