What do you think about all the small bass showing up?

[Capt Sal]

We have been invaded by small stripers!The talk early in the year was "Wonder were all the small schoolies are''?Seems like they don't show up as much on the clam beds like they did a few years ago.It is a great sign to see them in mass quantity as the future looks good.It is a changing fishery with multiple year class stripers at different times of the year.I would much rather eat a 28" bass then a fat 43" spawner.In fact I wish we had the slot fish and could keep one 26" for dinner.No matter what with the hughe mass of small stripers in our waters is a good thing.All the fish we have been jigging are released with out being harmed.Great sport and and an occasional keeper for dinner!Looks good for my grandchildren.

[snapperbluefish101]

I wish we had a slot. I thinking like one 20" or over and one 28" and over. I personally would only keep the smaller fish. Again, they have a little bit better meat quality than the bigger fish.

Sal, do you think all of these fish are residents of the Hudson, or do you still think there are some migratory fish? I think they are all residents.

Ben

[SHAMROCK EDDIE]

As we all know you will never satisfy everyone, When we had the slot people wanted bigger so here we go round and round back in the 60s the size was 18" and you were lucky to get one. Problem today is there isn't much of a challenge to get them.

[Gerry Zagorski]

One of my favorite fishing memories was keeping the boat in late one year. Mid December on an 8 to 15 foot drop off by Officers Row. Me and The King of the Knoll had non stop action of 12 to 20 inch Stripers for hours. Drop your jig down, one reel off the bottom, twich-twich and WHAM!!

Fun fishing for sure but when these smaller fish show up it usually signals the end of the run.

[MasterBaiter]

I wish we only were able to keep two fish 24-28" and nothing over.... I think that would help the species even more.... They are the best to eat and your not killing the breeders.... My last six trips it's been about 10:1 shorts to keepers... Love seeing the little ones and eating the ones just over 28"...

[SharkHart]

Shorts at the end happens every year since i can remember, the difference is usually shorts mixed in early on the run and they werent really there 4 to 6 weeks ago

[PAMonger]

There are 2 types of striped bass fishermen. The ones who will keep them and the ones who say the whole fishery is doomed. With fluke, people will argue that one dredge is "flawed science" and say the fishery is in good shape because we pull so many just shorts.

However, with stripers, some will point to one dredge and say the sky is falling while we are pulling lots of shorts. You could add the slot fish and have people saying "you're killing the breeders of next year".

Interesting how everything can be twisted.

[Blackfish Doug]

Originally Posted by Capt Sal Cathy Sea Charters

We have been invaded by small stripers!The talk early in the year was "Wonder were all the small schoolies are''?Seems like they don't show up as much on the clam beds like they did a few years ago.It is a great sign to see them in mass quantity as the future looks good.It is a changing fishery with multiple year class stripers at different times of the year.I would much rather eat a 28" bass then a fat 43" spawner.In fact I wish we had the slot fish and could keep one 26" for dinner.No matter what with the hughe mass of small stripers in our waters is a good thing.All the fish we have been jigging are released with out being harmed.Great sport and and an occasional keeper for dinner!Looks good for my grandchildren.

I remember over 50 years ago talking to Carl Forsberg Sr on the Viking about this. We were talking about all the huge Cod we were getting that day & this is what he told me. He told me son the Codfish are in big trouble I asked him why? he told did you notice there are no small fish. I said yes he told me the future stocks are in trouble & was he ever right. Sal I know you have a few more years then me on the waters but your quote brought me back to those times. The future does look bright for the Stripers but the big question does remain is the government going to let our children fish for them? That is what worries me more then what the stocks are. Look at whats happening in California now it's very scary. They are looking to take our rights away to fish altogether & I hope it does not happen.

[HydraSportsPT]

Capt Sal,
1st- I appreciate your posts, your evident passion, experience and perspective on the RB @ SH waters.
Having slot regulations would match our counterparts that call the species rock fish from the south. It would likely increase the time frame the for pay boats would target them. Resident stripers are as fun to catch as the slobs imo, lighten the stick and have at it.
I would think though that our counterparts up north east of us would also have to change regs since the stripers spend so much time in their waters, guessing they would not agree with slot regs.

[NJ Dave]

I remember 25+ years ago when I caught my first Striper off of the surf in Sandy Hook. It was probably in the 26 inch size range. Stripers were a rare site then.
My sole concern was to get the fish back in the water.
Today its all about filling the box.
How times change however I still have much respect for the abundant fish of today that we will soon have little of in the future.