Bass Migration Sighting

[piemma]

DZ & Bill:
I think I know what Alberto is talking about when he says "resident" fish. Gil always could tell when fish from the Cape hit Rhode Island. They are decidedly lisghter because they live on sand all Summer. Rock resident fish are darker because of the bubble weed and kelp, which is darker. Thus you can tell different populations of fish apart by their degree of coloring.

[libassboy]

Al, Ive deifently noticed an increase in fish, its funny i was just talking about this last nite, how they are defidently not residents and they are moving. Going thru my log, Montauk lit up sept 2nd just two seasons ago and those were defidently migrating fish...so your notion is not far off at all, infact its almost right on target.
The east end of LI recieves alot of cooler water in weather conditions like weve been haivng, esp Montauk, so an early migration of fish is defidently possible, even probable.
Just because they havent started moving in Rhody doesnt mean there arent fish moving at all, Montauk always sees an early goup of fish.

[Canalman]

Alberto, can you talk a little about how you can tell residents from migrants by their markings, this is a new subject for me... all stripers have stripes what else do they have.

As I see it, the bass that are "residents" in my area could be the residents in yours next year (and by the season I've had, I hope they switch places next year ). I have seen bodies of fish move in at all times of the year, and while my experience doesn't stretch as far as Yours Alberto, Bill, DZ. I do have the luxury of being on the water 3-5 times a week and I do consider myself observant. I catch fish every year right up to 11/15-20 in Massachusetts. I never buy it when people say the migration is early or late... it's always right on time and is usually around the same time every year. AND the entries from one logbook mean nothing, just because person A catches 500 fish from 9/15 to 10/15 and then just 15 from 10/21 on doesn't mean that person B isn't catching at that time, you just have to be lucky enough to know where they are at certain times. Same thing as the start of the spring fishing, someone sees a herring in the grocery store Jan 1 and the bass are gonna be here in Feb. I don't buy into this stuff, happens within 10 days of the same date every year.

-Dave

[Slingah]

I agree with what Canalman just posted.....my thoughts exactly
I also fish 3-5 nites a week and it has been pretty much the same for me year after year.......not sure if they are migrating yet or what....but they are definatly on the search for grub now

[libassboy]

I wonder if AL means looking at the relative health of the fish. Resident to me are always a little weird, wether they have missing chunks of fins, fungus, etc. The real healthy fish, esp fish in the 25lb and up class, are usually the migrants, and are at the top of their game. They may be skinny at different times of the year but overall they are healthy fish. I know when those first groups of real migrants come thru in sept, you can defidently tell the difference from the residents ive been banging away on for a few months. Im not talking about two or three fish, but an overall picture from catching many.
Weather they are some early group of migrants, or fish shuffeling around, we are happy to have them.

[JohnR]

You can sometimes tell the difference between a sandfish and a rockfish just like Piemma said (I prefer the dark purple backed rocks ). So introducing a few days of "sand" fish could very well indicate something different...

[Pete_G]

Surface water temps within several miles of Newport were still very cozy early this afternoon before the sun came out. 69 and almost to 70 in some spots.

Surprisingly minimal drop considering the weather. A degree or 2 at the most. Distinct lack of bluefish schools out there as well, but maybe it's just the weather keeping them below the surface. Plenty of bait around as well as some tropical looking bait fish holding on lobster buoys.

What that means in regards to migration? I don't know, but it's still warm here, for what ever that is worth.

[eastendlu]

There are no fish by me or lawng island.