Comments on Fisheries / Cod Spawning grounds - Striper Talk Striped Bass Fishing, Surfcasting, Boating

RIROCKHOUND · 11-30-2005, 08:45 AM

Sorry to HiJack as well;
But if you KNOW the fish are spawning and not eating; maybe it's a good thing it's being closed...
Not knocking, those are impressive cod and you're following the rules; I just think the rules shouldn't allow fishing on known spawning grounds. Not just codfish, but Blackfish in the spring etc..

That being said 58 is a HUGE cod, and hooked in the @ss had to be a pretty good fight!

Mr. Sandman · 11-30-2005, 10:44 AM

[QUOTE=RIROCKHOUND]Sorry to HiJack as well;
Not knocking, those are impressive cod and you're following the rules; I just think the rules shouldn't allow fishing on known spawning grounds. Not just codfish, but Blackfish in the spring etc..
QUOTE]

Exactly the "rulemakers" need to get the boot, they have been poisoned by fishing industry pressures. Do what must be done to preserve the fishery or step down.

RIROCKHOUND · 11-30-2005, 10:50 AM

Amem!

beamie · 11-30-2005, 07:02 PM

[QUOTE=RIROCKHOUND]Sorry to HiJack as well;
But if you KNOW the fish are spawning and not eating; maybe it's a good thing it's being closed...

I can see both sides of this arguement. Some say good to shut this area down. Some say let us fish.

But think of it this way.......

What is the difference between a 40 pound cod caught 8 mi east of the bank in 290 Ft of water in June and a 40 pound cod caught in the area of the B bouy in 100Ft in November? Either way, neither will live to spawn again.

riverrat2 · 11-30-2005, 07:47 PM

But your chance of getting a 40lb fish in november at the spawning grounds is way higher then picking one off in june east of the bank.

thefishingfreak · 11-30-2005, 07:58 PM

40# cod, east of the bank, aren't full of eggs.
40# cod, off the b-bouy, are loaded.

big difference between rec and comm too. not knocking either one here.

put 25 boats into a square 1/8 mile with 6 guys snaggin' and you can wipe out the school in an few hours or so.

closure will be good for the stock.

a 58# cod is nice to reel in and makes for fine tablefare.
but dumpin' all those eggs overboard will give anyone the willys.

Raider Ronnie · 11-30-2005, 09:12 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by thefishingfreak

40# cod, east of the bank, aren't full of eggs.
40# cod, off the b-bouy, are loaded.

big difference between rec and comm too. not knocking either one here.

put 25 boats into a square 1/8 mile with 6 guys snaggin' and you can wipe out the school in an few hours or so.

closure will be good for the stock.

a 58# cod is nice to reel in and makes for fine tablefare.
but dumpin' all those eggs overboard will give anyone the willys.

Well put Mike!!!
Though I want to go cod fishing as much as anyone else, and especially with a short ride!!!
I agree with the closing of that area!!!
I saw a bit of it last winter, full totes of cod with the white goo from the eggs running out of the totes!!!
It sound like you gathered the eggs and dumped them ever board ?
I wonder if the dogfish ate them anyway!!!

thefishingfreak · 11-30-2005, 10:34 PM

gilled, gutted, and iced down pretty quickly.

as for the eggs?
the doggs probly got them.

beamie · 11-30-2005, 11:46 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by thefishingfreak

40# cod, east of the bank, aren't full of eggs.
40# cod, off the b-bouy, are loaded.

big difference between rec and comm too. not knocking either one here.

put 25 boats into a square 1/8 mile with 6 guys snaggin' and you can wipe out the school in an few hours or so.

closure will be good for the stock.

a 58# cod is nice to reel in and makes for fine tablefare.
but dumpin' all those eggs overboard will give anyone the willys.

Mike, Yes well said and I knew that one of you guys would say just that. Agreed it would be good for the stock. I'm just saying dead is dead and if you got that 58# cod 4 months ago it never would have been at the spawning ground. I am very glad it is closed now esp. for the netters. I am personally in favor of making commercial groundfishing a hook and line industry. A guy with a 35' boat with 3 jigging machines could do some damage. But far less than a 20 gillnets.

I'm not looking to stir anyone's pot, for I'm pissed that I am at work and can't fish but.....allot of the people, including yourself, think it is best to close the area during spawning, why have you been out there fishing?... I know, you can't say no when invited onto that awesome boat and I'd be right beside you if I had the chance. But I just find it interesting that guys say one thing but then do the other...I'd probably be no different.

Many of us have fun fished, mated or Captained on charters that sometimes see 6,8 even close to 1000 pound days when you get into a big school of "Big Cod" out east, never to squirt again.. How about all the mackeral caught in May full of eggs and white stuff, then we feed them to bass, I feel bad for them......for a minute, until Mr big is on the other end. Same goes for the herring too. Finally they shut it done but up till now guys would say they should shut it down but they would be the first one there in the morning if they could get a barrel full......it is all human nature I guess.

If the rulemakers were real serious on the stocks levels maybe they should have closed this area down to us recs on Nov 1. Who knows..Later

beamie · 12-01-2005, 12:02 AM

Looks like this thread took a high jacking.

Started off with great trip on the Relentless with Cod Hunter and his buddies. Sounded like a pissa day.

relentless · 12-01-2005, 06:59 AM

Cod Hunter posts a report where hs paty of five took 22 cod (just over four a man) and this turns into a let's bash the guys in there and a management thread. I thought there already was a fisheries mangement thread on this board elsewhere. As far as folks saying one thing and doing another we all have been in there, Raider has commercially fished this area in the past along with myself. One member who owns a tackle shop has been out there every weekend on different boats with some of you as guests. We have all enjoyed this fishery.

IMHO I intend to recommend a smaller closure of the area. In other words a one mile square instead of the entire 42-20 - 42-30 during November so folks can still soak a few clams in November around the B buoy.

Back to the fishing, lets remember, no one is limiting out there with six gus, best day 31 fish with party of six, worst 3 fish party of three.

Seeing cod hunter and father together and taking picture, priceless, that is what it is about so let's stop thinking charter boats are out there wiping out schools. I would be more interested in those boats fishng by themselves every day out there or with two people on board. I guess osme people eat a heell of a lot of fish.

Dave

Cod Hunter · 12-01-2005, 10:25 AM

Well put Dave. Thanks. I've learned my lesson here I guess. A happy report about a great, LEGAL trip shared with my Dad and friends is just not what this place is all about and that's too bad.