Mass Striper decline numbers from NOAA

[DZ]

Just wondering - How has the Mass surfcasting been if you take the Canal out of the equation for the last few seasons? I stopped going on my annual trip to the Cape about 3-4 years back.

The RI surf where I fish has been hit or miss the last few years. We have plenty of bait and lots of bass at times - but also plenty of bait with no bass at other times.

DZ

[JohnnySaxatilis]

generally speaking south side of the cape and north into bh were ok during the spring for me, nothing regularly over 20# though. sever lack of small fish as well from what others tell me especially along nauset and the lower cape probably alot to do with the seal population explosion. nonexistant in the fall for me and my two regular fishing friends, it was depressing. my 2 cents

[Clammer]

Now add the cost of gas .

with less bass / guys are going to be alot less likely to ride around every night & I saw it last year / on how few boats were OTW during prime fishing times .

I,ve talked to quite a few people that are looking @ Freshwater ............ Much ofmy Schoolie guy will work in F/W & / even thro I thought Id never use it again / I kept my freshwater gear .

Many of you are talking about bait being a huge factor on the bass .
I believe it has some effect / But I think that has more to do with where the bass that [are] here go
Ton of bait at the tuna grounds / lots of large / Yet BB was very slow .
BI was & has been Hot in RI ............. Except for small at B/R & Watch Hill .the rest of the state pretty much sucked on a daily basis .
As I posted earlier / besides . a numbers game .........too many fisherman >< not enough fish .
no one in any of their posts .have mentioned anything about what I said earlier .
Which is very clear if you opening your eyes ................................. currently the Chessie is a sewer pit / with mico bacteria increasing // farmers still being allowed to have fertilizer & chicken #^&#^&#^&#^& seeping into the water everyday & now micro has now been found in other species besides Stripers .
lets not forget the miles of dead zones .. zero , none, nada ..live of anykind .
then what few survive .still have to make it thru miles of illegal nets & legal trawling ;
Lets throw in a Black market .................................................. .............. ALL of this & you thing a good year class is going to make a difference . First .. I heard that number was taken by a different method or location <<<< not sure & even if it was right / look at the chances of their survival rate .
IMO ,the only way to save the Striper this time is {IN ANY ORDER} Crack down on the pollutors . stop the insanse fishing antics/ methods / etc Both legal & illegal that goes on up & down the coast / But mostly Mayland to NC ;
Where killing large up here / because 90% 0f the smalls are gone . they are killing evrything .
I,m telling @ the current rate . it will be a forced closure in 3 - 4 years . & its not going to rebound like last time .... In the 80,s ..................most of the damage was done [fishing] /
This time add up all of the above & any other thing that could hurt & that sums it .
oH,,, throw in seals & commorants as added bonus .

[likwid]

Originally Posted by Clammer

Ton of bait at the tuna grounds / lots of large / Yet BB was very slow .

buzzards bay was slow, there were pogies unmolested in the same spots for a couple days at a time.