G.I. Specks

[eman]

Have been looking at pics and talking to fishermen for the last month about the specks being caught in G.I.
i am really starting to worry that we are looking at a BIG crash in the speck population in the next 4- 5 years in that area.
My reasoning, Talking to fishermen that fish at least 4 times a month and They have been catching a much larger class of schooling fish this year, 2-3 lbs vs 12" - 14" . VERY FEW THROW BACKS are being caught???
I am Real worried that the spawn has been off since the oil spill and that we are going to be missing a 2- 3 year group of fish.
The actual surf wade fishing has been way off since the spill. Fish are being caught in many places, but very few 1 year 2 year fish.
I am not a biologist and have not been down there to talk to any.
Only going by observation of weekly fishermen and reports that are posted.

[Montauk17]

I know it's a totally different area but in vermillion bay area the schooling trout are usually 2-4 pounds. Been that way since I started fishing them about 8 years ago. Not to say the oil spill did not effect them,grand isle got hit hard with oil and im sure some is still there.

[Clampy]

Same thing happened in Venice.

[eman]

Originally Posted by Montauk17

I know it's a totally different area but in vermillion bay area the schooling trout are usually 2-4 pounds. Been that way since I started fishing them about 8 years ago. Not to say the oil spill did not effect them,grand isle got hit hard with oil and im sure some is still there.

this time of year you are usually catching 3-4 dinks to every keeper.
Places that we could usually catch dinks in the winter as fast as you can cast were void of trout .only hardheads and gaff topps.

[ChrisD]

We caught plenty of dinks this winter and plenty early this spring they are there. Yah I'd say the average is bigger overall since 2010 but there is no shortage of dinks. I believe the winter time spots changed this year due to the large amounts of decaying marsh grass filling up a lot of the deeper holes from Hurricane Isaac. This past winter was one of the best ones I've seen in the last five years. I'd be willing to bet if you sit on a reef in the bay with a .35 live shrimp I'm sure you catch more dinks than you want.

[meaux fishing]

nothing but dinks under all the birds last week. I caught one 12.5" out of about 50 fish. I think there may be more big fish due to the fact a whole summer went unfished in those areas as a side effect of the oil spill

[BIG RED 1983]

No it's because the limit is 25 on that end of the state

[calcutta37]

Lots of dinks in coco

[I make oil]

Originally Posted by meaux fishing

nothing but dinks under all the birds last week. I caught one 12.5" out of about 50 fish. I think there may be more big fish due to the fact a whole summer went unfished in those areas as a side effect of the oil spill

I agree with Meaux. I have had amazing trips will NO throw backs. My average fish so far this year has been 2#. My wife caught one almost 6. I think we are seeing the results of the lower fishing pressure the year of the spill. My question is how will the increase size effect us long term? Will we continue to get bigger fish?

[SuperDave]

Originally Posted by I make oil

I agree with Meaux. I have had amazing trips will NO throw backs. My average fish so far this year has been 2#. My wife caught one almost 6. I think we are seeing the results of the lower fishing pressure the year of the spill. My question is how will the increase size effect us long term? Will we continue to get bigger fish?

If they do indeed get bigger then could this mean that the 25 fish limit is too high?

[Goooh]

Originally Posted by SuperDave

If they do indeed get bigger then could this mean that the 25 fish limit is too high?

Size shouldn't matter, population change does though.

[meaux fishing]

Originally Posted by Goooh

Size shouldn't matter, population change does though.

I caught 225 fish out of my boat last week and the weather was not favorable all week. There is no shortage of fish out there from what I saw. I had several days with no throwbacks also.

[I make oil]

I am not a biologist. I am just a consumer of the resource. I hope the limit is not changed. I think similar to what W has posted in the past that the reason for the smaller fish is the competition for the food is to high to allow the fish to grow to their full potential. Fewer fish means more food for the ones left which allows them to grow larger. I don't know but it makes sense to me. Why do we have bigger fish this year? I don't have a clue. I do hope it continues.

[Clampy]

You see this in ponds all the time. Water turns over. 60% of fish die. 3 years later the ones that lived are studs.
Less competition = bigger fish. My theory is that something only these lines is happening. They will always have tons of fish over there. Might be a blessing but I'm dumb and I'm purely guessing.

[SuperDave]

Originally Posted by Goooh

Size shouldn't matter, population change does though.

And your saying the population went up or down? Pardon me as I'm just trying to make sure I understand correctly.