Not a good sign from down south

[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.
Posted from my iPhone/Mobile device

[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.
Posted from my iPhone/Mobile device

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.
Posted from my iPhone/Mobile device

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

[bart]

i will tell you this much. Wounded deer hunting has been phenomenal this season...

[FishNH]

Maybe the fish are changing their normal routes/patterns that we have been accustomed too.

I see it happening with the codfish up here in the GOM. deeper waters than the past.
Cod fishing better off Block Island and the south shore of LI than up here the past few years.

[MakoMike]

Originally Posted by BluesHarp

Including the mouth of that Striper haven the Chesapeake. That's no Walmart parking lot.

Fair winds and following seas.
Jim

The fish don't enter the Chesapeake until just before they are ready to spawn, typically in March. Until then they stay out in the ocean.