Missing bluefish

[Capt Sal]

Originally Posted by Super

Bluefishing is never good in July because of the spawn. I’m a little surprised it hasn’t picked up, but this year has an odd weather cycle. Record warm water temperatures. Chub mackerel a mile off the beach instead of off-shore. Cownose Rays in early August. Bunker dying off all over.

And party boats have been loading up with bluefish for longer than I can remember, and it never made any difference. It’s not like last year the party boats doubled their keep.

I have a suspicion that we’re going to see good bluefishing when the water cools a bit and it may last until December.

Exactly. To say the party boats are are causing a decline in bluefish numbers is ridiculous.There are more blues every spring in Raritan Bay than any place in the world. Big ,med. and millions,so how are the numbers down???? They have changed there pattern and that is a fact When the fall comes you will be able to walk on them.

[Chris G]

There was a solid mile of Blues blowing up the peanuts yesterday in the bay.

[Chrisper4694]

You don't think big blues are going to pour into the bay with these temps...once the temps drop they'll come in and annoy the crap out of us like every year haha. Good to salvage a day though!

[reason162]

Originally Posted by Abrasion

If its cyclical, its a big downward curve.

We dont believe the governement for fluke surveys but we believe them for bluefish?

I remember as a kid, party boats gaffed every bluefish that came over the side. They used to store them in blue poly barrels until they ran out of room.

I think Capt. Ron was the first captain ive seen advocating netting blues instead of gaffing them all. Some captains would tell me that they didnt want to ruin a net on a bluefish.

Theres a massive bait surplus, and no real blues to speak of. It's not coincidence in my opinion.

I can make this same call with Porgy. 50 per person? Seriously? In a few years people will be lamenting that there are no more porgies to catch. So many photos of guys with 150qt coolers filled to the rim with porgies. Its just a shame.

50 porgies, 15 blues...whether it's sustainable or not I don't know, but it sure is ugly at the end of the day.

[Abrasion]

My point is we should get ahead of any potential issues. Slow it down now then move it up a bit.
I am all for keeping fish. But seriously, what do you do with 15 bluefish? And those little blues that get vacuumed out by the barrel-full would be a great answer to the massive amount of bait hanging around if they were still swimming.

[Harpoon]

Originally Posted by Abrasion

My point is we should get ahead of any potential issues. Slow it down now then move it up a bit.
I am all for keeping fish. But seriously, what do you do with 15 bluefish? And those little blues that get vacuumed out by the barrel-full would be a great answer to the massive amount of bait hanging around if they were still swimming.

Have you been to a fisheries meeting to state your views? At least that would prove you are serious about the topic...

[makosnax]

All the gators are in the sound

[dales529]

Originally Posted by Abrasion

My point is we should get ahead of any potential issues. Slow it down now then move it up a bit.
I am all for keeping fish. But seriously, what do you do with 15 bluefish? And those little blues that get vacuumed out by the barrel-full would be a great answer to the massive amount of bait hanging around if they were still swimming.

While I think while your intentions are probably good the last thing recreational fishermen need is more arbritrary regulations. We have enough based on bad landings data and stock assessments. You insinuated an overfishing / catch landings based on pictures and or reports but have little to no actual data on the fisheries you are concerned about or at least you didn't support the statements with facts.

There are plenty of bluefish and as others stated they are cyclical but abundant by all on the water accounts. The Past of many years ago was a different story and yes overly greedy but yet the bluefish have come to our shores and offshore haunts year in and out other than the normal spawning or warm water cycles.

As for today there are only a few party boats fishing for them this time of year and since Hurricane Sandy the Private Sector is waaay down as well. I mainly fish weekdays and from MI to AH the ocean is a ghost town. Not enough boats even at the current limits to support your concerns. As others have said before there is no way recreational fishermen could even make a dent in the blue fishery or Porgies as it stands today

I don't know of many charter boats specifically targeting blues either but am sure they will if they need any sort of catch for their customers. That being said I don't get where you could possibly come up with any landings data that would include even possible overfishing of Blues or Porgies for that matter.
Have you done the math with accurate boat count, angler count to current limits or are you doing what the government does and just guess that if all these fish are being caught by a few then everyone even sailboats, Tug boats and Ferries are catching full limits as well.
Just sayin enough of internet pictures = TOO MUCH catching when most know its not.

[mike1010]

Originally Posted by tjd24

My buddy & I had a 1/2 mile of birds on 2-3 lb blues last Saturday off Coney Island for about 3 hours. No other boats around for the 1st hour or so. Sure they were small, but if you match the tackle to the fish, it's lotsa' fun. We lost count at 20+ fish each, but all were released.
It finally ended when 2 NY PB's began running over the schools. Each time, splitting the schools until they broke up.

Please identify the PBs. A little public shaming could be a good thing.

[Capt Joe]

Originally Posted by mike1010

please identify the pbs. A little public shaming could be a good thing.

wtf ?