Originally posted by: Johneeed on 8/4/2005 4:49:35 PM

yes it's on the rebound, but really if the fishing is so great how come i haven't caught a scup (porgy) in 10 years, (at legal size) and if it's so good why is there still a size limit???
I used to catch by the cooler loads: Mackeral there gone, use to catch them all the time for food and bait I haven't caught a mack or a tinker in 7-8 years.... Bluefish use to be a common thing esp. 10+ pounds, now your lucky to get a 5 pounder...&years ago they called a 5 lb. blue a snapper cause it was small....
where the big blues go???
I gave up on fishing for flounder because of all the tumours i've found in them, due to the pollution levels. Yeah striper fishing is good but the 50 lbers of years ago are NOT a common thing like they use to be.
now I'm 33 and have been fishing since before i could walk. I EVEN remember the 16" size limit...not alot of guys my age can remember that...
when the stocks crashed for 20 years (back in 1979-80)...not a single soul was catching stripers, I was fishing. when a 36" striper was caught at the cape cod canal and made news all the way up to maine, I was there I saw it caught, and it was not a 40 Lbs fish like the gossip said it was.
Yes fishing has gotten better with the new management laws that taken effect, But its still way for from what it use to be...

there are just too many people fishing, the stocks can't keep up naturally, then in the off season the russians and japs, and european get to come INTO OUR WATERS and NET THOUSANDS of pounds of fish for there processing boats sitting in international waters for processing the HERRING, MACKERAL, SHAD, ALEWIFE, MENENHADEN(pogy) etc... I'VE SEEN IT!!!!!!!!
Yes the fishing is good but it;s not great, it's been better in years past, but let's hope it all works out for our future generations....

Johnny D.

Originally posted by: SuwanneePaul on 8/3/2005 4:36:11 PM

I was in Rhode Island for the past 14 days and had a chance to find out that the fishing is on the comeback for Stipers, Fluke and Tautog (Blackfish). It did my heart good to see so many young fishermen working some of my old spots from 40 or more years ago. Also got to see my Great Nephew after he landed a 30 pound striper and 2 nice Fluke (summer flounder) 6 and 8 pounds. My brother in laws neighbor also a youngster landed an 8 pound Tautog. In my young years this size fish was quite common but durring the 80's the fishing went down. Good to see sport fishing on the rise in RI. <!--graemlin::)-->

Originally posted by: Johneeed on 8/4/2005 4:53:48 PM

I'm sorry the striper stockes crashed around 1977 and no-one I know in my group of Fisherman who are now in their 80's caught a bass until early '91-92.
(just checked my uncles old fishing logs and mine)

Originally posted by: SuwanneePaul on 8/5/2005 5:13:34 AM

I know what your talking about when you speek of not catching scup. I also remember the 16" size limit and yes the flounder suck but the fishing is still better. I grew up in Hamilton and used to fish for whiting in the fall evenings with flashlight and rake. I used to look at Fox Island (you could see it from our beach and still can). I would catch Blues in the Bay and believe me they are still there especially around Hope, Prudence and Patience Islands (caught some nice 6 - 10 pounders last week). But yes the small bait fish (scup and chogsheads) are gone. But this is mainly due to the influx of people that moved into our shores and took everything home (I believe you know what I'm talking about) I am now 59 and still love to go to RI and spend time fishing Jamestown, Beavertail, Dutch Island and just the whole bay. I now live in Florida where the fishing is great just maybe the RI Fish and Game could take some lessons and use them in RI such as a Saltwater Fishing License (like we have here in Florida). This extra monies have helped to bring back the fisheries. You just may see that in the future. Just soething to think about. Be glad for what you have and you have great fishing in RI. Try going around Block Island, believe me you can still find them big Stripers out there. Keep a tight line.... <!--graemlin::cool:-->

Originally posted by: Johneeed on 8/6/2005 12:01:38 AM

No,no,no I wasn't bashing you or anything. I was just saying that gor my age (33) i must be the youngest "OLE TIMER) that lived. I grew up fishing up the street, on CAPE COD, and up the road a bit at Plum Island. As for: WHITING, wow, now a fish I haven't seen in 27 years, use to be great bluefish and striper bait, as well as table fare. I do know what you mean about the people taking everything home too, but I'm part of that guilty party also, but my fish never went to waste we always ate fish. Oh I know that the 50 #er's are still out there, it just that being shore bound and not having access to a boat, over the years the surf guys (me) are less apt now to get a 50, where as years ago more seem to be taken in a season compared to now.
oh yeah....
love your silver kings down there got to go to boca grande, got 6 over 160 lbs in one outing.
capt. said 1st time it's ever happened in the pass 1 man landing 6 tarpon in i day (guided) all toll 10 tarpon landed in 6 hrs, we set a boca grande record....
your snook, i snuck a rod down on the trip and got out night fishing wading the flats....
just like a bluefish i think was great.
but great talking to ya.

John.

Originally posted by: SuwanneePaul on 8/6/2005 3:05:37 AM

Wasn't thinking you were bashing me or anything like that. Yeh fishing from shore is a bit tougher. I have had a boat since I was 7 years old first one was an old Quahoging skiff with a 1947 Evinrude 9.5 HP (wish I still had that motor). Bay fishing and surf fishing are two different worlds but I have done both from Charleston, RI to Corpus Cristi, Texas. I was in the Army for 22.5 Years and fished in Germay for Rainbow Trout and the North Sea for Cod. But the days of the big catch even in those places are gone. But lets hope that the fish get a start and come back. As for Boca Grande, my wife and I fish the pass almost every year. We have a good friend that has been guiding there for about 10 years (Roger Gibson) you aught to try him on your next visit. He is a good guide and he is reasonable. The part of Florida where I live does not have Snook (too cold, believe that or not) but the Seatrout, Shark and Redfishing in this area cann't be beat. Well keep a tight line. SP <!--graemlin::cool:-->

Originally posted by: whiskerfisher on 2/16/2006 5:56:07 AM

Another ex-new englander heard from.
Up till 2004 I fished mainly in the mystic to gallilee R.I. area for stripers,bluefish and shark.Always had good luck with them all in that area.I believe that you have to get into the upper sound to still find quality fish.
Masons Is. in Mystic under the r.r.bridges at night had given up many 30#/40# stripers to me.Fishers Island to the Mystic lighthouse with a deep troll still produced stripers,blues ,and mackerel.Summer time at Barn Is.in the bay is still a good spot for doormat fluke ,trolling with a spoon and a piece of squid.
I also fished the Branford/Bridgeport area,and have to agree that the fishing has dropped off dramatically there.Only area that produced for me was the Thimble Islands.Porgies,fluke.and small blues.
I sincerely hope that you get better fishing up in your areas soon.The stripers have had a couple of good years for breeding and in around three years the classes should be up.A lot of 12" to 20"fish were showing up in the Ct.River when I left.

BILL