Short life

Hunter704

Hunter704

Well-Known Angler
Headed out Frank St and myself and headed east off crab meadow beach. Tons of sand eels in the area. Had bites as soon as hitting bottom. Uncountable amount of shorts and I mean shorts measured one fish at 18 3/4. Other than that nothing even close. Second part of no keepers was the amount of sea robins was insane. For whatever the amount of fluke we caught was three times the amount of sea robins. We definitely had bent rods with nonstop action. All in all a beautiful day one the water.
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The amount of bait and short fish in this area is crazy. Why do we keep seeing these short fish early year after year? This spring scenario has been ongoing for over 10 years. I am sure the draggers are taking their toll, but shouldn't some nice fish make it through? Do these fish abandon this area as they mature, never to return? 20 to 25 years ago, one or two five-pound fish in the box would be commonplace this time of year. Now, a five-pound fish is a trophy.
 
Then big fish are examine, but the average size is way up over last year. And there is more bait around than I've seen in years. But it's small bait, and I'm guessing those bigger fish are looking for something else?
 
But George, fluke grow fast. Shouldn't those plentiful 17" and 18" fish we were catching last spring be keepers this year? The draggers can't be netting them all.
regards Holty
 
I'm not disagreeing, but there are some guys I know limiting. Usually we see the big ones by now, but I see this bait as a positive sign and I just hope it sticks around. Lets face it @holty , the deck is stacked against us. An 18 3/4 inch fluke is a healthy dinner in my book. But sadly we're slowly being regulated out of the fishery.
 
george said:
Then big fish are examine, but the average size is way up over last year. And there is more bait around than I've seen in years. But it's small bait, and I'm guessing those bigger fish are looking for something else?
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Yes the sand eels are very small being spit out on the deck. Two weeks ago there was a steady pick of keepers in that area. But day after day of keepers coming up eventually that body of fish become shorts and keepers are few and far between. Hopefully a new body of fish move in. Also anyone that fishes for fluke all know there is that window of tide the big fish chew. Sounds like Allykat was on them in that window of tide.
 
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