Are we repeating the 70's and hammering the population to the brink again? Or is all the talk much ado about nothing?
What's your opinion?
Personally, I'm not sure. By far my worst season, after 2 poor seasons. I'm still seeing small fish, but not alot in areas that used to hold quite a few. BUT, I'm doing more Yak fishing this year and still getting into the groove, so my experience this year is not indicative of a "normal" season for me.
The YOY index (from the below source) while HIGHLY variable has been declining since peaking in 1996.
However, note that during the last time BIG fish were the norm, the YOY index was EXTREMELY low. Unlike now, where it is right around the 54 year average.
I wasn't fishing back then, but was the rec. pressure back then as high as it is today? If not than even though the YOY index is OK, more recs killing bass means all things being equal a higher YOY would be needed to sustain the fishery
http://www.dnr.state.md.us/dnrnews/p...7/100407c.html
What are your thoughts?
Threaded Mode