Is this the begining of the end?

[Pt.JudeJoe]

There were plenty of small ones in Newport tonight. I sent them on their way ...they promised to come back in 15 years.

[NIB]

U can see where there is a pattern to this.From 2003 thru maybe '06, as per flap the cape was dead..Fishing was slow in general.I remember one yr where he had one decent fish he released at RP..Could it be he was fishing within his normal means and did not expand out to new area's like he is now.Fish have fins they swim..There is a new pattern developing for sure with the increase of bunker.Our springs are slow.Fall runs are not what they used to be.Seems the smaller inshore bait patterns that used to bring the bass to our shores are not doing that.There seems to be a bigger offshore migration especially in the fall.My guess there is a abundance of big and small bait off shore to keep these fish at least 80 yds from the beach..I know for a fact in the last few yrs in NJ the amount of sand eels off shore has especially late summer thru fall has been off the charts.No real concentrations of em inshore cept for a small window when the conditions are right.
The mullet run is a 2 week window.Peanuts escape along the beach without any fish on em.It's just circumstance.IMO.
There are more guys out but they don't fish like there lives depended on it.So it is hard to judge.If they are not every cast the crowd dwindles fast..I have had some good periods in my year but the patterns do not hold up for any time like they used to.I still think it is a different fishery.If u want to have a good season U have to work to find em or be there when they show up..
Still I think regulations need a overhaul.If you guys could see what happens here in the late spring you would agree.So many 25-35 lb fish taken.These fish are basically committing suicide.The fisherman do all they can to help em drink the cool aid.They feel justified as they are fishing within the law.So the laws need some tweaking so that we do not ruin a good thing.Maybe like one fish @ 28" and one @ 48" or better if a trophy fish is caught you can keep it.In NJ you can take three fish with the application of a bonus tag.We have no commercial season so we have extra fish to be taken??.At least thats what they tell us.Recs are afraid if we give up the bonus fish it will just go to some other commercial quota.It is not unusual in the late spring to see three close to forty lb fish on any dock per man.. There is basically no respect for these great beasts that do not deserve to be taken by anyone with a boat and a snag hook..If it keeps up we will surely have a serious problem..

[Flaptail]

Originally Posted by NIB

U can see where there is a pattern to this.From 2003 thru maybe '06, as per flap the cape was dead..Fishing was slow in general.I remember one yr where he had one decent fish he released at RP..Could it be he was fishing within his normal means and did not expand out to new area's like he is now.Fish have fins they swim..There is a new pattern developing for sure with the increase of bunker.Our springs are slow.Fall runs are not what they used to be.Seems the smaller inshore bait patterns that used to bring the bass to our shores are not doing that.There seems to be a bigger offshore migration especially in the fall.My guess there is a abundance of big and small bait off shore to keep these fish at least 80 yds from the beach..I know for a fact in the last few yrs in NJ the amount of sand eels off shore has especially late summer thru fall has been off the charts.No real concentrations of em inshore cept for a small window when the conditions are right.
The mullet run is a 2 week window.Peanuts escape along the beach without any fish on em.It's just circumstance.IMO.
There are more guys out but they don't fish like there lives depended on it.So it is hard to judge.If they are not every cast the crowd dwindles fast..I have had some good periods in my year but the patterns do not hold up for any time like they used to.I still think it is a different fishery.If u want to have a good season U have to work to find em or be there when they show up..
Still I think regulations need a overhaul.If you guys could see what happens here in the late spring you would agree.So many 25-35 lb fish taken.These fish are basically committing suicide.The fisherman do all they can to help em drink the cool aid.They feel justified as they are fishing within the law.So the laws need some tweaking so that we do not ruin a good thing.Maybe like one fish @ 28" and one @ 48" or better if a trophy fish is caught you can keep it.In NJ you can take three fish with the application of a bonus tag.We have no commercial season so we have extra fish to be taken??.At least thats what they tell us.Recs are afraid if we give up the bonus fish it will just go to some other commercial quota.It is not unusual in the late spring to see three close to forty lb fish on any dock per man.. There is basically no respect for these great beasts that do not deserve to be taken by anyone with a boat and a snag hook..If it keeps up we will surely have a serious problem..

Tony, I have always advocated a slot limit just like you mentioned. I don't like to eat the bigger fish, I don't like to kill them anymore, I killed enough and I can't bring myself to kill a fish to weigh in for a tourney ( this year I didn't even enter the Striper Cup) then be stuck with something I don't want and have to try to unload on sombody else never mind haul it off the beach or in the skiff, keep it cold etc etc.

I lkie to munch on the little ones 16 to 24 inches, the fleah is lighter, less red line, if any, just better tasting.

Give me a slot fish of that size and I will be happy.

[dar3]

Ok The way that I am seeing this trend is just like deer season when we have a big crop of acorns evrybody claims the deer herd is down as it is harder hunting because they do not need to move as much. That seems to be what the general census about the bass and I would have to kind of believe that also as there is a ton of bait around not just pogies either lots of other baits. I will sit back and see how the next years unfold. Steve I appreciate the way you keep a log of your fishing activity as that was exactly what I had posted about. I just hope all the post on both sites that have been popping up make the rest of the fisherman think a little before they keep a certain amount of fish. I know it has helped me make better decisions since I got back into striper fishing this year and will defianetly reflect my decisions in the future.
THINGS THAT MAKE YOU GO HMMMM!!!!!!!!!!!!!



Dr3

[Raven]

but i think it's partly weather related

because now it seems

we have the big wet,,,

or monsoon season in july

weeks of rain....

that's a definite change....

it's related or in there some where...

[NIB]

Originally Posted by Flaptail

Tony, I have always advocated a slot limit just like you mentioned. I don't like to eat the bigger fish, I don't like to kill them anymore, I killed enough and I can't bring myself to kill a fish to weigh in for a tourney ( this year I didn't even enter the Striper Cup) then be stuck with something I don't want and have to try to unload on sombody else never mind haul it off the beach or in the skiff, keep it cold etc etc.

I lkie to munch on the little ones 16 to 24 inches, the fleah is lighter, less red line, if any, just better tasting.

Give me a slot fish of that size and I will be happy.

I just think the sheer numbers of newer recreational anglers who feel the need to kill every big fish they catch.Cause they have not done it before,is a good enough reason..When you get a few under your belt you start to realize the beauty of putting em back.
I am not sure the fishery can withstand the pressure it takes in this state an many others to the south of here when the big fish ball up an make themselves so readily available

[JFigliuolo]

Originally Posted by NIB

... SNIPPED!
I am not sure the fishery can withstand the pressure it takes in this state an many others to the south of here when the big fish ball up an make themselves so readily available

Agreed! When so many people that have ZERO respect for the bass can snag/drop/kill, it's NOT a good thing!