Newport, 8-6-13

[Amish Ed]

Launched at 7am to a south wind and some clouds. Almost chilly. Water definitely was chilly, 64º and very clear. Went straight across and started on the docks. Good drift between the current and wind. Picked up a small spottie right off and then one about 15" 20 min later. After an hour I only had those 2 bites. So, I moved around the corner and found 67º water, but no current. Fished it anyways, figuring the warmer water would help. It didn't. Moved back to the starting place for nada. Then across to the shoal off the launch. Got one bite on the shoal. Drifted the channel across from the HP boats and picked up 3 more spotties in about 1/2hr. Then it died again. I was off the water by about 11:00 (had to go home and watch the kids).

Fished my standard Flurries and Swimmin' Senkos. First spotties came on those. The last 3 I got on the Hyspin/ Flurry combo. All the Flurry fish (4 of them) came on gold/chartreuse. The other fish came on the Senko in Watermelon red/green flake.

While I was hoping for good fishing, I'm glad I at least got a few. I must say though that Newport has really gone downhill over the last 13yrs. I remember lots of 30+ fish days when I first started fishing there for spotties. Now a 10 fish day is normal for me. Such a bummer.

[alanw]

This mid-summer cold spell is really putting a damper on the fishing at DP too. Lots of lobster around though.

[Amish Ed]

I almost hit the Pipe in DP instead, but figured I could find warmer water in the Harbor. I did, but the lack of current negated that bonus. Probably should've tried back at the Pavilion, those fish are used to a slower current.

[Hobie-Pedaller]

Originally Posted by Amish Ed

....I must say though that Newport has really gone downhill over the last 13yrs. I remember lots of 30+ fish days when I first started fishing there for spotties. Now a 10 fish day is normal for me. Such a bummer.

from your numbers above, the drop off in production at NP has been approx 66% over past decade plus.

although SD Bay typically always produces more Bass, than any other Bay i've ever heard of.
i have ALSO seen a similar pattern there, with drop off in total fish production per outing, over past 15 yrs or so.

SDB's drop off FROM MY TYPICAL TRIPS OVER PAST 15 YEARS, is likely around 33%.

still a bummer, just as Ed stated above for NP.

Originally Posted by Amish Ed
(in Signature)

You can't catch it again if it's dead!

unfortunately, i don't think enough fishermen all over, take that concept to heart regarding Spotties & Calicos.

not necessarily just kayak fishermen, but ALL saltwater fishermen in general.

to me, with so many other saltwater fish to be caught, that are so much better to eat than Spots or Checkers...
i hope more people would C&R most or all their Bass, and eat the Halis, Lings, Sculpin, Reds, YT, and so on.

but i guess many peeps do like to eat these Bass, and many also do NOT like to C&R much of their catch of any species.
and that is their right, as long as they abide by legal size & quantity limits.

but the end result, just seems like fewer saltwater Bass around, year after year, for ALL of us to catch.
.

[Amish Ed]

So, you've noticed a drop off too, interesting. For sure the spottie population will be effected by the lack of CnR. I've seen a lot of fish get boated that didn't make it back. It's hard to maintain sustainable levels when you have a slow growing fish in an essentially closed environment. At least calicoes migrate to some extent making them harder to get a bead on.

I agree too that there are many other fish that taste much better than bass. I'm glad too that many sport boats now encourage CnR. When I started as a deckhand, it was discouraged. 5yrs later it was acceptable. Now Dana Wharf brags about fish released on FB. I like that trend.

[easyday]

When I first really gor into fishing I kept every legal bass I caught. For bragging and what not. Now that im obsessed with kayak fishing I CnR pretty much everything.

[Raskal311]

I was told by someone who has fished NPB almost exclusively for years said that a few years ago the bay had a bad spawning season. Something about water temps not getting high enough for long enough. I’ve never researched it but it makes sense.fficeffice" />>>

[rieffer]

Do you think some of the slow fishing is from the dredging they've been doing for the last couple of years?

[Amish Ed]

Originally Posted by easyday

When I first really gor into fishing I kept every legal bass I caught. For bragging and what not. Now that im obsessed with kayak fishing I CnR pretty much everything.

Glad you changed your mind Easy. Of course we all expect that butt to be gaffed

Originally Posted by Raskal311

I was told by someone who has fished NPB almost exclusively for years said that a few years ago the bay had a bad spawning season. Something about water temps not getting high enough for long enough. I’ve never researched it but it makes sense.fficeffice" />>>

That could account for some of it, but this has been a steady decline. From my experience it's been over about a 10yr period.

Originally Posted by rieffer

Do you think some of the slow fishing is from the dredging they've been doing for the last couple of years?

I'm sure that plays a part too. But, most of the dredging has been in the back end. Not sure how that would effect the front end.