Quote:
Originally Posted by Reel Class
Denny,
FYI the pier burned down in June of 87' and it was a travesty when that happened and it's a shame they never rebuilt it. I wish I enjoyed the fishery there (born in the mid 70's) when it was in it's hey-day!
Ling fishing was different "back then" as ling were viewed by many (and many old timers see it the same way now) as trash fish. But we caught ling until the 80's right inshore with the whiting when they schooled up, just #'s were less. Ling are now mostly a deep water fishery and I haven't seen a ling in on the beach in years... 
Whiting are on the rebound, somewhat. Rebound is a term used loosely here. There have been a good deal of whiting the past few summers out to the east, mostly spikes, but we've seen some bigger ones and we've even caught some while fluke fishing. But, the traditional late fall, winter stuff we know years ago is long gone like you said..... |
I think the whiting are a lost cause. There are some ling at times and it is ok. Both are in trouble more so the whiting! I see no rebound in twenty & years with whiting. I have mates that would not know a whiting if they caught it.They are still netting them and you see the ''spikes'' in the fish market.
We did let the Russians devastate our cold water bottom fish. Problem is our own commercial guys pounded it to extinction also and will keep anything and everything as long as it has a price on it's head. The only reason there are some whiting in Mass. is because the netters target cod. If there were no cod there would be no whiting there. We do not have enough cod in NJ to net so they are not a target. I wish that the younger generation could enjoy what we older fisherman had in the winter ''inshore'' fishery but I see no light at the end of the tunnel. Whiting are not protected in any way,shape, or form and never will be !
