New York Metro &
New Jersey

August 8th, 2003

THE EVOLUTIONARY EFFECTS OF A SIZE LIMIT

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Where are all those 40, 50 and 60-pound fish old-timers like Frank Daignault, John Cole or Peter Matthasain spoke about with such reverence and respect?  Some might argue that after the crash of striped bass stocks 25-years ago we just haven’t given the good spawning year’s fish a chance to get that big again.  But I have little faith that my generation will ever see the big fish that the golden age of striped bass fishing saw.  Today’s “keeper” sized fish are undoubtedly under much, much more pressure than the stocks of yesteryear were, and the number of anglers catching striped bass continues to increase exponentially.   Managers did a fantastic job of imposing a moratorium and then tight size and bag restrictions allowing stripers to recover to sustainable numbers. However, today they fail to take into account the documented fact that almost all of the striped bass population gets capped off before it can reach even half of it’s natural age and size.  There are just so many people out there fishing for, catching and keeping striped bass that the fish that make it past 15-years are an anomaly. But it goes even deeper than the fish falling to hooks or nets before they can become old and large.  

Researchers at Stony Brook University in Long Island, NY recently conducted a study that pointed to the fact that minimum size limits drastically cut the potential for trophy fish in a population.  According to Field and Stream magazine, researchers set up three tanks with small populations of Atlantic Silversides (spearing), removing the largest 90% of the population from one tank, the smallest from another, and a random selection from the 3rd.   After 4 spawning generations, the average weight in the group where the largest fish were removed, was less than 1/3 of the average size in the randomly selected group.   The fish in the tank where the smallest fish were removed were a whopping 6-times bigger!

What this means is that a minimum size that clearly doesn’t allow a substantial portion of the population to grow to their natural size, caps off almost all of the fish with superior genetic traits – fish that grow rapidly and spawn prolifically.  In the end this can and will alter the gene pool irreparably.  The extreme case would be a species that rarely grows past 28-inches.  That’s a bummer! 

So what’s the solution?  Many folks suggest a one fish slot limit - say 24 to 28-inches.  However, if managers were to impose such a thing in New York, the number of anglers and the amount of pressure on these fish is so great that it could theoretically wipe that whole year class out in short order.  And these are fish that possibly haven’t even spawned once yet. 

I’m not sure what the solution is, other than curbing the pressure somehow, but politically that’s entirely impossible.   An increased mortality level, which translates to an increased size limit, or maybe a shorter season, I feel is the best way to go.  But the ASMFC obviously felt different as it maintained the current mortality target in Amendment 6 allowing states like Massachusetts to go from one fish to two fish and the commercial quota to increase by 43%.  

However, the light at the end of the tunnel is the increasing conservation or catch and release ethic that seems to be catching on quite quickly.  There number of flyfishermen and light tackle enthusiasts including those who converted from catch and kill to catch and release is increasing every day.  Also, conservation and environmental groups seem to be popping up all over the place and gaining more and more political clout.  The push for gamefish status, while not the end-all solution is a big step in the right direction and the fact that anglers are rallying behind Stripers Forever is encouraging.  But once that goal is met then there will be a fight over the recreational mortality levels, and that won’t be pretty.  But, we’ll cross that bridge when we get to it. 

Regardless, we seem to be headed in the right direction.  Let’s continue to do so.  If you are not a member of Stripers Forever or CCA yet, you’re a bum!  Just kidding.  If you are not a member, join now:  www.stripersforever.com.  www.joincca.org. 

Now on to the reports:

Wind, wind and more wind this week.  Add a sizable swell and it made offshore fishing more or less impossible.  No one I talked to made it offshore this week.  Inshore, the Southern New Jersey backwater seems to be fishing quite well at night (check out Capt. Bryan Dileo’s report.)  In central New Jersey reports indicate slow fishing.  Northern New Jersey and the New York Metro area continue to enjoy bluefish on the surface just about any day of the week and under any conditions.  Some of the bluefish encountered under the bunker schools have been quite big, as I had some monsters take both flies and jigs on Friday.  At the Breezy and the Coney Island areas there seems to be an abundance of 5-to-7-pound bluefish fining on the surface.  These fish have been a blast on surface flies.  They are feeding on some really small bait, which I believe are the first of the year menhaden.  We’re talking less than an inch long.  Still no bonito to speak of…  Man I hope they show.  On western Long Island, reports of big bluefish on the south shore are abundant.  Same deal with the North Shore, however a good bass bight consisting of mostly schoolies is developing there as well.  Out East, the south side is producing some big bass (check out Capt. Jim Hull’s report) and there has been some good action in East Hampton on the flats as well.

Some wind this weekend, but it doesn’t look so bad.  So get out there and fish.     

And don’t forget to email me your own reports. Tight lines all.

Tight Lines!

John McMurray

New Jersey

From Southern New Jersey, Captain Bryan DiLeo from Iowa Fortune Guide Service reports good evening action despite the weather…  Check it out: 

Capt. Bryan DiLeo/ Iowafortune
Ocean City Report/Atlantic City

Despite the unpredictable weather I managed to keep all trips on schedule
with great results. Things this week have really been just a carbon copy of the
past few weeks. All my trips were evening sessions with nice catches of Bass
ranging from 8lbs.-14lbs with the largest of the week 17lbs+ breaking us off
after two explosive runs and a 1/2 spool of line. The larger fish this week were
on the feed with small weakfish on their main menu. Thursday there seemed to
be the start of a heavy flow of smaller weakfish making their way into the
backcountry shallows and the Bass were on their heels. Along with the Bass there
still is a good amount of Bluefish 3-6lbs working the parameters of the schools
of Bass. In a nut shell, the water temps are cool 59-67, the bigger fish are
still here and looks like they will stick around for the remainder of the
summer. Look for things to continue to be active especially with the approach of
the full moon.
Capt. Bryan DiLeo
609-926-5415

Not much to report for central New Jersey.  Captain Gene Quigley from Shore Catch Guide service reports that inshore it has been slow and the prevailing Southwesterlies have been preventing any offshore explorations.  As soon as the weather lifts, Gene and crew will be out at the various ledges and offshore wrecks. 

Blues, blues and more blues in the New York Metro area.   Jamaica bay is harboring some real monsters under the bunker schools, while in Raritan Bay the big fish are on smaller bait.  Captain Joe Mattioli from One The Bight Charters checks in this week with this Raritan Bay Report:

Hi John
 
Bluefish are blitzing bait on top providing excellent top water action. Fish up to 10 lbs are taking  poppers, clousers and bunker patterns. Wire leader are a must, unless you intend to feed them flies.
 
Capt. Joe Mattioli
On The Bite Charters

Over on the Jamaica Bay side, Captain David Azar from One More Cast Charters reports excellent bluefish action…  Check it out:

The summer doldrums seem not to be so dull!  Monday I found blues from 5 to 8 pounds for Dr. Ron Mizrahi near Coney Island.  They were under the birds taking small bait.  We were able to take them on fly, poppers and jigs.  This morning, Wednesday, I was out by myself looking for the big blues.  Have been hearing are under bunker in Jamaica Bay.  Well I found them right out side the mouth!  From 7:30 to 11 I had blues from 6 to 12 pounds, unfortunately I was only able to entice one to take a fly the rest were caught on poppers and wild eye shads.  I saw an angler on another boat get a 36" striper while live-lineing.  

Western Long Island

Captain Barry Kanavy reports some awesome bluefish action in the Great South Bay.  Check it out:

Back in the Great South Bay fish are on the tooth! Fed a 16 pound Bluefish a Bunker fly at 5:45 AM this morning and woke up the entire neighborhood, Tern's, Blue Herons, and a Shy-Poke had to do a double-take as Mr Bluefish tried to become a menber of the Tarpon family. Jump after jump that bluefish shook his head attempting to eject that 3/0 mustad from his jaw. But tight lines and lazer focus of the determined angler eventually brought him to the boat on an 7 wt. with 12 pound tippet (no wire). How many times do you think that happens. Anything is possible out here!

NICE!!!

From the North Shore Reel-Timer Angelo Peluso checks in with this comprehensive report:

Hi John,
The bluefish are beginning to dominate the scene out this way and they are getting bigger and bigger by the day. Most of the fish are in the six pound category but 15 pounders are becoming much more common. I good friend of mine called me up this evening to fish one of his most consistent honey holes, and I do mean consistent.  So I loaded up the nine weight and a pocket full of flies and drove to meet Tom Terrific and his guaranteed fish.  I wasn't disappointed...although the majority of fish were small, they were all bass and they were fun.  One very feisty bigger fish made the evening outing a memorable one. You can't beat that kind of fishing for just 2 1/2 hours of casting.  Tom tells me the fish will be getting bigger soon enough.  I believe him since he hasn't let me down yet.  He fishes an all-white pattern of his design that I have named Tom's Terrific and it works wonders on those fish.  I, on the other hand, stuck with my tried and true flat wing in white/olive/yellow and chartreuse.  Once the sun set I went to a much darker pattern and the fish seemed to like it.  Time to tie up a few more of those buggers. I'd still be out there casting but the bugs won. I am still picking them out of my ears.  They seemed immune to the spray tonight. Those marsh bugs are a bit nastier than the ones on the beach!   Still on the quest for the first bonito, but no luck yet...maybe next week.   Regards and tight lines...Angelo    

Thanks Angelo

Eastern Long Island

Things certainly seem to be picking up out East.  To The Point Charters’ client Carlo Regina checks in with this report:

While fishing with Paul Dixon, around Gardiners we came across this brute (see photo) sunning itself in less then two feet of water. I had a # 4 sparse clouser on and put the fly 2 feet ahead and 6 inches to the right, two twitches and the rest was history. Thanks two Paul for not pointing out the brace of 5 pounders next to the boat or I would have missed my shot.  There are still plenty of fish on the flats, getting them to eat is the trick.

Nice fish Carlo.  It’s great when everything comes together like that. 

Further West in the Shinnecock area, Captain Don Kaye from Shinnecock Guiding checks in with this report:

We finally had almost picture perfect weather, early this past week, as Presbyterian missionaries Bill Evans (Scotland) and Caleb Dunn (Mexico) arrived to fish the waters of Shinnecock Bay. Both fly & spin anglers, they had a breezy start to the session but Bill, on ultralight spin tackle, soon bested a beautiful 32 inch (about 10 lbs) Striped Bass which fell to a small top water plug (quickly photographed & released). The late afternoon breeze soon ended, calming the surface, as a gorgeous sunset began over the Bay. As if on cue, the waters began to 'boil' with schools of feeding Bluefish. Approaching each school, the anglers had continuous hookups, yielding more than two dozen fish, all well fought and released. A wonderful day on Shinnecock Bay for the two happy 'Fish-On-aries'! Capt. Don Kaye, Shinnecock Guiding

On the South Side, “big bass” Captain Jim Hull had a stellar week with some monster bass.  Check it out:

Hi John, A good start to this report period with team Kenny seeing yet another 40+lb bass landed on Light Tackle Challenge. Capt. Jim got in the lucky cast this time on the 46.25" Boga Buster. The 16 yr.old, 42 lb female was carefully revived and sent on her way. Jim Mitchell had buddy Andy fly across the big pond from England to join us for a great day of Montauk fishing with about a dozen good fish coming to the boat. Hawk had several fish on fly in a solid fog bank. A bittersweet day for Jeff and Matt from California when Matt hooked a small blue only to have it followed in by a huge bass in the 40lb. range. "cast right at his fish" was my instruction to Jeff. He made a pinpoint cast 4ft behind the fish and had the giant bass turn and inhale his offering. After a breif but explosive battle the big girl unbuttoned. Any experience like that is exciting weather you land her or not. Dr. DeSanctis bucked the heave on Mother Ocean today with lots of fish under us. We lost several big fish to the rocks and landed a bunch more to 20lbs. Get that fish onto the reel then pump up and reel down. 

Reel-Timer Joel Filner, still in the Cape, reports some action out there but nothing great:

Cape Cod redux. Fished on Thursday afternoon on the outgoing, wading
into the back of Wellfleet Bay looking for blues and bass. One
friendly fisher man put me on to the location but suggested I fish
pre dawn or dusk through sunset on the outgoing, as  I would need a
boat to be effective in the afternoon. Very accurate info as I
watched two fly fishermen on a whaler fishing about 100 yards out
into the channel hitting blues (I recognized the curse as the fly was
cut off) and working the birds. I unfortunately could only watch as
the muck kept me from walking out too far. Warm water, 68 degrees,
and small bait, sand eels and shiners, kept running through my knees.
Walked out to the point on land to the edge of the channel but the
fish and pods already moved through on the way out of the harbor.
Fished Friday on a trolling boat in Cape Cod Bay with an umbrella rig
for the first time for me, landing 4 blues, two at a time, but others
in the party landed only three stripers, a 30", 36" on the umbrella,
and on the single lure a "Gizmo" (pink/orange) the best of the day
43" fish. The big fish went back, the two smaller ones were for
dinner (there were six on the boat) and all but three of the blue
fish (18 ) went back to the water. The bay off Denis was 40 ft deep
and at 62 degrees, nice overcast conditions but not as many fish as
last year's efforts. I will stick to the fly rod and leave the
umbrella for rainy days. Returned too late for any Shinnecock reports.

Thanks Joel…  That’s all for this week…  See ya on the water…