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In mass the commercial season is spread out to 20 some odd commercial days over say 5-6 weeks. There are different bodies of fish that show up in different areas dependent on the bait. Fish move, A big body of fish may show up and stay only for a tide, day, week, or until a weather change. Fewer fish have shown up the last 2-3 years. I personally like it harder the better. In any case there is a problem with fewer fish. I wont be one to say that the fish in buzzards bay are wiped out, they just dont show there the last 2 years or so in the numbers they have. Quicks hole hasnt had the fish. Weather, bait deffinatly are factors. The bait showed up in April through May frm NJ through Mass. In June we had unprecedented rain, maybe the bait moved out due to salinity, in either case they didnt come back, and niether did the fish. You cant blame the Mass Commercials for that. There is a big difference recreationally / charters pounding an entire biomass that is staged in its wintering grounds or transitory moving up the coast where they are pounded day to day in huge numbers. Recs in VA probably kill more fish in a week than the entire mass comercial season. Just pound the school day in and day out! Look at the commercial methods for harvesting striped bass down in Md, NC, VA... No pinhookers there! break out the nets boys!
I do believe there is a change in pattern also, alot of fish are staying offshore with the bait, well over 3 miles. Theres few inshore baitfish anymore in NE. Grubbing on crabs, lobsters, and reef fish... They are with the miles of sand eals and herring. Cant blame for no fish on the back beaches to mass commercial either. Some people just cant adapt when it gets harder and you have to change, they dont understand the fish but they want to manage the fishery....Might as well let Obama regulate striped bass...
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