[bulletbob]

Just too much pressure.. Blackfish don't move around much, don't migrate north/south, inshore/offshore, etc.. They are inshore reef/rock/wreck dwellers,and stick to those habitats.. They are quite specialized.

Then you must consider a relatively small area of the NY Bight thats suitable habitat being in the middle of the most densely populated region in the US.. Blackfish are wildly popular these days, all salt water fishermen want a piece of the action, have the incredible technology and expertise to find and catch them. For some pin hookers there is a big market for them and individual live fish are worth a fortune.. What does anyone expect?... They just can't reproduce and grow fast enough, and I fear the fishery is in big trouble... The pressure is too much for them to bear.

Several years ago, a mate on a NJ party boat was keeping his catch of tog alive and active, by running the raw sea water pump into the 55 gallon bucket, and letting it simply run onto the deck.. Told me it was no problem getting $25 for each nice size blackfish if presented alive.. This was years ago, it might even be more now.

Add to all this the scenario capt Ron put forth.- Severe habitat degradation on a species already under heavy exploitation and Tog will become more and more scarce. A recipe for the collapse of the Blackfish fishery as we know it. pretty scary stuff.
Blackfishing will remain of course but will change pretty drastically, with private boats and charters able to put a catch together here and there, but I fear the big head boats that need big structure and good numbers of fish will suffer...No doubt in my mind why most boats are sticking with Stripers instead of switching over to blackfish.

I believe 100% what capt Ron has stated, having fished with capt Stan several times over the years.. he and his son would dive on the same areas they fished, and knew that bottom and the fish that lived there better than anyone. The Elaine B was an excellent bottom fishing boat for decades [but SLOW]. If that rocky, broken bottom is getting covered in sludge/silt/slime as capt Ron has stated, not only tog, but Ling, Sea Bass, Porgies, Fluke, and just about anything thats living on the bottom will be hit pretty hard. bob