Still a few good ones left...

[Rockfish9]

Originally Posted by JohnR

Nice fishies Joe!

So how does it look for you - the trend in your waters over say the last 5 years.

The fish have definitely trended smaller and the larger ones far less numerous each year over the last 5 years.. and is some ways it is to be expected... it's the gap between the high teens and the 30lb class fish that is a little worrisome....I've caught a lot of fish this season but small 3-5 lb class ( not a bad thing ) out number even 10 lbers 30:1...that school of 20lbers was the first of those year class I have seen this season.. and they were gone in 1 tide...along that line ( the 10lb class) 3 years ago there was a massive school of 10 -12lb bass around all summer... they were everywhere all season... to the point of being a nuisance... from the new Hampshire boarder to just north of Cape ann.. lasting well into October...haven't seen anything like that since.. it's like that whole year class vanished... last year was the first time in 3 years I did not get a "50"..not that it means anything.. because it doesn't... but 30's and 40's were rare as well.... and those year classes tend to "school" up together... we had one solid week of real nice 30-40lb class fish last August on the week leading up to the full moon... there was a small section of beach( maybe 1 mile long) that gave up almost non stop action for 11 consecutive nights.. the tide didn't matter... only the location and that it be dark.. so there was a huge school of heavies that far north...presumably chowing down on Sand eels.. because small baits worked better than larger ones.. they vanished without a trace... we went from 20 fish nights to skunk in 24 hours.... my guess is they went offshore.. right over stellwagen straight to block island following the sea herring.... September was the worst in recent memory... I didn't break 20lbs...and most were far smaller than that... and that hasn't happen in 40 years...I pulled the boat the first week of October...

IMHO...with the measures that we have in place... the general publics awareness ... and the amount of brood stock still in place is enough for me to think that part ( not all) of the "problem" we are seeing are a part of a natural cycle....as long as we as fisherman and consumers.. which in one way of the other we ALL are .. remain vigilant and attentive. Make adjustments to our fishing when we need to and not over react to fluctuations up or down... striped bass will flourish and be plentiful for our children .. grand children and great grand children... we'll just have to endure some unpleasant outings and depressingly hard times...it's always not going to be blitzes and monsters... I think we all got a little "spoiled" with the numbers of super heavy fish available over the last 10 years ..... the current "downturn" in big fish has me appreciate what I've witnessed a little more... each trip is a blessing... each cow.. a gift...