game fish

[MakoMike]

If you think that the Ark bait operation in the bay is impacting overall menhaden stocks, you need to look at the numbers. Ark bait's landings aren't a small fraction of what Omega Protein take out of the ecosystem.

[Mike P]

Since we like to eat bass, I kept about 8 fish out of the Canal this year. Mostly teen fish in the 32-38" range, but also one 25# and one 33#.

All but two had nothing inside them, including both the 25 and 33. The 33 was almost 47" long, which not too long ago would have likely weighed in the high 30s or even low 40s.

One of the teen fish had 3 chicken lobsters.

One of the others was still catrrying her roe, but had nothing in her stomach.

There is definitely a shortage of forage.

[baldwin]

Bunker are a high-lipid diet, which supplies bass with a lot of energy, fattens them up for migration, and keeps them healthy. Other forage such as shrimp, crabs, etc. are leaner, not the same. Reducing the menhaden fishery will benefit striper fishing as well as the health of Chesapeake bay. Menhaden are also filter feeders, keep population of algae (including bad ones- red tide,...) down, cleaner waters.