Fall......What Is It Good For?

[RIJIMMY]

Originally Posted by Sparfish

I guess my reading skills need improving, as I could have sworn, the thread was talking about action in the water, "Top water... Peanuts...?" My bad, i must have been catching beaver after beaver after beaver instead of fish. The guys next to me doing the same must have been Moose.

Did you tell the guy who started the thread to use "Run" so I am not confused next time?

your thread mentioned one fish, excuse me for not being able to read your mind that there were multiple fish around.

[Sparfish]

Originally Posted by RIJIMMY

your thread mentioned one fish, excuse me for not being able to read your mind that there were multiple fish around.

My side splitting sarcasm must have had you thinking that was the only one. No worries.

[numbskull]

I caught a nice skin sized eel on a darter last night.....but let her go because I'm so ethically pure......... (and had no easy way to carry her).

[Blitzseeker]

For whatever reason, I've done better in the spring/early summer than the fall every year since about 2005....prior to that it was the exact opposite. I used to get lots of fish in the spring but mostly shorts...now fewer fish in spring but more large. Fall used to be a few large and tons of blues....now fewer of both.

As always, I blame the seals.

[Mike P]

Some of the local boaters have this prevailing "theory" that the BFT in the bay have managed to scatter the bass all over hell and creation out there. The fish usually school up on the ledges prior to moving though the Canal.

I know guys getting nice fish around the inside of the bay, but the Canal has been slow. This is the time of the year when I usually easily jig up 20+ bass in a tide. I'm working my ass off for the few fish that I am getting.

[Sea Dangles]

This is true,but the quality is there.

[Mike P]

Originally Posted by Sea Dangles

This is true,but the quality is there.

Quality is nice, but this is when you should have both quality and quantity.

As an example, 10/2/09. 36 total fish (30 on the west tide, 6 on the east until dawn). 6 over 20 lbs, one 30.33 (weighed in for the Gibbs). Of the remainder, most were over 30" with several in the mid to high teens. I carry a Manley scale with me for the Gibbs.

I think I've had 6 fish on my best night since 10/01. Granted several have been mid to high 20s. But it's been a slow pick. East, west, mid-Canal, I've been there.

[Plum Crazy]

Sucks up here too. My best fishing this year was mid July. WTF is up with that? Seems like everything shut down after that first hurricane. (Earl).

[BassDawg]

plenty o feesh from where i've been fishin'

Pooor, Pooooor, PO Larry and the wood chuckers~~~

if the slimyness and the wriggling skeer ya so badly,

why not throw riggies? eeeeeeels BFish, EEEEEEEEELS!


about 6 weeks ago i met a fish wholesaler while working in MD. his operations are based along the DelMarVa penninsula, and we had a very lengthy and pointed discussion.

3 weeks ago in my travels on the NShore i happened upon a commercial captain who lobsters, purse seines for pogies, and i believe he diggs for clams,,,,,,,,,,
4th Generation fisherman.

i also had a loooooong conversation with MA fisheries mgmnt scientists at the Topsfield Fair last week. and JackK regaled me with his .02 at the Fest.

combined with my own anecdotal evidence,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,catching fish from 14" to 47", hearing of all the Monsters out at the EEZ, the Striper Cup catches, and considering the plethora of Dishonest By Catch, blitzes every year,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,

i am firmly convinced, IMHO, that the Atlantic Coast Morone Saxatilis are in no apparent danger and that the migratory stock is seeing record ###'s and poundage. that being said, i STILL support a reduction in TAKE across the board, for EVERYONE!! no fish grabs allowed.

1 @ 36" for us, less poundage for them, and a reduction in the Menhaden take. why, if all is good?

to give the fish and forage a break for 3 yrs, and the YOY for 1981 was low,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,20yrs later,,,,,,,,,,,,,just an idea? besides it can't hurt to lessen the take for a few years. and if we up the min to 36" there will still be cheaters, but perhaps more male sires will live to prosper their species??

just sum thoughts, gents~~~