[afterhours]

Originally Posted by Mr. Sandman

It is interesting but kind of anecdotal.
Way back when I was a kid in the 60's they said it was sunspots! There was a direct correlation with increased sunspot activity. (read some of the older books on striped bass )
Back in the 80's they also said it was weather related BUT they said the big spring rain's are what caused the problem...via washing farming fertilizer (runoff)into the estuaries and that reacting with the oxygen in the water causing die-offs. Now, it is big spring rains that cause a population boom???

I am sensing a credibility problem ahead.

Until the FACTS are actually known with a very high degree of confidence, conserve the resource using very conservative measures.

The only solution that now makes sense to me is:
- National Game fish status
- 1@ 36" or if these fish need even more help ... C&R only
- Work on the bait problem and do whatever it takes to restore that to support a growing fishery

jim gets it.