The Missing Fish
198 fish went into the study. 198 fish came out alive.
So where did 9% come from?
In 1996, the Diodati study caught and released 198 striped bass in an artificial pond. Eight weeks later, they drained the pond completely dry. Every single fish they recovered was alive. Not one dead fish. Not one carcass. Not one body.
But 15 to 17 fish were missing. Gone. Vanished.
And the study assumed every single one of them died from catch and release.
Every. Single. One.
Not some of...
Featured content
That’s it. That’s the number. Two.
For thirty years, the entire Atlantic coast striped bass recreational fishery, a multi billion dollar industry and a way of life for millions, has been managed based on the ghosts of fish that never died. But it all started with two. Two small, 13 inch striped bass that were the only confirmed, observed catch and release mortalities in the infamous 1996 Diodati study.
Let’s tell their story, because in it lies the original sin of three decades of flawed...
I've Been Saying This All Along: Recreational Anglers Deserve an Apology
The data is finally in, and it proves what we've known for years—we were never the problem.
For over a decade, recreational striped bass anglers have been treated like criminals. We've endured slot limits, bag restrictions, circle hook mandates, and season closures—all based on the premise that we were killing millions of fish through catch-and-release mortality. Fisheries managers pointed their fingers at us, blamed us...
The Western Run: Hunting Stripers and Blues from Rockaway Beach to Moriches Inlet
By: A Die-Hard Surf Angler
Written from the cab of a Ford F-250, October 2024
The Gritty Truth: Life on the Western Run
It's 3:47 AM and I'm writing this by the dome light of my truck, parked behind the dunes at Democrat Point. The coffee's gone cold in my thermos, my waders are still wet from the last session, and there's sand in places sand shouldn't be. But I wouldn't trade this lifestyle for anything –...
The Eastern Edge: Mastering Montauk to North Fork Waters During the Fall Blitz
By Captain Mike "Truck" Thompson | 30+ Years of Long Island Surf Fishing
Prime Fishing Forecast: October 3-17, 2024
The fog lifts off Montauk Point like a curtain being drawn back, revealing the churning white water that's been calling my name for three decades. It's 4:47 AM, and I'm crawling out of my F-250's cab where I've spent another night, the smell of coffee mixing with salt air as I gear up for what...
🎣 The Accurate Valiant 2: A Deep Dive into the Reel That's Redefining East Coast Fishing
As an avid angler who's spent countless hours working the waters from Long Island Sound to Florida's backcountry, I can tell you that finding the right reel isn't just about specs on paper – it's about performance when that fish of a lifetime hits your line.
The Evolution of Excellence
After eight years of dominating saltwater fisheries, Accurate has finally released the highly anticipated Valiant 2...
The Old School Way: A Long Island Sound Blackfish Story
For the party boat angler looking to master the art of catching tautog, sometimes the old ways are the best ways.
The air carries that distinct autumn chill, a signal to seasoned anglers that it's time to shift focus from the fleeting summer species to the undisputed bulldog of the Long Island Sound: the tautog, or as we affectionately call it, the blackfish. These days, the rails of party boats are lined with anglers dropping...
New York's Marine Recreational Angler Records: Your Gateway to Fishing Glory
NYAngler.com
Robert Foley's New York state record golden tilefish - a prime example of the quality catches recognized by the DEC program
As serious saltwater anglers fishing the waters around Long Island and beyond, we're always chasing that fish of a lifetime. The New York State Department of Environmental Conservation's Marine Recreational Angler Records Program isn't just about bragging rights - it's the...
End of an Era:
Peconic Star Fleet Closes After 43 Years of North Fork Fishing Legacy
A deep dive into the closure that signals broader challenges for Long Island's maritime heritage
GREENPORT, NY — The salt-stained decks of Peconic Star III and Peconic Star IV will no longer echo with the excitement of anglers hauling in their catch. After 43 years of serving the North Fork fishing community, Peconic Star Fleet has permanently closed its operations, marking the end of one of Long...
Great Lakes Cheese Facility Discharge Kills Tens of Thousands of Fish in Ischua Creek
An investigation into one of the most significant fish kills in recent Western New York history
Ischua Creek in better times - a pristine Western New York trout stream that attracted anglers from across the region
The angling community across Western New York is reeling from news that has sent shockwaves through the fishing world: a massive environmental disaster has decimated one of the region's most...
NEW YORK ANGLER MAGAZINE
International Fishing News & Global Adventures
Around the World in 80 Casts: Global Fishing News Roundup
Monster Catches, Mysterious Creatures, and Record-Breaking Adventures from International Waters
By George | International Correspondent
Published in New York Angler Magazine - September 2025 Edition
🌊 BREAKING: Multiple World Records Under Review as Global Fishing Scene Explodes with Activity! 🌊
The international fishing scene is absolutely electric right now...
NEW YORK ANGLER MAGAZINE
Professional Fishing Technology & Techniques
The Future is Now: Forward-Facing Sonar Revolutionizes Blackfish Targeting in New York Waters
How Live Imaging Technology is Transforming Tautog Fishing for the Modern Angler
By George | Photography by New York Angler Staff
Published in New York Angler Magazine
Caption: Modern forward-facing sonar technology allows anglers to see blackfish in real-time as they relate to structure, revolutionizing traditional bottom...
Captain Sal's Saltwater Corner: The SALTIGA Revolution
By Captain Sal Wavechaser, 30-year veteran of offshore jigging and deep-water tactics
LISTEN UP, ANGLERS!
I've been wrangling monsters from the deep since you were baiting hooks with hot dogs, and let me tell ya straight - DAIWA's new 2025 SALTIGA G 35/35L ain't just another pretty reel in the tackle shop window.
Remember how we used to bust our backs and shoulders working those heavy conventional setups in 200+ feet of water? Those...
Let’s be clear. This stop and frisk mentality on the water needs to end. When did we decide it's okay for law enforcement to look at you and decide on the spot whether your day gets wrecked? And don’t give me the old line, if you’re legal you have nothing to worry about. That’s not how America is supposed to work. Show me one other situation where you’re guilty until proven innocent.
What we’ve allowed here is intimidation. You’ve seen it. The officer stares you down, then pulls up and...
There’s a new piece of technology making waves, and it’s got the entire fishing community split right down the middle.
This isn’t just another gadget. It’s real-time, species-level underwater vision. It tells you what kind of fish are down there, how big they are, where they’re holding, and even how they’re behaving. All before you cast.
Some are calling it revolutionary. Others are calling it the death of the sport. But here’s the uncomfortable truth. It may not matter either way...
From the Depths: Global Fishing Phenomena of 2025
By Marine Observer, Special Correspondent for New York Angler
The world's oceans continue to surprise even the most seasoned anglers with remarkable catches and sightings in 2025. From record-breaking game fish to creatures once thought to be the stuff of maritime legend, this year has already delivered an extraordinary array of fishing phenomena that have captivated the angling community worldwide. Join us as we dive into the most...
The Northern Invasion: How Spot Fish Are Rewriting New York's Marine Story
In the waters surrounding New York, a quiet revolution is taking place beneath the surface. Anglers pulling in their lines from Long Island Sound, the Hudson River Estuary, and coastal waters are increasingly finding an unexpected visitor in their nets: the Spot fish (Leiostomus xanthurus), also known affectionately as "Lafayette" by old-timers. This small but significant member of the drum family is making...
