Has anyone noticed???

[fishaholic18]

That the majority of bass out there..right now anyways..Are around 18-22#'s... I've caught more bass in that size range than I could ever imagine this year.. I think I know the reason but just want to see what everyone else's thoughts were..

[ilovetwofish]

I can't land 1keeper bad start to the season for me.I havent much time this year so far.

[Raven]

well not knowing when the spawning period is officially at it's end i would assume that the larger fish are off breeding up the rivers
leaving the for mentioned size of bass more plentiful.

just my .02 cents

[fishaholic18]

I just checked my notes, the majority of the fish have been 18# and 35"-36"

[fishaholic18]

Been researching this. 35-36" fish are 10 years old. 1998 must have been the Striper Baby Boom...

[numbskull]

Just the result of the extreme pressure put on the larger fish in the population.

[Brother Brian]

Fish that size are in the begining of their prime breeding stage and would be 'up river' with the others if there were that many others. For the record my biggest is around 15#s and that was very recently.

Just the result of the extreme pressure put on the larger fish in the population

Yep. Way past time for a slot limit.

[fishaholic18]

Originally Posted by numbskull

Just the result of the extreme pressure put on the larger fish in the population.

How do you figure?

[fish4striper]

I don't know why but I agree.....that's the size I'm seeing ,at least so far

[fishaholic18]

Time will tell I guess, water temp is still real cold for this time of year.. low 50's

[Rockport24]

again, that is a FAT fish, nice football shape too it. are the days of the "racers" gone?

I agree, it must have been that 1998 was a good YOY class. I hope they come in those numbers up here! I'll catch 15-18 pounders all day and be happy as a clam

[maddmatt]

Originally Posted by Rockport24

again, that is a FAT fish, nice football shape too it. are the days of the "racers" gone?

I agree, it must have been that 1998 was a good YOY class. I hope they come in those numbers up here! I'll catch 15-18 pounders all day and be happy as a clam

the racers arn't gone, they'll just get skinny when all the big bait (squid,pogy,mackerel) leaves.

[GonnaCatchABig1]

i think it's just you guys... all MY data show that ALL the fish are invisible, and weigh exactly 0.0lbs each.

[Chuckwood]

I've interviewed a couple of DEM chiefs about this last year -- in RI and Mass. -- and it's because of the moratorium of the 1980s.

What we're seeing now are the benefits of the moratorium -- large year-class fish coming from the mid-to-late nineties and early 2000s.

I was told by these guys that the period around the turn of the century had some of the biggest numbers of young bass. Hence, an buttload of good-sized fish.

[Bass Babe]

Originally Posted by Chuckwood

I've interviewed a couple of DEM chiefs about this last year -- in RI and Mass. -- and it's because of the moratorium of the 1980s.

What we're seeing now are the benefits of the moratorium -- large year-class fish coming from the mid-to-late nineties and early 2000s.

I was told by these guys that the period around the turn of the century had some of the biggest numbers of young bass. Hence, an buttload of good-sized fish.

Never mind the buttload, I just need a couple to make me happy.

[Goose]

Those numbers are the result of spring in shore fish. The bigger fish trickle in before more noticeable numbers are had...mostly by boaters.
Go head,,,30# 40#s prove me wrong

[BasicPatrick]

Fishaholic18 has it...1998 is one of the "super year classes. Sorry but this has niothing to do with moratorium fish....this is all about the "super year classes" 1998 is the largest year class that has come to mature age EVER...there is an evn better year class in the pipeline in a few more years.

[Adam_777]

I haven't noticed.I've only got one Striper this year so far and it was short.Gave a nice fight and was healthy and chubby for it's size.The price of gas is keeping me from fishing good spots.

[Back Beach]

Originally Posted by fishaholic18

That the majority of bass out there..right now anyways..Are around 18-22#'s... I've caught more bass in that size range than I could ever imagine this year.. I think I know the reason but just want to see what everyone else's thoughts were..

Two things.

1. Large year classes 10-12 years ago.

2. The real big fish haven't made it up here yet in big numbers. They should be up here any day now. New moon first week of June things should light up, if not just before. Hopefully on Tuesday when things quiet back down in terms of number of people fishing.

[planter]

I think people forget the genetic componenent. So many decent fish get grilled every season that they don't get to full pass on their genetics.

The guys in this forum are like myself for the most part. A fish for the grill is OK but you don't have to go home with two keepers everytime you fish and letting a nice fish go regardless of who believes you ect is a great thing.

It seems that when the limit was 36" there were tons of 35". They keep dropping the size limit and now the unlucky cows are gone and we have a ton of 25" fish.

The whitetail deer has improved with quality game Management (QDM) but the poor bass is doomed to a genetic state where freshwater spinning gear will be all you need and a Bigfish plug would kill em if it hit em.

[Vogt]

The REALLY big fish (over 25lbs) are here. Just not in huge numbers yet. I'm refering to open beach not in the river systems.

[piemma]

Originally Posted by Back Beach

Two things.

1. Large year classes 10-12 years ago.

2. The real big fish haven't made it up here yet in big numbers. They should be up here any day now. New moon first week of June things should light up, if not just before. Hopefully on Tuesday when things quiet back down in terms of number of people fishing.

BINGO.

The bigs have not arrived yet. Water is still only 53 degrees at the top end and colder in some spots. Stand by, they will be here. Also we have had a month of NE and N and NW wind. It needs to go SW for a few days and the big girls will come to dinner.

We are between moves of fish right now. I have fish the last 2 days with live bunker from 4 AM till 10. The normal spots have been barren. I found fish in the mid-20s this morning but had to run WAY South.

Had RIJimmy for a partner for awhile in his boat. He had fish in the high teens. His fish were not where either one of us would have expected.

Like Back beach said, the big push will be the June moon

[jkjnp]

Originally Posted by piemma

BINGO.

The bigs have not arrived yet. Water is still only 53 degrees at the top end and colder in some spots. Stand by, they will be here. Also we have had a month of NE and N and NW wind. It needs to go SW for a few days and the big girls will come to dinner.

We are between moves of fish right now. I have fish the last 2 days with live bunker from 4 AM till 10. The normal spots have been barren. I found fish in the mid-20s this morning but had to run WAY South.

I hope you guys are right!! By this time last year I had many quality fish. Those same spots are not producing at all this year!!!
Just finished two days of fishing with 0 bass. Last year this weekend at the same spots I killed them. The numbers of pogies out there is very impressive!

[Back Beach]

Originally Posted by piemma

We are between moves of fish right now.

Happens every year. 10 days to 2 weeks of mediums, then a lull. Plenty of fish to our north, though. Too far of a drive for me. I'm content to wait.
If I can watch grass grow for a living, I can handle some idle fishing time.

[fish4striper]

Originally Posted by jkjnp

I hope you guys are right!! By this time last year I had many quality fish. Those same spots are not producing at all this year!!!
Just finished two days of fishing with 0 bass. Last year this weekend at the same spots I killed them. The numbers of pogies out there is very impressive!

It's all the N NE NW winds, makes it very tough to score. We had to work very hard for the fish we got.
We need a good SW blow for awhile.

[MotoXcowboy]

I've noticed the numbers in general down but then again I havent been out as much as the last 2years. (different work schedule)

I spent the whole day fishing with friends (they while I ) anyway..spent the whole day plugging and chunking. with no luck. I know we were in good spot (Jamestown is not to specific I hope) but all my freind and I managed was one dinky bloofish on pogie chunk. Finally I gave in around sunset, threw a big fat pogie head on a circle hook and and joined the party. Kept an eye on my pole that was down about 50feet below, set up on the rocks...after my second beer, saw the pole starting to bend....ran down the staircase and grabbed my rod just before it teetered away over the rock (the pole- my brand new pole, was horizontal, two seconds away from being history) anyway so I grab it and feel something nice on the end..then it went slack...Im thinkin wtf...it got off...started reeling in fast and the line was tight again..must have swam at me.. got her in close to the shore and thats when I realized she was a biggin...by now a few guys come down to watch me land her..she tried one last time to get away but after that came in like a log, she was spent....got her close and grabbed my leader to pull her up and the leader SNAPPED luckily she was so tired she didnt move and I grabbed her by the gill and had her on the rocks. the fish measured out 42" and felt every bit of 30+ lbs. my personal best so far I think, dunno didnt weigh it. The guys were stoked for me and two guys took pics with their phones but one guy was to drunk to friggin save it and the other guys phone doesnt send pics. its all good, we know what I got. they were all going crazy like I was a hero and they were gonna eat like kings...but I didnt know how to tell all these hungry drunks who already had plenty of food...is I had intentions of putting her back in. (they were all about killing it) whatever so I said, I was gonna go bleed her out, but instead carried her down and re-sussitated her after a few good tail shakes and pulling her through the water I knew she was ready...she shook her tail and I let her go...the tail was massive she rocked the water as she swam off...woooooshh whhooosh... it was cool. the guys were pissed, but I knew the fish was gonna get mostly wasted over the fire and or lack of ice... and I'd rather kill a smaller more tasty fish around the 30" mark. after I told them why I let her go they thought it was cool too. It was my fish after all. She gave me the chance to get my brand new fishing pole and I thought I owed it to her to give her a break too. thats karma to me

anyway...the fish was real big and FAT. and she was covered in sea lice too. probably just moved in for the summer or passing through for a snack..

was a real fun night for me. i felt i earned it but hope to get a few more at this spot. its a great spot...

hope my story brings you that fishy feelin' was gonna post a new thread about my story but threw it in here b/c its kind of motivational to some of the earlier post. stories of people catching fish always motivate me to go out there and try.

tight lines everyone

[RIJIMMY]

great story and good for you.

[BassDawg]

EXCELLENT Story, MotoX!

always insprirational to hear of big fish being caught,

and yer dang right, it was yer fish!!!

release away or grill away, it's yer call either way.
and yes, i agree.............in 2 1/2 yrs i've come home
with two fish in one night, ONCE, by design