Obsession Tog and Stripers

[Gerry Zagorski]

What a difference a few days make!

Wasn't sure we were gonna get out Sunday because of the wind forecast but it was supposed to lighten up around 10 and by 10:30 it did so me Joe, Stelli and Sven headed out.

Unlike my earlier report from Halloween, the birds were up and fish were splashing all over the place. Saw a fleet of boats and birds west of the weapons peer and when we rounded the hook, there was bird life and swirls as far south as you could see.

The plan was to focus on blackfish because Joe "don't like fishing for Striped Carp" so we continued south and set up on Spot 1

Lots of small milk dud Blackfish but Joe managed 2 keepers on the rig, Tim got one on the jig and me and Stelli stunk it up proclaiming " This Spot Sucks as soon as we got there and until we left.

Went to reset the anchor and make a little adjustment but came up with no anchor so that was that.. Smiles all around except for Joe since we were forced to Striper fish and work miles of birds and fish breaking the whole way up the beach on our way home.

Tim's first cast of the Crock landed him an over that was probably 30 pounds or so and another over a bit later. I was working the flutter spoon and got nothing but doggies. Stelli got a barley over on a shad and Joe complained about fishing for Carp and the crappy, rusty lures we put on his pole when we were underway and prepared to change over.

All in all a great day on the water except for one guy in a big Sporty who thought he was more important then the rest of us. He'd steam through the fleet causing huge wakes and sending the working birds down while most everyone else was running slow and respectful on the edges waiting their turn. He got a talking to from several boats besides us but apparently he can't hear either. What a jerk!

[Broad Bill]

Have to really laugh at anyone who refers to stripers as "carp" or "striped carp". I know there's people who don't like striper fishing but please keep your opinions to yourself if they're not productive.

Stripers are a great game fish, accessible to shore anglers, reach jumbo sizes and will test anyone's abilities not to mention they're great table fare and one of the most important fisheries to recreational fisherman and charter and party boat operators up and down the coast, especially this time of year and in the spring when there's very little else to fish for. The comparison to carp is obviously disparaging and helps no one.

Remember when stripers disappeared, everyone was freaking out yet when they're available as they have been the last few weeks there's too many who want you to think they're trash fish. And please, I don't need anyone to tell me to calm down, it doesn't help the stock or anyone dependent on it speaking of such a great fishery in those terms.

Again as posted many times, there's a lot of eyes on sites like NJF. The powers to be don't need more reasons to believe this stock isn't extremely important to recreational anglers or maybe people making references as such would prefer the striper fishery be handed over to the commercial sector as well so then we can all fish for blackfish which as stated here many times is a fishery in decline with it's own unique set of significant problems.

If you don't like a particular fishery, that's your prerogative but don't ruin it for the thousands of other anglers who happen to love it.

[Gerry Zagorski]

[QUOTE=Broad Bill;586214]Have to really laugh at anyone who refers to stripers as "carp" or "striped carp". I know there's people who don't like striper fishing but please keep your opinions to yourself if they're not productive.

Stripers are a great game fish, accessible to shore anglers, reach jumbo sizes and will test anyone's abilities not to mention they're great table fare and one of the most important fisheries to recreational fisherman and charter and party boat operators up and down the coast, especially this time of year and in the spring when there's very little else to fish for. The comparison to carp is obviously disparaging and helps no one.

Remember when stripers disappeared, everyone was freaking out yet when they're available as they have been the last few weeks there's too many who want you to think they're trash fish. And please, I don't need anyone to tell me to calm down, it doesn't help the stock or anyone dependent on it speaking of such a great fishery in those terms.

Again as posted many times, there's a lot of eyes on sites like NJF. The powers to be don't need more reasons to believe this stock isn't extremely important to recreational anglers or maybe people making references as such would prefer the striper fishery be handed over to the commercial sector as well so then we can all fish for blackfish which as stated here many times is a fishery in decline with it's own unique set of significant problems.

If you don't like a particular fishery, that's your prerogative but don't ruin it for the thousands of other anglers who happen to love it.[/QUOTE

Did you wake up on the wrong side of the bed this morning? Did I say Stripers were unimportant or even infer that? They're probably the most important fish along with Fluke to our local fishery! What I did say was one of the 3 guys in our party does not like to fish for them... Take a breath and relax!

[Broad Bill]

Didn't wake up on the wrong side of the bed and I really don't need to relax. Again you probably don't think this is any of my business but it is my opinion which I'll voice here unless you tell me I can't. People can have opposing points of view without making it personal. Too many times a very important fishery is categorized in a derogatory manner which doesn't help the fishery itself or the sponsors on this site who depend on that fishery in part to make a living. That's my opinion, if it differs from yours you have every right to state yours just as much as I have every right to state mine. You're the owner of the site and make the rules so if you want to censor my post go ahead and do so.

[NoLimit]

Its a legit subject and I have no idea why stripers are compared to carp. Everytime I have had carp, it tasted like mud.

I think striper is the best tasting fish out there considering that it can be baked, broiled, poached, fried - I even made a fish salad out of some leftovers.

Yes, I have had haddock, snapper, tiles and of course tuna but I will take striper anytime over the others. One exception would be smoked tuna or salmon. That cooking process needs an oily fish. And for sushi, I like salmon.

[John D.]

Originally Posted by Broad Bill

Didn't wake up on the wrong side of the bed and I really don't need to relax. Again you probably don't think this is any of my business but it is my opinion which I'll voice here unless you tell me I can't. People can have opposing points of view without making it personal. Too many times a very important fishery is categorized in a derogatory manner which doesn't help the fishery itself or the sponsors on this site who depend on that fishery in part to make a living. That's my opinion, if it differs from yours you have every right to state yours just as much as I have every right to state mine. You're the owner of the site and make the rules so if you want to censor my post go ahead and do so.

Then by your logic, a reasonable person would not take offense to Gerry’s post stating one guy refers to them as “striped carp”. Even if Joe hated them, it was clear the entirety of the post stated everyone else loved and wanted to fish for them.

Btw, “striped carp” is kinda accurate IMO. And I had one of the top 3 fishing days of my life one week ago where we caught all we wanted (all safely released) the smallest striped carp was around 30#, the majority in the 40s, and a few pushing 50#. My 12 yr old son caught 4 striped carp the largest being around the 50# mark, all on a spinning rod (granted a really really really nice rod and reel he got this year).

[Chrisper4694]

Carp are probably the strongest fighting freshwater fish we have anyway haha its a complimemt to stripers

[John D.]

Originally Posted by Chrisper4694

Carp are probably the strongest fighting freshwater fish we have anyway haha its a complimemt to stripers

Imagine if killies grew to 40#+? They would be an apex predator. Lol. I once froze them solid in a freezer and let them thaw out….over half came back to life.

[Broad Bill]

Originally Posted by Chrisper4694

Carp are probably the strongest fighting freshwater fish we have anyway haha its a compliment to stripers

Chris your a smart guy. You honestly believe referencing a striper as a carp is a term of respect considering the context it's used in. A 50 lb. striper was always like catching a 10 lb. fluke, a trophy of a lifetime. Today there's more big bass around than I can remember in my lifetime and catching a 40 or 50 lb. bass doesn't involve the same skill. Years ago the successful anglers truly were part of the original vampire fishing club as seeking trophy bass was almost entirely a night time proposition fishing the right tides. You had to pay your dues and lose a lot of sleep.

Today, people take the fishery for granted not realizing how bad it was when it collapsed. My initial point was the comparison to carp by anyone doesn't justify the respect the fishery deserves because if it ever collapsed again there's many who would be regretting taking it for granted.

[Chrisper4694]

Originally Posted by Broad Bill

Chris your a smart guy. You honestly believe referencing a striper as a carp is a term of respect considering the context it's used in. A 50 lb. striper was always like catching a 10 lb. fluke, a trophy of a lifetime. Today there's more big bass around than I can remember in my lifetime and catching a 40 or 50 lb. bass doesn't involve the same skill. Years ago the successful anglers truly were part of the original vampire fishing club as seeking trophy bass was almost entirely a night time proposition fishing the right tides. You had to pay your dues and lose a lot of sleep.

Today, people take the fishery for granted not realizing how bad it was when it collapsed. My initial point was the comparison to carp by anyone doesn't justify the respect the fishery deserves because if it ever collapsed again there's many who would be regretting taking it for granted.

I said it should be taken as compliment.... carp get disrespected too, they are also a great game fish