Not a good sign from down south

[Jackbass]

Originally Posted by FishNH

That's fishing within the 3 mile limit. offshore 20 miles or so there are many, many Stripers being caught by guys going after Bluefin tuna.

But we're the fish outside the EEZ before? Or is this a new thing?
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[Clammer]

Denis from this site was just down there for Christmas .He said he walked around the marina,s /that all have filet stations & he couldn,t believe the number & size of the reacks in the water >>>>

[FishNH]

Originally Posted by Jackbass

But we're the fish outside the EEZ before? Or is this a new thing?
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From reports I've seen or heard of it's been a few years that they have been catching out there.

[Jackbass]

Originally Posted by FishNH

From reports I've seen or heard of it's been a few years that they have been catching out there.

So the fish were not off shore before? Or was it not noticed due to them being available inshore?
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[FishNH]

Originally Posted by Jackbass

So the fish were not off shore before? Or was it not noticed due to them being available inshore?
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Don't know for sure but I think just the past few years following the bait.

[BluesHarp]

I'm a Surfcaster and don't boat fish, so telling me there are plenty of fish off-shore 8+ miles is like recommending I go to a convent or nunnery to find a date. Not going to happen.

Those big girls need to breed (Stripers not Nuns) and spend time inshore being anadromous. Even if they are following the bait off shore, I still feel the lack of fish and BAIT in-shore is troubling.

I know the Virginia Beach area having been stationed there while in the Navy in the 80s. Great fishing area, Surf fished the beaches and the Bay bridge pier. Caught the most bluefish I have ever caught on a beach south of Damn Neck Naval Base where I was stationed. Not many Stripers around back then either, of course maybe they were all of shore back then too.

[thefishingfreak]

Originally Posted by BluesHarp

I'm a Surfcaster and don't boat fish, so telling me there are plenty of fish off-shore 8+ miles is like recommending I go to a convent or nunnery to find a date. Not going to happen.

Those big girls need to breed (Stripers not Nuns) and spend time inshore being anadromous. Even if they are following the bait off shore, I still feel the lack of fish and BAIT in-shore is troubling.

I know the Virginia Beach area having been stationed there while in the Navy in the 80s. Great fishing area, Surf fished the beaches and the Bay bridge pier. Caught the most bluefish I have ever caught on a beach south of Damn Neck Naval Base where I was stationed. Not many Stripers around back then either, of course maybe they were all of shore back then too.

I relate this to standing in the parking lot at Walmart deer hunting and then claiming a total collapse of the deer population, because you haven't shot one.
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[FishNH]

Originally Posted by thefishingfreak

I relate this to standing in the parking lot at Walmart deer hunting and then claiming a total collapse of the deer population, because you haven't shot one.
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Exactly

[tlapinski]

Originally Posted by thefishingfreak

I relate this to standing in the parking lot at Walmart deer hunting and then claiming a total collapse of the deer population, because you haven't shot one.
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Wait, is the largemouth bass population doing ok because I didn't land a single one in the surf last year?

[BluesHarp]

Originally Posted by thefishingfreak

I relate this to standing in the parking lot at Walmart deer hunting and then claiming a total collapse of the deer population, because you haven't shot one.
Posted from my iPhone/Mobile device

Good one, too funny.

Link to the Tournament rules:
RULES |

5.) Fishing Hours & Boundaries : Lines in at 8:00am and lines out at 2:00pm. The Northern boundary is Wachapreague sea buoy and the Southern boundary is the sea buoy at Oregon Inlet. Only fish caught between 8:00am and 2:00pm will be eligible for weigh-in. You may not be in illegal waters after the tournament begins. If you get a late start, or decide to go in early and are running in or out of the bay, you must contact the tournament director at 757.319.5194

I think you missed my point. To only find one fish in three days to qualify in such a large tournament area has to make you think something is going on. Maybe not a full collapse but something. Toby probably hit one key issue "GPS" tracking in the tournament. But why would the fish all be so far off-shore? In my mind you shouldn't have to go 8 miles out to find a keeper. Hell you can find holdover bass in the dead of winter on the Cape, Providence and Thames River CT.

Freak I'm sure you know that a chart is, take a look at the area covered. The Northern boundary is Wachapreague sea buoy and the Southern boundary is the sea buoy at Oregon Inlet. Including the mouth of that Striper haven the Chesapeake. That's no Walmart parking lot.

Fair winds and following seas.
Jim