TUNA SEAZURE Trip Reports 8/30, 9/1 and 9/2 and upcoming schedule
Posted by jwood on 9/4/2012, 3:57 pm
Thursday 8/30 Local low lying wooden wreck As others have reported there is most definitely something going on in the water. Most likely dissolved oxygen in the water column. We would find descent viz maybe 15 ft and warm bottom temps right around the 60* mark. But the most disturbing sight would be many dead eels and lobsters standing out in the open right in front of their holes and even a more surprising site multiple lobsters stacked on top of each other in their holes. This weird behavior was a windfall for us as we were able to boat a load of lobsters. As you will notice further down in this report that taking them was not all that bad considering. If this doesn't resolve soon it may have ill effects on our harvests for many seasons to come. I'm thinking we may need a storm to wash out all this bad water.
Pics up shortly.......photobucket having problems again
Saturday 9/1 Delaware We've been having some luck here of late so another trip was warranted. More disturbing sites, dead eels all over as they were last weekend and now we are finding dead lobsters (a solid 3 pounder dead in front of his hole) today we would find a mass of dead burgles/cunners or whatever they are called littering the wreck. No signs of any fish on the wreck other than some Tog and Sea Bass swimming circles above the wreck maybe 20 feet or so up in the water column. This would again confirm my fears there is an oxygen issue with the water. The fact the lobsters are dying is not very good news as some of the ones we have spotted are eggers. Can only hope things switch around sooner rather than later. One of our resident killers would score a fine piece of junque today in lieu of fish a very nice brass pin about 4+ feet long and with some weight.
Pics to come
Sunday 9/2 Sea Girt Reef We had reports from some of our fishing friends they were having some luck with Fluke and so we would give it a go. A pretty good choice if I say so myself. Same almost 60* on the bottom and maybe 25-35 ft viz today. A load of bugs, again no sitings of Fluke, but........a lot of other fish sitings. When I dropped down to tie in I saw very big Cod and Tog circling above the wreck (probably that oxygen thing again) but they would drop down on occasion to be shot at. Even spotted some Stripers swimming in the school. Tog, Cod and Sea Bass would round out the catch today to go along with the Lobsters.
Pics to come
Monday 9/3 Blown Out We would try to get back out to the Sea Girt today, but after clearing the jetty it was obvious the better part of valor was to catch some breakfast and throw on some zincs. With the conditions from the day before it broke a lot of hearts to call it!
We have interest in Thursday or Friday, both guys said they are flexible. You all know the deal......somebody has got to get the ball rolling Give the shop a call @ 610-631-2288
JIM, I am surprised to hear about the dead eels and lobster. We have not seen this yet while diving out of Barnegat. So far the sea life has seemed generally healthy.
Re: TUNA SEAZURE Trip Reports 8/30, 9/1 and 9/2 and upcoming schedule
I have heard that from others as well, about down south. Maybe just pockets of dead water. We have been noticing this more on wooden wrecks, but there has been some observations of wierd behavior even on metal wrecks. Just hope it gets finished with soon! The one positive is seeing the big Tog that have been hiding all summer and for that matter the bigger Sea Bass. I still believe the very moderate winter and lack of snow is what has had the big impact on the great Fluke fishery this year as well as the off year for Tog and Sea Bass.
Re: TUNA SEAZURE Trip Reports 8/30, 9/1 and 9/2 and upcoming schedule
In years past, I have also seen alot of dead eel pouts and the like on some of the wrecks closer to shore. Coincidently, it was always at the end of August and beginning of September. I remember hearing stories that it was the local sewerage plants cleaning out their systems at the end of the summer.
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