My opinion on the bite...just an opinion!

[Tacklebox Joe]

My personal opinion on the striper bite is these damn out of state bunker boats have nearly  killed the bite for us. God only knows how much bait they have taken from our waters. Some guys are still picking away but....Can not wait for this bill to pass and regulate these happenings.

If I was a bass and there was nothing around to eat I would migrate north too. It is only basic instinct of survival that every living animal has. We all need to eat!
 

I'll be out the next couple of days trying. I still believe, though, there will be another run...hopefully

[Andys Delight]

My personal opinion on the striper bite is these damn out of state bunker boats have nearly  killed the bite for us. God only knows how much bait they have taken from our waters. Some guys are still picking away but....Can not wait for this bill to pass and regulate these happenings.

If I was a bass and there was nothing around to eat I would migrate north too. It is only basic instinct of survival that every living animal has. We all need to eat!
 

I'll be out the next couple of days trying. I still believe, though, there will be another run...hopefully

Saw two of them dragging nets in the raritan yesterday.   

[Bucktail]

Sounds about right to me.

[Pfishingruven]

I think it is many people's opinion...and almost FACT .  What's the deal with this?

 

[wb]

they got Bunker boats and Bait Bunker boats- 2 different- different regs, etc., all one result--
the rec guy LOSES!!!

Most of them are from out of state (by my unscientific survey)

[Tacklebox Joe]

they got Bunker boats and Bait Bunker boats- 2 different- different regs, etc., all one result--
the rec guy LOSES!!!

EXACTLY!

[Hotrod]

[gottog]

In my humble opinon, the Spring used to be tough and just smaller fish, the Fall run was always better with bigger fish.  The last 5+ years or so it's been flipped. 

This Spring many old-salts have said it's the best they've seen in a very, very long time or possibly ever.  Lots of fish and many bigger ones about.

I understand about the bunker boats massing about with their nets recently, but see plenty of reports stating loads of bunker still around and others seeing bass crashing them but won't bite so not sure if it's entirely the bunker boats fault.  Maybe it's just been too easy catching them for the Spring and now it's back to fishing for them in the Summer...

Again, just my thoughts and could be wrong 

[ped579]

Mike I like your explanation the best so far.  The bunker this year has been thick enough to walk on and that is one reason the larger fish are still here.  The water temps have stayed cooler for a longer period of time and I think that is another reason for the great run this Spring.

This plus there have not been to many storms lately to knock the snot out of the bait either.  They are all in huge schools and can be seen from land and breakouts from the main school have been showing up on local beaches as well.  This has been the first year that I have paid so low for bait as I am snagging my own from the beach.

Remember bunker are filter feeder and feed mostly on plankton. Certain plankton like the cold to cooler waters and that is what we have right now.  So like I said I think it is a combination of things that are all falling into place

Lets see what this weekend brings with the New Moon arriving on Saturday and Sunday, it should bring some nice sized cows in to the mix.  I don't know about Saturday but Sunday looks like a good day to hit the beach.  It will be plenty dark and they are calling for some nice weather.

Here is the comparison in water temps form Monday till today.  There is a lot of cooler water around so the fishing should pick up again.  We will see.

Be careful out there guys.

Happy Catching

Paul