MAY. 26

[mikez2]

On 5/22/2023 at 8:00 AM, chisler said:

There are no small fish!

You don't need to toss a 2 inch bait to hook a dink, they chomp 6 inch pencils as well, but noone is hooking up with small fish, and YOY is the reason.

Although I wouldn't use absolutes like "there are no small fish", I agree with you. 

 

There are some small fish. Just not in the numbers or locations we're used to over the past 30 years or so.

 

I'm really happy to see and even catch so many slot fish - don't get me wrong. 

If there were also a bunch of micros and dinks around at the same time, I'd be less concerned. 

 

Meanwhile, I am pleased about the narrow slot. Yeah I get the enforcement thing. I'm putting my hopes on those of us who abide by the law. I still believe there's more of us than there are bad guys. 

[WorcBoy]

On 5/21/2023 at 2:45 PM, stifftip said:

Mass striped bass size will change .  To keep is one bass from 28” to 31” Only as a keeper  beginning may 26 

I still miss the 1 @ 36" regs.

[z-man]

On 5/22/2023 at 7:43 AM, MrJingles said:

 

I don't even think that's it, I think it's people not in areas/not targeting small fish. I do believe the stocks are in decline, but how many people do you see throwing 2-3" bait?

There used to be small fish everywhere and they would readily eat soft plastics, SP minnows, etc. 

[ifishthebadspots]

On 5/22/2023 at 9:14 AM, z-man said:

There used to be small fish everywhere and they would readily eat soft plastics, SP minnows, etc. 

Absolutely - I had to worry about injuring smaller fish all the time, made me feel bad fishing 6 in pencil with both trebles.

[bob_G]

There was a 5-7 year period, from like '95-'01 where I was fly fishing about half the time. 8wt on the beaches, 12wt canal. 

There were insane amounts of small fish, 15-25" around, with enough over 30" to keep you on your toes. 25-30 fish shore outings were common.   I tied all my flies on barbless hooks, and 99.9% of the fish were lip hooked and undoubtedly survived.

But for many reasons, the numbers dropped off precipitously. The small bait was there, but the fish weren't. I hung up all my saltwater fly gear, and went back to jigging the canal.

 

 

[albacized]

Although as I said, it’s not as significant to me since I generally don’t keep fish, I still find it odd that the pair of 32” fish I caught 2 days ago will legally be too large to keep in 4 days. 
While there are other species of fish with slot size limits (especially down in FL), redfish/red drum/channel bass is the only other species I can think of (at least in shore) where the slot sizes are kind of ‘meh’ compared to how large the said species can grow

[z-man]

On 5/22/2023 at 11:13 AM, albacized said:

Although as I said, it’s not as significant to me since I generally don’t keep fish, I still find it odd that the pair of 32” fish I caught 2 days ago will legally be too large to keep in 4 days. 
While there are other species of fish with slot size limits (especially down in FL), redfish/red drum/channel bass is the only other species I can think of (at least in shore) where the slot sizes are kind of ‘meh’ compared to how large the said species can grow

Why do you think it’s odd? Something needed to be done to protect the remaining fish. If things don’t improve I expect to see either no keeping of stripers at all or limited seasons when it’s allowed. 

[stifftip]

I’m a canal guy bike ride fisherman but mostly a watcher . I watch the winners and the losers … I watch the black plastic baggers , with a quick dash to their trucks . Or the guy that c/r every fish , most guys  take care of their fish , and some take a few too many pictures and let go 30 lbers to float down the canal  .  The canal needs special regulations and more epo protection   I would add only one new canal reg. BARBLESS treble hooks ,it’s ez  take your pliers and pinch the barb flat. It’s so much easier to remove the hook from the fish or your hand.  My two cents 

[Running Ape]

I’m all for Pacific salmon type tags along with rigorous enforcement. 5 fish 24-30 for a year. Each fish must be released or tagged for harvest immediately.  1000$ fine per poached fish no excuses. Charge $150 for the license and the funds go to enforcement and access.
 

Also, if you don’t have tags on you, no barbs allowed. Lots of countries now have conservation licenses that only allow limited harvest. I’d love to see a conservation license for saltwater with say two bass tags instead of five for 60$.

 

There are way fewer small fish this year in places where there were plenty not long ago. I’ve not bothered much as the freshwater fish has been so good.

 

 

[z-man]

On 5/22/2023 at 12:03 PM, stifftip said:

I’m a canal guy bike ride fisherman but mostly a watcher . I watch the winners and the losers … I watch the black plastic baggers , with a quick dash to their trucks . Or the guy that c/r every fish , most guys  take care of their fish , and some take a few too many pictures and let go 30 lbers to float down the canal  .  The canal needs special regulations and more epo protection   I would add only one new canal reg. BARBLESS treble hooks ,it’s ez  take your pliers and pinch the barb flat. It’s so much easier to remove the hook from the fish or your hand.  My two cents 

Enforcement at the canal could be as simple as an EPO driving down the service road occasionally. The officers wouldn’t even have to get out of their air conditioned truck. I have no idea why something so simple can’t be done. 

[b-ware]

On 5/22/2023 at 2:05 PM, z-man said:

Enforcement at the canal could be as simple as an EPO driving down the service road occasionally. The officers wouldn’t even have to get out of their air conditioned truck. I have no idea why something so simple can’t be done. 

It is done, quite frequently, maybe you can't see it from your place or Bell Rd. but I can see them quite clearly from my place and an both sides too.....................

[z-man]

On 5/22/2023 at 3:00 PM, b-ware said:

It is done, quite frequently, maybe you can't see it from your place or Bell Rd. but I can see them quite clearly from my place and a both sides too.....................

OK. I guess we have to go back to throwing people in the canal then. 

[R.R. Bridge Fisher]

On 5/22/2023 at 3:18 PM, z-man said:

OK. I guess we have to go back to throwing people in the canal then. 

Now your talking!!!

[Kones1]

On 5/22/2023 at 11:10 AM, bob_G said:

There was a 5-7 year period, from like '95-'01 where I was fly fishing about half the time. 8wt on the beaches, 12wt canal. 

There were insane amounts of small fish, 15-25" around, with enough over 30" to keep you on your toes. 25-30 fish shore outings were common.   I tied all my flies on barbless hooks, and 99.9% of the fish were lip hooked and undoubtedly survived.

But for many reasons, the numbers dropped off precipitously. The small bait was there, but the fish weren't. I hung up all my saltwater fly gear, and went back to jigging the canal.

 

 

Then the seals started to overpopulate along with by catch and poaching they suffered. Now ? 

[R.R. Bridge Fisher]

No matter all this discussion the commercial group will still get their 700,000 or so pounds of fish.

So there's that..