Interesting article on mackerel stocks..

[bulletbob]

Originally Posted by Reel Class

Apparently the mackerel stocks just to our north, in New England and in the Canadian Maritimes, are VERY healthy as those fish are caught up there year round. I also understand the stocks across the atlantic in the UK are decent also.

These are fast growing fish who can certainly replenish themselves quickly, similar to scup, so you would hope that a little relief would help them even more.

Correct Capt...
Mackerel are doing fine says NOAA- Silver Hake [Whiting] stocks are also in good shape according to NOAA.
As we know, those good Whiting numbers pertain to new England waters, over 200 feet deep..
I think its the same type of deal with both Mackerel and Whting.

.. The NY Bight always had both species, but we are not really in the " prime time" latitude for these fish.. We are more on the southern end of their range.. Macks don't stay here of course, they just pass by, and head north where kids catch them from harbor docks in Maine and the Maritimes.
Whiting came into rec fishable range only in the cold months..

We needed big , more widespread populations of these species to enjoy a sport fishery,as we are more on the periphery of where they live..
We kind of got the "spillover".
Nowadays there is no peripheral population, and as long as the fish are on their traditional commercial fishing grounds in sufficient numbers, all is good in the eyes of big brother.
I can't believe NOAA is so damn blind... Recreational fishing means nothing to them.. Its all about having enough to ship to Asia that matters... Thats where the bulk of the catch goes from the reading I have done..bob