U can see where there is a pattern to this.From 2003 thru maybe '06, as per flap the cape was dead..Fishing was slow in general.I remember one yr where he had one decent fish he released at RP..Could it be he was fishing within his normal means and did not expand out to new area's like he is now.Fish have fins they swim..There is a new pattern developing for sure with the increase of bunker.Our springs are slow.Fall runs are not what they used to be.Seems the smaller inshore bait patterns that used to bring the bass to our shores are not doing that.There seems to be a bigger offshore migration especially in the fall.My guess there is a abundance of big and small bait off shore to keep these fish at least 80 yds from the beach..I know for a fact in the last few yrs in NJ the amount of sand eels off shore has especially late summer thru fall has been off the charts.No real concentrations of em inshore cept for a small window when the conditions are right.
The mullet run is a 2 week window.Peanuts escape along the beach without any fish on em.It's just circumstance.IMO.
There are more guys out but they don't fish like there lives depended on it.So it is hard to judge.If they are not every cast the crowd dwindles fast..I have had some good periods in my year but the patterns do not hold up for any time like they used to.I still think it is a different fishery.If u want to have a good season U have to work to find em or be there when they show up..
Still I think regulations need a overhaul.If you guys could see what happens here in the late spring you would agree.So many 25-35 lb fish taken.These fish are basically committing suicide.The fisherman do all they can to help em drink the cool aid.They feel justified as they are fishing within the law.So the laws need some tweaking so that we do not ruin a good thing.Maybe like one fish @ 28" and one @ 48" or better if a trophy fish is caught you can keep it.In NJ you can take three fish with the application of a bonus tag.We have no commercial season so we have extra fish to be taken??.At least thats what they tell us.Recs are afraid if we give up the bonus fish it will just go to some other commercial quota.It is not unusual in the late spring to see three close to forty lb fish on any dock per man..
There is basically no respect for these great beasts that do not deserve to be taken by anyone with a boat and a snag hook..If it keeps up we will surely have a serious problem..