Nice morning and a couple of hitchhikers

Hunter704

Hunter704

Well-Known Angler
Another nice day, a few guys out grazing on the grass that’s finally starting to show. Then it appears to be two seals hitching a ride. Was pretty far out I zoomed as much as I could. But pretty confident that they are seals. My last few late blackfish trips they were popping up behind the boat every morning in the same area.
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OVERBORED said:
Just read a report about how much of a problem gray seals have become. Population has exploded leading some experts to believe that if not controlled they can decimate the inshore fish population.

Hmmmm.........is it already happening?
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You are definitely onto something by saying is it already happening, the seals in the back bays along the south shore are definitely on the rise. Black fishing around the Wantagh bridges this past fall they were all over. With plenty of very small sea bass and juvenile blackfish I’m sure they are having a field day. Even trolling in the Spring in the State channel in late April Early May they are popping up behind the boat.
 
Hunter704 said:
You are definitely onto something by saying is it already happening, the seals in the back bays along the south shore are definitely on the rise. Black fishing around the Wantagh bridges this past fall they were all over. With plenty of very small sea bass and juvenile blackfish I’m sure they are having a field day. Even trolling in the Spring in the State channel in late April Early May they are popping up behind the boat.
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Although I did not have any encounters with seals on the North Fork this past fall, a few of my friends did run into them while Tog fishing.

For me they were quite problematic at times while Stiper fishing in the Gut last spring. We would get a solid bite started and then they would show up and shut things down quickly. On a few charters I swear they were stalking me. I would make a productive drift, go back to start the line again only to find a seal sitting right off my bow!! If this gets any worse, I may need to arm myself next season! Hunter, feel free to bring along your deer rifle!!!
 
Seals are smart. Eventually they equate the sound of an engine with food. Easier to steal a Bass being reeled in than hunting it. It's becoming a real problem and really needs to be addressed. The other problem as they have found out on Cape Cod is they attract the apex predator.
 

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