My Theory......

[riverrat2]

What I said was that we dont have a large resident population of LARGE fish on the south shore. 28-36" fish are schoolies, they travel in the same schools as 20" fish. When was the last time that you were bailing 20" fish and suddenly cought a 35lber? For me this has never happened, if anyone has ever read Billy the Greek's book would know what I am talking about. If you are finding large schools' of 20lb+ fish on the south shore, whether it be from boat or beach I tip my hat to you. This is isn't to say that the occasional large fish isn't to be had especially during the mackeral run but we just don't get the concentrated numbers of them like they do on the south side.

[BigBo]

riverrat2; Aside from the dismal past couple years, I again disagree with you. We've had some very good years with many schools of large fish in the recent past.

[Flaptail]

Originally Posted by riverrat2

What I said was that we dont have a large resident population of LARGE fish on the south shore. 28-36" fish are schoolies, they travel in the same schools as 20" fish. When was the last time that you were bailing 20" fish and suddenly cought a 35lber? For me this has never happened, if anyone has ever read Billy the Greek's book would know what I am talking about. If you are finding large schools' of 20lb+ fish on the south shore, whether it be from boat or beach I tip my hat to you. This is isn't to say that the occasional large fish isn't to be had especially during the mackeral run but we just don't get the concentrated numbers of them like they do on the south side.

Hooking a big fish in the midst of school fish is not rare, in fact there are quite often bigger fish undeneath and mixed in with school fish especially if the bait is heavy and the feed bag is on. School fish are just quicker on the draw.

[tattoobob]

Here is a theory, I noticed sense they changed the take to 2 fish a day at 28 every year the large fish catch goes down

[Finaddict]

I think the two fish per day at 28 inches has definitely impacted the numbers of big fish ... but what probably has hurt them more are the declining bait stocks - That is why Jersey is doing so well this year on big fish, they have the bait to support the fish down there right now.

[riverrat2]

I disagree, if the school of fish is strictly bass, no bluefish and you are bailing 20" fish your chances of hooking into a real large fish are very slim, not to say it is impossible nothing is set in stone regarding fish. If bluefish are envolved then it is certainly true that large bass can be cought "underneath" the school of fish cleaning up the scraps.

[Tagger]

caught 4) 30lb. fish in less than an hour once ,,, school ?

[macojoe]

As long as the feds keep protecting Dog Fish, Seals, Dragers, Herring Factroy ships, and just for giggles PLOVERS!!
And make the nessary limts to maintainn the fishery.

We will have no bait, No Fish, Peirod!!

They know what to do, but for some reason they fail to do anything till its to late!

There I said it!!