Originally Posted by bulletbob (Post 587552)

If access is limited in ANY way then all bets are off.. There is great access at Block Island, and lots of fish. If NJ/NY restricts access, then I would be outraged if I were a NJ salt water fisherman.

Again, I don't buy the "it pulls fish from other places" theory.. If that were that big a problem, Every time a wreck was sunk, or an artificial reef expanded, fishing would be poor in other spots, because the local fish populations "moved out".. Might be a small concern for a season or two, but increased habitat will lead to better populations in the long run, and less pressure on areas that have traditionally been fished hard.
Access is everything.. I would be singing a different tune if access were denied , no question.... bob

Originally Posted by Chrisper4694 (Post 587558)

No question that after time it will lead to better fishing when structure is added but i think it might take more than a few years. I think i heard 5+ somewhere but cant remember. A straight standing structure with rubble at the base isnt gonna be as good of a fiah attracting structure as a wreck or reef though and like i said unleaa it was in writing that vessels would have full access, i wouldnt believe it.

Originally Posted by Duffman (Post 587560)

Not sure about 5 years. The recently built structure in Raritan Bay had life on it almost immediately.

Originally Posted by hammer4reel (Post 587561)

If they are slamming piles into the ground for years . Running cables to the towers etc .
How many fish do you think will tolerate that intrusion ?

Monty did lots of underwater video on the Maryland reef sites .
Just the testing for driving piles etc drove fish off GOOD existing structure for months at a time

Originally Posted by Duffman (Post 587560)

Not sure about 5 years. The recently built structure in Raritan Bay had life on it almost immediately.