Missing bluefish

[tjd24]

Originally Posted by mike1010

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

Why?

[SaltLife1980]

The blue fish are around. Just need to know where to look. My myself. I dont keep blue fish. I dont like eating them and i know one person who doesnt fish that enjoys to eat them. Dad and I throw em all back. There are boats fishing for them right now. They are catching the smaller ones right now but im sure when the water cools off the bigger ones will be back. They were all over the bay this year when i was bass fishing.

[Capt Sal]

Originally Posted by mike1010

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

Why also? Obviously you don't know anything about this. Shaming hard working captains and mates making a living is stupid. I am sure Jerry would not allow that on here!

[bulletbob]

Originally Posted by dales529

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.

Dales... wow. With all due respect. I need to know where you fish.. We are probably fishing different oceans or something.. When I rounded the hook last week at about 7:30 am, it was already a circus, and by 11 am, was out of control, and this was a Thursday.. Just hundreds and hundreds of boats from 14 footers to 100 ft plus head boat that were PACKED.. The bluefish being caught were all of 12 inches with a good stretch when landed, but they were being pounded without relent,, 4 jammed head boats and hundreds of small boats.. Remember this was a weekday.. When we left at around noon it was still insane.. That goes on every day of the week all summer, and then double weekends and holidays.. Again, all respect given to you, but the way you worded your post struck me as odd.. As someone that lived at the shore for years and spent a lot of time on the water, I respectfully disagree. You feel the pressure has lessened, but my eyes show me a totally opposite scenario.. I am overwhelmed at the intense pressure I see on all the fish we like to catch.. Not sure what to do about it of course, but just voicing my opinion that some anglers do feel the resources are getting hit really hard.. I tend to agree with those that feel a little self control would go a long way... bob

[lenny bent rod]

I know this is off the subject of blues, but what does one person do with 50 porgies? My guess, give them away to family and friends who put them in the freezer until they get freezer burnt and then throw them away. Ì m not big on regs but come on 50 porgies!

[jmurr711]

Originally Posted by lenny bent rod

I know this is off the subject of blues, but what does one person do with 50 porgies? My guess, give them away to family and friends who put them in the freezer until they get freezer burnt and then throw them away. Ì m not big on regs but come on 50 porgies!

you vacuum pack them & eat them whenever you want

[Capt Joe]

Originally Posted by tjd24

Why?

Still waiting

[tjd24]

Originally Posted by Capt Joe

Still waiting

If you are waiting for me to name the boats I mentioned in my Post, you'll be waiting a long time.

[Abrasion]

theres PROaction and REaction. Fishery managers are the kings of REaction. We need to be PROactive. Remember when whiting were the "bluefish of the sea"? So plentiful you could walk on them. Well, I've never seen it but my grandfather used to tell me about it.....

[Gerry Zagorski]

I think recreational fishing pressure is way down from where it once was...

I think if you asked most party boat Captains, they are carrying a lot fewer fares then they used. The economy, not as many kids into fishing as there once was and the regulations all working against them.

I also think private boat fishing is down for some of the same reasons mentioned above and you now need a boating safety certificate.

Lastly, I think people in general are more conservation minded then they've been is the past. Many practice catch and release or only take a few for the table.