Dog Pound Too Much - Spiny Dogfish - Yuck!!!

[Finaddict]

So while out on Cutty last weekend, while we had action on eels at night the dogfish moved in pretty strong. Not right away usually, we usually were able to pull a few bass out before the dogs moved in, and then forget about it -- nothing for dogfish. That kept us moving pretty good. The Dad Fisherman really got stuck in the pound pretty heavily a few times with bigger fish.

Now back on the mainland, was speaking with a buddy down on Long Island, he said the island is covered with those nasty beasts ... not sure what we can do about it, it's about time to open that market up and reduce the numbers ... but keep track of how often they harrass your fishing, so we can reach out to ASFMC and start something, because we need to curb those creatures.

[Christian]

lobster bait

[tattoobob]

I hate them and they are just as bad as the seals, Plovers, Seals, and Dog Fish what else is there going to be, don't know but we can't win

[clambelly]

sorry, but you can't just have open season on extinction of a fish species just because they are a nusance to guys fishing for stripers. NMFS is not going to raise any quotas until the species is considered recovered. it takes a female dogfish almost 7 years to reach sexual maturity. its gonna be awhile before you see any mortality rates increased for those fish. i remember about 15 years ago when the boats were going out and filling up on 80,000 pounds of those buggers and selling them for pennies. i agree they are a pain when you are trying to catch bass, but you can't just take a species out of the ecosystem without any kind of consequences.

[Finaddict]

Well when these dogfish start to expand into areas when and where they historically -- this is based on more than 40 years of experience (per my contact on LI) -- are not found in waters such as inshore Long Island, too early based on years passed, it means that the species is so plentiful that they are leaving their normal grounds and expanding outward.

We either need to introduce the dogfish to the seals as food - plovers too Tattoo Bob -- then maybe some of our problem will be taken care of naturally.

But yes, we cannot extinguish an entire species because they are nusance, but we can reduce their population to more balanced levels.

[The Dad Fisherman]

Not to Spot Burn, But if anybody is looking for a Honey Hole for them on Cutty PM me. I know a Spot that you can have your pick all night long

[tattoobob]

The thing that bothered me was I thought I had a really nice fish on and when I got the fish to shore and put my light on it was a stupid shark, this is the second time this has happened to me the big ones fight pretty hard.
So to me it is kinda a kick in the Balls

[NIB]

They are bad here in NJ also.My buddie runs/owns a bottom fishing boat.They target fluke seabass in the summer months.when we get a wind outa the south that brings a dip in water temps they take over.Like the bottom is paved wit em.

[clambelly]

finaddict, i understand what you are saying. i don't have much in historical references when it come to dogfish, but one theory could explain why the dogs are being seen in places they normally haven't.

maybe their population has expanded to recovered levels, along with the fact that maybe they are taking over the place of the cod in the food chain. it isn't crazy to think that this might be an explanation, in my eyes.

[MakoMike]

According to the scientists it's not the overall population that is in trouble, it's the population of breeding age females. There are loads of males around but, for some reason, not enough females. Both the U.S. and Canadian scientists reached the same conclusion and the U.S. studies have been peer reviewed.

[riverrat2]

Dogfish suck they have invaded a spot I fish in RI.

[Finaddict]

MakoMike,

If what you say is true, maybe we will not have to worry about them too much longer as there will not be enough to breed as abundantly as in prior years and they may just die off ... the problem is, who knows how long that will take and it is going to make our fishing tough for some time, I say do what you want with them ... it always amazes me when they jump way up into the rocks and you come across them with no understanding as to why they are up there ...

[Zeno]

Few of my friends plugged a nice sandbar yesterday morning.They had 4 fish by dragging Point Jude tins thru the sand.Unfortunately ,they were all doggies.That is something new to me.
The infestation is nothing like I've seen before.For those who baitfish ,prepare to be reeling in a doggie on every cast for as long as 6 to 8 hours ,within seconds of hitting the water.Bass never does have a chance to find the bait...As far as fluking ,its a disaster in some places...

Hi Mako Mike

[clumber]

My usual haunt has been converted into a kennel also.

Quite a few big dogs too! They are the worst. Its pretty sad when you start to sigh at the sight of your rod bent over in the spike instead of getting that hopeful anticipation.

Bait is now off the menu.
pogie chunk = alpo

[Swimmer]

They can start an FLW Dogfish Tournament