Trout in decline?

[specktator]

I hardly even trout fish anymore. Used to go at least 3-4 times per month. In the last 10 years, I've mainly only targeted big fish when I go. I would say from 2005/2006 to 2013/2014, I either saw someone else catch or caught myself say 75-100 fish over 5 pounds. Lot's of 7+ as well. And we would release them all. In the last 3-4 years, I've probably only seen less than 5-6. Now that's drastic. Granted, I hardly fish as much as I used to but it's mainly due to the drastic decrease is fish size. Dinks just don't do it for me, so if the big girls aren't biting, I am staying at the house.

November to May used to be awesome. Now I just do more duck, deer, and turkey hunting.

In my opinion, I don't really think guides are making a huge difference. Heck I see they struggle nowadays just to hit a 5 pounder. I would say silt on reefs along the channel, oyster dredging, the weirs are all major factors.