Do we need Baitfish Regs?

jighead · Post by **jighead** » Tue Jan 02, 2007 11:48 pm

I feel ya' however I hate new rules/laws anything more goverment. The bigger issue is enforcement. Not enough eyes out there.

Lomax · Post by **Lomax** » Thu Jan 04, 2007 3:50 pm

... There are no bait issues. The bait is plentiful as always. The difference is, they are not located where you wish they were. Miami and beyond, there is bait like you could never believe. They are just in some cycle that has taken them further south gradually the last 10 years.

swordfish · Post by **swordfish** » Thu Jan 04, 2007 4:45 pm

im with you Lomax, just got a report out of Tampa that has the baitfish SUPER THICK!!! SO they just kept a bit offshore this year... Hell it might even have something to do with the lack of cyclonic storms this past season, who knows.

BoatlessFisherman · Post by **BoatlessFisherman** » Thu Jan 04, 2007 4:48 pm

water temps, even long key water is 4 degrees lower than broward area

swordfish · Post by **swordfish** » Thu Jan 04, 2007 4:52 pm

hmmm colder waters? Thats interesting... I would have thought that warmer waters was the cause... NOW, colder waters do come in part from the amount of fresh water going into the ocean from the polar caps.

Interesting either way. However, it should make it easier to spot bonefish on the beach since it should take longer for the water to warm up.

jighead · Post by **jighead** » Thu Jan 04, 2007 7:59 pm

jighead wrote:I feel ya' however I hate new rules/laws anything more goverment. The bigger issue is enforcement. Not enough eyes out there.

When I said this I was speaking to the abusers and broward county bait. At Christmas I was on the water in the IRL near Sabastian and bait was everywhere three days later 10,000 islands again bait was not an issue.

Lomax · Post by **Lomax** » Fri Jan 05, 2007 7:04 pm

Lomax wrote:.They are just in some cycle that has taken them further south gradually the last 10 years.

... Read this part again.

If some do not know, besides commercial fishing, I also work for a live bait biz in the Port. As I said, there is no issue with bait. It just travels south now. If you have bait remaining where you live, be happy it did not leave. Some of you just do not know the supply there really is because you do not see it yourself. When all the bait returns, it is solid. Sometimes you have to accept the cycles that happen. As they hurt you sometimes, other times they will help you. It happens with all the fish. Not just bait.

gotants? · Post by **gotants?** » Sat Jan 06, 2007 5:29 pm

Here`s the deal guys, at least in the broward area...

Beach renourishment

All the metric tons of sand carries with it just as much, if not more, silt.

The silt kills corals, and sea grasses. It lowers the oxygen level in the water. And the baitfish avoid this like the plague.

Right before every beach renourishment job, ther`s bait, and fish, all over the place. A few months of pumping that crap and it`s long gone for a few years.

krash · Post by **krash** » Sat Jan 06, 2007 6:16 pm

Not so many years ago the net fishermen did not think we needed regulations on mullet...

Cookinman · Post by **Cookinman** » Sat Jan 06, 2007 10:19 pm

gotants? wrote:Here`s the deal guys, at least in the broward area...

Beach renourishment

All the metric tons of sand carries with it just as much, if not more, silt.

The silt kills corals, and sea grasses. It lowers the oxygen level in the water. And the baitfish avoid this like the plague.

Right before every beach renourishment job, ther`s bait, and fish, all over the place. A few months of pumping that crap and it`s long gone for a few years.

Down where Rijkaard lives im H-wood - My wifes cousin also lives. Used to see sardines lined up all up and down the beach year round. Have not seen one decent school since the new beach was laid....Good Point.

I believe in cycles also, but something else is definately factored in here...

And ya Bridge, I hit the inlet a few times a week, cuz it i very close to the office and have not seen any whitebait in months despite the warm water temps.

jighead · Post by **jighead** » Sun Jan 07, 2007 11:39 am

All great points. Other factors have contributed aswell, The four storms that ripped through the state just a few years back hammering the mangroves. The dumping of all that polluted water from the big O for the sake of the sugar industry certainly has had a negitive impact too.

Lomax · Post by **Lomax** » Sun Jan 07, 2007 1:03 pm

Cookinman wrote:
Down where Rijkaard lives im H-wood - My wifes cousin also lives. Used to see sardines lined up all up and down the beach year round.

... Not year round in the last 10 years or so. I have fished Hollywood Beach heavy for 15 years. I have never seen schools of sardines settled in the winter there. Just travelers heading south in the fall, and back in the spring.

fishnfool73 · Post by **fishnfool73** » Fri Jan 26, 2007 8:36 pm

I am sure the foriegn roll netters have nothing to do with this shortage. LOMAXS cycle theory sounds good but pollution is also is playing a large roll in it. As pointed out in Port St Lucie the mullet are thick year round and the run reminds me of the old days down here. The herring and sardines are also thick pretty much year round as well. Will be intresting to see how the dumping affects that place in the next few years.