Are Bass on the Decline

[Pete_G]

Just look at the chaos off Newport for the past month. Great bass fishing despite the heat and tuna everywhere. And a LOT of baby bunker and tinker macks.

Baitfish support everything we love, and the present situation off Newport excluded, quality bait seems to be a rarity.

I think any thoughts on bass numbers is purely a guess overall. Newport has been incredible to boat fisherman that know what they're doing, yet shore anglers have struggled till the bait arrived. Boat guys would say the bass are in great health and numbers as they are catching many quality fish, while the shore angler would obviously have a very different opinion, prior to all this bait arriving.

[Maloney]

Overall populations on the decrease, or distribution of size classes?

Seemed to be more fun when on the hunt for a keeper at 36 rather than 28.

[Clammer]

No Shortage tonight //

[FormerUser]

I can second Pete.I watch the boats every day from the house I'm working on.
Out front off the drive is packed with boats every morning and they be catching.

[piemma]

My opinion is that I have seen a decline of small fish. I have been successful with large. Not Eben size but 15 to 20+#. Of course I don't target small fish in that I fish large eels and large plugs. My standard plugs are 3 to 4oz Dannys and needles. And while you will occcasionally get schoolies on large plugs and eels, by and large the bigger fish will go for a bigger plug and eel. The other factor is where you fish. There are schoolie spots and big fish spots. My partner, RIROCKHOUND and I fish the night tides in big fish spots. I would bet we haven't caught 20 schoolies between us but we have caught a LOT of 15+# fish.

[MakoMike]

Well have the definitive answer in another month or so when the ASMFC technical committee releases their numbers.

[JohnR]

Originally Posted by MakoMike

Well have the definitive answer in another month or so when the ASMFC technical committee releases their numbers.

Exactly - last years numbers had a big discrepancy between both systems, one says things are OK one says things suck and immediate action is necessary. Because of the difference between the two the decided to wait to see this years report. Don't be suprised if we are at one fish later this year or for next (even though we would voluntarily be at one fish)...

[Fish_Eye]

There are more stripers around now then most anglers have ever had an opportunity to fish for -- at least statistically speaking.

2004:
Stock Size: The estimate of total abundance for January 1, 2004 is 56.7 million age-1 and older fish due to the strong 2003 year-class. This estimate is about 11 million fish higher than the average stock size for the previous five years and 23.8% higher than the 2003 abundance.

However, there are real concerns with the health of the population, the quality of their most important prey item -- menhaden, and the population of the females spawning -- too many big breeders getting culled.

THE BIG QUESTION IS WHAT ARE YOU DOING TO MAKE THINGS BETTER?

Are you active in lobbying for change?

Do you support groups that are fighting to control the overfishing of menhaden?

Are you vocal about the need to keep the EEZ closed?

Are you concerned that an estimated 2.5 million pounds of stripers are being tossed back into the water DEAD, just as a bykill by draggers?

Over the years I've observed a lot of people bitching and complaining about fishery mismanagement issues, yet they reserve their comments for forums, or for gripe sessions at the local tackle shop, or among fellow anglers. What good does it do to just complain? You need to get active. Make a difference.

People who don't vote have no right to complain about the government.

People who only gripe about the situation with stripers and don't do anything about it are only wasting their breath.

Join and support organizations like RISAA and especially the RFA.

[bassmaster]

if there are so many fish around then where in the hell are the bigger fish on the sands here and it aint me niether. ya really got to run to find them
lots of twinkies and seals.
me thinks that a cycle is going on that the bass are off shore and boats are the way to go...
A HabHole