OGB
It's going to get worse they wipe them out and now they cry they can't catch them. Not weather relatedOriginally Posted by plugginpete
You can't believe how many can't catch a fish with out bunker and blitzing fish even the Great Johnny Buck tails is silent
Fisher Price an occasional post
Some even come in the shop and ask how do you troll wire and what do you troll for bass, pathetic self proclaimed experts what a joke
Pay attention to what history has taught us or be prepared to relive it again
Senior Member
I think participation is down all over. If it wasn't for the bluefish a lot of guys would be out of business. Just read this today
"The lack of Boats and customers on the water makes it feel like October already."
Senior Member
"Bass fishing is on a major decline the past 4-5 years and this year is the worst year by far.
Of course with effort and a little luck, you can run into some very good trips. But overall, the bass fishing has been terrible this year. Very spotty and very localized.
A 1-2 week bite at Montauk does not justify anything. That bite will be over in a week tops (already slowed down big time off the moon). Also, the lack of 10-25 pound fish, both in Montauk and in the Western South Shore is shocking and alarming. It is not normal for every tom **** and harry to go out and catch 40s and 50s, like it's nothing. The overall population is very unhealthy. PERIOD. I speak to long time captains + great bass fishermen in all areas of LI and the ENTIRE community agrees. Bass fishing is in trouble.
In my opinion, a slot limit of something like 1 fish @ 24"-28" per person is appropriate with nothing smaller or bigger allowed for at least 3 seasons. You can not allow it as is, because the majority of the fish falling right now are big breeder fish from 30-50+ pounds.
"People have different views of what's "average".
For instance, 5-10 keeper bass a tide is decent. 10-20 bass is good. 20-30 bass is very good, 30+ bass a tide is excellent.
Some people believe 2-3 fish is considered good, when in fact, it's horrible. The fishery, at least in the western LI sound is nowhere near where it used to be from 2001-2013. The peak was 2006-2010. Since then, there has been a steady decline.
Going out and catching 30 bass to 35+ pounds was normal (for those who know what to do). This year, I didn't even catch 30 bass the entire spring and I and my crew put in full effort. Last year was similar."
Just read these reports from the western sound. I fish there every may and june and I agree. There is usually a good bite in little neck bay. Then as the fish move west the locations change. You can at least find some fish. I have done very poorly there this year.
Senior Member
One of the BEST comments I have read on the net this year. X2!!!!
I'm old enough to retire & old enough to remember the mid 70's.
This whole discussion has gotten old and has been rehashed to the point of silliness. For my part, I never said there were no bass. I've merely used math to model the trends based on the available data. The data, the trends, the models, all say that the stocks are on the decline.
Not saying there aren't bass to be caught, just saying that the stocks are declining and because nature doesn't do linear, it's not as simple as a line on a graph, or a threshold switch. My main concern has always been the way the resource has been managed, which I will say without hesitation, is managed by idiots.
The annoying thing about these conversations is the limited scope and sample set that you guys use to justify your statements. You make arbitrary statements based on personal memory and selective data sources, like bucktails "comms fill their tags" statements.
Who cares if the comms fill their tags, they **** well should be able to. They could do it in the 80's also.
If you fish for a living, you should know how to catch fish otherwise you won't be in business very long. I never said there are no bass. There will always be bass to catch for those who know how to find them and are willing to put in the time.
So you still catch bass and as you stated, you maybe even enjoy the process more because you have to use your skills, or whatever the implication was. Who cares, it has nothing to do with the argument. If I still lived there, I could still catch bass, chase them up the island, beach / bite here, beach / bite there, inlet by inlet. So what, who cares, it would have nothing to do with the argument.
You guys wear your opinions like badges. You offer very little into the information pool on how to fish, or more specifically, what makes you guys such great fishermen, but as soon as somebody suggests that the fishing is not as good as it was, you ride in on your horses and tell them that they don't know what they are talking about. And the thing that I think everybody picks up on, and that rubs everybody sideways, is that your opinions (based mostly on personal observations and memories) are presented with a smugness that most find distasteful. It gets old fast.
So why not give everybody a break. If somebody makes a statement that there doesn't seem to be as many bass around (which is actually backed up by scientific data) then let them make their statement. Just do everybody a favor and let it pass. Use your superior fishing skills and go catch a bass, or something.
We've heard your opinions, many times, and honestly, nobody wants to hear them again.
Frankly, the arguing that goes on over these threads has basically ruined the quality of this discussion board. And that's sad, because this used to be a vibrant and interesting place.
Maybe you don't care, maybe having that kind of impact makes your **** hard, the whole passive aggressive thing, I just don't know.
What I do know is that if everybody engaged in these discussions would put equal energy into providing information and insight on fishing the surf into this board, then it could be an interesting place to be again.
How's that for a suggestion.
Senior Member
^^^^^^ I agree with the above. Most of us who have been fishing and seen the last decline feel fairly confident that the same conditions exist nowadays. Actually it is easier for them to decline because modern technology and fishfinders make it easy to find fish even when they are not blitzing.
I was going to also say that more folks are fishing compared to the 80's moratorium. That has changed recently. Fishing has gotten so bad I hardly see crowds. Even in the ocean most of the boats you see will be drifting for fluke or going offshore. Have seen quite a few drift the bunker pods this year but they soon gave up after finding no bass underneath.
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