squeteague - what's your opinion on this fishery?

[striprman]

Back in the 70's and 80's we caught many nice ones up to 14 pounds in the........river. They may still come there and with the return of pogy schools, one can hope.

I really enjoyed catching them

They must be kept on ice as the meat turns soft, mushy real quick. The fish in the picture were pulled from an ice filled cooler, immediately filleted and the fillets bagged and put back on ice. The meat is very good, kind of like cod or black sea bass.
I think I would be more conservative if I catch any more, might keep one or 2. Those were the days of "100 pounds + one fish", no commercial fishing licence needed to sell fish.

[Finlander]

We had one 7-1/2 lbs while fluke fishing two years ago in 30 feet of water near the pink house. Greating looking fish, tasted good as well, the family keeps asking me to catch another one?

[MakoMike]

We used to be able to fill an igloo 168 in a night of fishing off the north bar at BI, sometimes in one tide! We are the the northern extreme of their range, so we only see the bigger "tiderunner" fish. They are heavily fished commercially from southern NJ to NC. The ASMFC is supposed to be doing something about it. They are definately cyclical in nature, on an approx 10year cycle. But the current poor showing is far below what it should be at this point in their cycle. Lots of small ones are bring snared in Gillnets in MD and DE,and, so far, teh ASMFC has done nothing to stop it. The abundance or lack of pogies has nothing to do with thier abundance, In fact one of their favorite foods is grass shrimp. Oh, and I agree, they are delicious, how anyone can compare them to bluefish is beyond me. Their meat is white!

[slow eddie]

there was a 4 day blitz 4 or 5 yrs ago in pt. jude pond and vicinity, from what i,ve learned since last nite. this happened just before the trap,s went up in the spring. they do taste delicious, not unlike tautog.

put them back alive slow eddie

[mooncusser]

Having fished in NJ many times, i have to say it isn't only the commercials making a dent in the weakfish population. Those guys keep every weekie they are allowed to keep,which is some rediculously high number like 10 per man. That bag limit should be cut at least in half.

I haven't caught one on Cape Cod in about 3 years but as youngster they were quite plentiful inside some of the big harbors on CC Bay.

[eelman]

What fishery?? There is none.............

[Homerun04]

Most elusive of the big three.....never had one, but would love it.