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One would be correct in regards to the average weight of the fish out of Chatham, but as been stated many fish were also in the higher 20 pound range.
When one considers that all of the bait is grouped in one area, it only stands to reason the fish will remain , especially if the water temperature is condusive to the species like striped bass like to swim in.
Sand eels have been the main food for bass in this area of the cape for a long time, but when you add in mackerel that are leaving there nursery areas in the protected estuarys you have a food chain they will not leave.
We have not seen any problematic changes to the numbers of bass in this area, as long as you have a boat the bite is on all day long.
The question should be, why did so many bass find Chatham inviting overall and can the resource handle it? That is the number of fish being removed from one area in the State?
It will be interesting to see how the DOMF handle this next year from a species in trouble allready.
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