Is this the begining of the end?

[Flaptail]

There are billions of little fish around up here, what we are seeing is what we hoped for, a mix of both. The pogies coming back are helping to draw the bigger fish back to the cape. Our only problem now is mung and seals.

We are definetly into the doldrums up here now, a bit early but the water temps have warmed significantly. Hoping the Bonito show soon.

The good side of the warmer weather is that the outer beaches have opened up earlier but Sandy Neck is screwed as the Terns nested late and probably won't open all the way until mid September.

I wouldn't worry too much.

[Mike P]

Originally Posted by Flaptail

There are billions of little fish around up here, what we are seeing is what we hoped for, a mix of both. The pogies coming back are helping to draw the bigger fish back to the cape.

I wouldn't worry too much.

I agree. Check out the YOY indices between 1971 and 1988, and compare them to the indices over the last 20 years. And bear in mind that between 1971 and the mid-80s, the minimum size limit was 16" fork length and there were no commercial quotas in effect anywhere.

By the way--an "average" YOY index was 8.0 until recently. Recent spawns have been so successful that an "average" YOY index is now 12.0--that's a 50% increase.

[Back Beach]

Originally Posted by Flaptail

There are billions of little fish around up here, what we are seeing is what we hoped for, a mix of both. The pogies coming back are helping to draw the bigger fish back to the cape. Our only problem now is mung and seals.

We are definetly into the doldrums up here now, a bit early but the water temps have warmed significantly. Hoping the Bonito show soon.

The good side of the warmer weather is that the outer beaches have opened up earlier but Sandy Neck is screwed as the Terns nested late and probably won't open all the way until mid September.

I wouldn't worry too much.

I agree. We have perhaps the best fishery right now I've seen in my lifetime. Yes, I caught a lot more giant fish in the 80's and 90' than I do now, but it was due to the fact I practically lived on the water and there was an abundance of very large fish in the areas I was most competent with in terms of finding and catching fish.

You hear the same "sky is falling" excuses every year from people who are having bad luck. I haven't taken a fish over 30" in three weeks. It’s not from lack of effort or available fish. They're just parked in a different place than they were a few weeks ago on a different pattern.