The stripers have changed

[bloocrab]

I'm embarrassed to say it......but I agree with Jimmy, agreeing with JF,,, oh wait, does that mean I'm smooching again? twice in the same post?...

Seriously though, I too, am finding the fish relatively closer in weight correlating to length....although earlier this year, I found fish feeding on a worm hatch that were quite lean, and then,, barely keeper-size fish feeding on pogies that were EXTREMELY FAT....which obviously makes sense.

What are you basing your findings on? Lotta variables in play with this type of equation.

[ecduzitgood]

Originally Posted by bloocrab

I'm embarrassed to say it......but I agree with Jimmy, agreeing with JF,,, oh wait, does that mean I'm smooching again? twice in the same post?...

Seriously though, I too, am finding the fish relatively closer in weight correlating to length....although earlier this year, I found fish feeding on a worm hatch that were quite lean, and then,, barely keeper-size fish feeding on pogies that were EXTREMELY FAT....which obviously makes sense.

What are you basing your findings on? Lotta variables in play with this type of equation.

Just based upon the fish I have been catching the past few years and seeing the schooling fish that are filmed by Mike Laptew (Stripers in paradise 1997 and Striper's gone wild 2005). I fished hard through the 80's into the 90's then I took several years off before I started fishing again although not as often as before or as long (16hrs. seems to be my limit now compared to 2-3 days when I was younger) and I usually only fish the tides I like now and try to avoid the weekends because the Ditch can get a little crowded.

[bloocrab]

Originally Posted by ecduzitgood

Just based upon the fish I have been catching the past few years and seeing the schooling fish that are filmed by Mike Laptew (Stripers in paradise 1997 and Striper's gone wild 2005). I fished hard through the 80's into the 90's then I took several years off before I started fishing again although not as often as before or as long (16hrs. seems to be my limit now compared to 2-3 days when I was younger) and I usually only fish the tides I like now and try to avoid the weekends because the Ditch can get a little crowded.

That's Interesting, ...I actually thought most of the canal fish I saw caught earlier this year were pretty healthy looking, ie: length vs. girth, just a visual observation of course, as I didn't weigh anyone else's fish. I know it's been discussed on here before, as far as what an average length on a healthy fish should translate into poundage. ....although it's FAR from an accurate science. I was thinking due to the heavy concentration of multiple baits in the canal this year, for the duration that they were there...most fish were pleasantly plump??... Maybe I was just in the right place at the right time ,,, and that's not an attack, just thinking aloud.

[ecduzitgood]

The smaller fish look the same it's when you get around 36ish and above that seem to be lean with huge heads that seem out of proportion. I haven't been fortunate enough this year to get above 32ish yet, in fact the season thus far has been the worst that I have ever had. The last 3 trips down to fish the ditch I got skunked, 2 trips without even a hit and I started using live eels again after my plugging and jigging were not producing like usual. And although I didn't have a line in the water the whole time, the last 3 trips totaled 46hrs with 2 hits and no fish. And to add insult to injury one trip I couldn't find my eel bag and saw my old one which unbeknownst to me had a hole in it and 10 out of 18 eels got out.

[bloocrab]

Sounds more like you got the jinxies following you around......I don't want to fish with you...sorry.

You might want to try tossing some chicken bones in the sand and singing an Ozzy song backwards....


T & P sent.

[SurfCaster413]

Originally Posted by bloocrab

That's Interesting, ...I actually thought most of the canal fish I saw caught earlier this year were pretty healthy looking, ie: length vs. girth, just a visual observation of course, as I didn't weigh anyone else's fish. I know it's been discussed on here before, as far as what an average length on a healthy fish should translate into poundage. ....although it's FAR from an accurate science. I was thinking due to the heavy concentration of multiple baits in the canal this year, for the duration that they were there...most fish were pleasantly plump??... Maybe I was just in the right place at the right time ,,, and that's not an attack, just thinking aloud.

I have to agree with bloocrab the canal fish this year where extremely healthy and well porportioned

[ecduzitgood]

So far this year I haven't gotten anything over 32" (32ish because I released it) and the smaller fish looked fine, it's the larger fish that I feel are leaner than in the past. The larger fish 36" and above that I have caught in the last few years all seemed to be racers/lean as compared to lets say 10+ years ago.

[FishermanTim]

The size/weight of the fish this year, as in past years, may have a direct connection to whether the net draggers had removed most of the pogies from the region in question.
If the bait is removed, the fish will be leaner and will have to work harder to food. It doesn't mean that they won't bulk up on mack, squid, sand eels or juvenile herring in the meantime but that they won't have food as readily available as when the pogie pods are in.