Maybe there is some hope?

[fishbones]

I've seen and caught more small fish this season than the last 4 years combined. And there were a lot in places where I haven't even seen small stripers in the last few years. I'm cautiously optimistic that things can get much better in the future, especially if they change the regs to only 1 fish per day at whatever length is best for the fishery.

[piemma]

For the whole season I had two trips when I caught an abundance of schoolies. One in May in Narr bay when 3 of us caught about 50 all under 28". The next was at the canal in August when I got 10 one morning with only 1 over 28".
Are the fish in trouble? i think they are. Clammer and Jim White specialize in schoolies. Not that they can't catch large as both of these guys are 2 of the best striper men I know. They target small fish for the sport of it. Light gear or fly rods and small offerings. Finesse (sp) small jigs, Cochoes, etc. Both of these guys will tell you emphatically that they are catching vastly fewer schoolies than they were even 6 or 7 years ago.

I'm telling you, something is up.

[bart]

I believe it. I just think there's more fish out there to catch than most people are reporting..