Tim Coleman's Guest Opinion in The Fisherman

[Crafty Angler]

I got my latest copy of The Fisherman in yesterday's mail - it's nice to have a subscription again, gives me something to look forward to with snow on the ground. Just re-upped my subscription a few weeks back, can't believe it kicked in so soon -

I don't know if it has anything to do with knowing the head potato-head or not...

Anyway, Tim wrote a guest opinion on the state of the fishery and it's pretty much what you'd expect. This isn't exactly breaking news and would border on...... given the amount of space the issue has gotten here.

Like anything from Tim, it's well-written and covers what he's continuing to hear from guys with 30-40 years experience in the surf on his circuit. The anecdotal stuff just continues to add up, I know I had one of my worst years in recent memory and my peaks and fall-off matches his time-line.

I've still been trying to figure out if it had to do with my screwy schedule and a late start to my season last year or if I've forgotten everything I thought I knew, been in denial and just plain stink...

Or maybe I'm going to have a 'V-8 Moment' and realize that they just weren't there like they once were...

I guess I won't know 'til the end of the 2009 season - from start to end I plan to do the whole season in order and according to Hoyle and that'll give me my answer.

Interesting read from a respected writer, anyway -

[Rocco34520]

Im thinking about suscribing to The Fisherman soon.

[Nebe]

While I agree with what I think tim is saying ( i have not read it yet).

Something to consider is that patterns change. For example, for the past 2 years you could not find a bass in narragansett, but go up to the top of the bay where the pogies were hanging out and it was a slaughter.

[Clogston29]

adding to Nebe's comment, i've read accounts from guys in the 70s that there were years that it seamed like every bass in the ocean was underneath the pogie schools. if you weren't on the pogies, you weren't on the fish. and the fish that were under the pogies got decimated by fisherman because it was just too easy. makes you wonder if the return of the pogies is really a good thing if other forage species are not equally managed.

[joe the plumber]

I am worried.I got got back into surf fishing 3 seasons ago after a 13 year layoff.While I make no claims to be the most observant guy,I noticed changes as you might expect.
I won't bore you with what i've seen change, but I will state that the lack of peanuts last season with the increase of adult "bunker" [Eastern Connecticut lingo] tells me that after the large bass that some of us will catch this coming season, under these schools of baitfish, will signal the start of some very lean times for all of us who chase striped bass.

[numbskull]

What bothers me is the spottiness of the fishing. There are still good numbers of fish to be had in a few spots, but the fishing in between is nonexistent....and that isn't right by a long shot.

[Nebe]

Originally Posted by Clogston29

makes you wonder if the return of the pogies is really a good thing if other forage species are not equally managed.

I have been screaming about this for a long time. Since day one infact.

Sure pogies are great for making a fat bass, but that bass isnt going to live very long. Another gripe I have is that 90% if the jamokes snagging pogies simply snag and drop and do not switch to a circle hook, so the mortality rate on a 8/0 trebble gut hooked bass is way way way high..

[JFigliuolo]

Originally Posted by Nebe

I have been screaming about this for a long time. Since day one infact.

Sure pogies are great for making a fat bass, but that bass isnt going to live very long. Another gripe I have is that 90% if the jamokes snagging pogies simply snag and drop and do not switch to a circle hook, so the mortality rate on a 8/0 trebble gut hooked bass is way way way high..

I've been on that band wagon as well...

[RIJIMMY]

Originally Posted by Clogston29

adding to Nebe's comment, i've read accounts from guys in the 70s that there were years that it seamed like every bass in the ocean was underneath the pogie schools. if you weren't on the pogies, you weren't on the fish. and the fish that were under the pogies got decimated by fisherman because it was just too easy. makes you wonder if the return of the pogies is really a good thing if other forage species are not equally managed.

I am by far not even close to be any expert, but I feel I could dispel something @ the pogies and the bay. I caught all my fish last year nowhere near the large bunker schools and I know that many other guys did as well. I was using bunker as bait miles away from the large schools and in areas that were within casting distance from the shore. I dont think this is relavent to the thread, but think do think its important to note that not all bass are with the schools.

[MAKAI]

We have the ability to take more from the sea without ever giving back,pollution,overfishing, habitat loss, guesswork managment of fisheries. I have been a fishing fool since the mid 70's. At times we have great fishing, but not the frequency of the past. The near shore ocean is in a slow miserable death. From myriad reasons the majority influenced by man. Why is it human nature to wait until we are in dire straits before we act. A serious design flaw on our part.

[5 String Bass]

I heard stories of massive schools of pogies "up the river" in RI this year and armfuls of bass being taken
I have also heard that the holdover population seems to have grown in that state's capital, and am actually hesitant to mention it here. I have to wonder if our favorite fish has begun to choose a legitimate new fishery? Stripers up the river are nothing new, I realize, but there did seem to be a lot of chatter about it this year. There was also a lot of chatter about fish not being where they had been in years past. Indeed the weather is not accomodating this time of year, but how are things up the Hudson right now? I wonder what measures could be taken to protect it, should the river actually become a growing fishery. I do not know enough about striped bass science to really say that I might be on to something, but I wonder just the same.

Maybe it's nothing...

[piemma]

Originally Posted by RIJIMMY

I am by far not even close to be any expert, but I feel I could dispel something @ the pogies and the bay. I caught all my fish last year nowhere near the large bunker schools and I know that many other guys did as well. I was using bunker as bait miles away from the large schools and in areas that were within casting distance from the shore. I dont think this is relavent to the thread, but think do think its important to note that not all bass are with the schools.

Yeah, but you know what Jim, you and I were the exception to the rule. Many of the nitwits (there was a thread on this topic last year) were doing what Nebe said. Snag and drop.
I know for a fact as I had guys calling me telling me how I made too much of this "striper fishing crap" "it's real easy". They were off the main pier in Providence and snagging and dropping till a 20# bass picked up the snagged pogy. I was really pissed about the whole thing and while you and I were getting bigger and better quality fishing miles away, these guys were slaughtering 15 to 20# fish at an amazing rate.
My wife and I were in Maui on our 40th anniverary trip in June of last year and this jamoke called me at 11:30 PM EDT to tell me how there were 4 guys on his boat and they had 8, 15 to 20 # fish in the boat and had never left Providence.

[Tagger]

Originally Posted by numbskull

What bothers me is the spottiness of the fishing. There are still good numbers of fish to be had in a few spots, but the fishing in between is nonexistent....and that isn't right by a long shot.

Yea .. and try telling those guys fishing is off .. Thier hole hasn't dried up yet .. My hole has been dry 5 yrs. now .. Pleez don't carry that remark in qoutes Numby ..

[stripercrazy]

there was alot of fish killed last year 30-34 inches... to think we used to let them go and now its a free for all...very few were let go from what I seen

[Crafty Angler]

Originally Posted by piemma

Yeah, but you know what Jim, you and I were the exception to the rule. Many of the nitwits (there was a thread on this topic last year) were doing what Nebe said. Snag and drop.
I know for a fact as I had guys calling me telling me how I made too much of this "striper fishing crap" "it's real easy". They were off the main pier in Providence and snagging and dropping till a 20# bass picked up the snagged pogy. I was really pissed about the whole thing and while you and I were getting bigger and better quality fishing miles away, these guys were slaughtering 15 to 20# fish at an amazing rate.
My wife and I were in Maui on our 40th anniverary trip in June of last year and this jamoke called me at 11:30 PM EDT to tell me how there were 4 guys on his boat and they had 8, 15 to 20 # fish in the boat and had never left Providence.

Yup, Paul - I remember hearing that every gibroney with something that would float was up there snagging pogies and tonging bass like stocked trout from boats that were just about gunnel to gunnel...

[Clogston29]

the jetty fishing for bass on pogies that's developed in Jersey in recent years is another example. it gets to easy and any idiot can go out there and kill their limit.

please note, i am not intending to criticize everyone fishing the bass on pogies. i am just pointing out that it makes the bass too concentrated and vulnerable. a surplus of pogies would be great if herring, sandeels, mackeral, lobster, crabs, etc. were managed and existed in equal levels of abundance.

[Nebe]

I guarantee you that 90% of the people doing this were not fishing for bass in the early 80's and have no idea about the moratorium and what happened to the bass. And you know what they say about people who do not learn from history right?? They are doomed to repeat it..

[Clammer]

Tagger;;

sorry to hear that your [HOLE} has been dry for 5 years ;;

[bart]

Originally Posted by Clogston29

the jetty fishing for bass on pogies that's developed in Jersey in recent years is another example. it gets to easy and any idiot can go out there and kill their limit.

please note, i am not intending to criticize everyone fishing the bass on pogies. i am just pointing out that it makes the bass too concentrated and vulnerable. a surplus of pogies would be great if herring, sandeels, mackeral, lobster, crabs, etc. were managed and existed in equal levels of abundance.

i agree with everything you said. but i saw a ton of mackerel last year in the short time i was fishing. mind you i was fishing a different spot than normal, but i thought that was an encouraging sign...

[Clammer]

I han,t seen a ton of mackeral in RI waters in 30+ years //


the end of our GIANT tuna fishing ><><><

[Tagger]

Originally Posted by Clammer

Tagger;;

sorry to hear that your [HOLE} has been dry for 5 years ;;

Thanks Mike ,,,, I think ..

[Clammer]

T ..I think ya know what I mean ><<<><