Scott,
I know you love this stuff. In reading this thread I thought of a recent communication I had with a DMF biologist as I was seeking technical information to accompany an article I've been writing/updating on Canal fishing. You may find it interesting. I find it optimistic.
Hello John,
I appreciate the chance to comment but I'll admit that I don't have
first-hand experience at fishing the canal per say. But some of our staff certainly do and I will forward your email to a biologist that does fish the canal for their added comment. On the other hand, I could say some things about the overall condition of the stock that will be pertinent to fishery conditions in the canal and elsewhere.
Changes in abundance, as reflected by a seventeen-fold increase in
recreational catches between 1989 and 1994 (MRFSS 1995), led to a declaration of restored status in 1995. The most recent estimate of stock size based on virtual population analysis (VPA), which incorporates all important information from the three major coastal stocks (Hudson, Delaware and Chesapeake), exceeds 40 million striped bass. Over 35% of the stock complex is from a dominant 1996 year class, the largest year class in our time series, but individuals of that year class will not recruit to coastal fisheries for several more years. Although some members of the 1993 year class, the second largest year class in our time series, should reach the 28 inch coastal minimum size in 1998 and 1999.
A small fraction of the 1996 year class, and yet a larger fraction of
the 1993 year class, will compose a significant proportion of this year's (and future years) migratory stock. Keeping in mind that the majority of individuals from these two dominant year classes will be below 28 inches, then today's large catch and release fishery on small bass in the canal will persist this year and in all liklihood will grow larger over the next few years. Larger fish will be difficult to catch, not so much because their population numbers are so low, but because smaller fish outnumber them by such a large magnitude.
I hope this is what you had in mind John, I'll forward your email to
one of my staff for additional comments.
Sincerely,
Paul Diodati
Thanks Paul! - J.S.