How Long Can This Continue? Tog Slaughter

I saw this on FB today. I'm not sure where it was taken, and they do appear to be tagged. View attachment 90511

That’s why when the spring blackfish season comes I’m not a fan. A five pound blackfish can produce 180,000 eggs any help we can do to help save another species. I’m all in when we have commercial and illegal fishing going on. The recreational guys are the ones who see the decline.

I haven't targeted Spring blackfish in 30 years, and will never do so in the future. I do think this fishery is heading toward a total shut-down in the near future. The species is trying hard to regenerate, witness all the "just short" toss-backs. But the second they hit the 16" rec limitation, into the box they go.

And this doesn't begin to address the point that in every species there are certain individuals that will grow larger than the average. Its obvious, isn't it? How many reading this can play pro football, or even more to the point, star in the NBA? The same goes for fish. Catch and and keep the biggies and you cull out the larger-growers. Seems simple enough, no?

This goes hand in hand with my earlier comment in this thread. Keep 'em small and you'll see a decrease in over-all size of the species. And isn't that exactly what we are seeing? The question was asked, "Where are the biggies?" If we keep harvesting the just-legals, there will never be any "biggies."

And even worse, we recs throw back multitudes of 15" fish, which the next comm boat on the piece will gladly put in their live well. Put that together with the 25 fish comm limit, and truthfully, this species is doomed.

And I'm talking pinhookers, haven't even addressed the potters (see above first post). And worst of all are the roller trawlers, who single-handedly have destroyed nearly all my prime drops at 17. I don't go down there any longer, as the high relief that I used to fish has been pounded flat. The Fall fishing has been so bad on the South Shore that even the relatively modest 4-fish limit has proven difficult to near impossible to achieve with any consistency.

It's really making me rethink leaving my boat in the water so late in the season every year. Fighting cold weather, frozen canals and snow shoveling my cockpit is no longer such an appetizing option. Certainly not for the current return on the extra effort required to fish the late season. And certainly not in my now-70th season of life.

What a disaster this live fish market nonsense has been. Just not for the greedy few. Not yet, anyway.

I haven't targeted Spring blackfish in 30 years, and will never do so in the future. I do think this fishery is heading toward a total shut-down in the near future. The species is trying hard to regenerate, witness all the "just short" toss-backs. But the second they hit the 16" rec limitation, into the box they go.

And this doesn't begin to address the point that in every species there are certain individuals that will grow larger than the average. Its obvious, isn't it? How many reading this can play pro football, or even more to the point, star in the NBA? The same goes for fish. Catch and and keep the biggies and you cull out the larger-growers. Seems simple enough, no?

This goes hand in hand with my earlier comment in this thread. Keep 'em small and you'll see a decrease in over-all size of the species. And isn't that exactly what we are seeing? The question was asked, "Where are the biggies?" If we keep harvesting the just-legals, there will never be any "biggies."

And even worse, we recs throw back multitudes of 15" fish, which the next comm boat on the piece will gladly put in their live well. Put that together with the 25 fish comm limit, and truthfully, this species is doomed.

And I'm talking pinhookers, haven't even addressed the potters (see above first post). And worst of all are the roller trawlers, who single-handedly have destroyed nearly all my prime drops at 17. I don't go down there any longer, as the high relief that I used to fish has been pounded flat. The Fall fishing has been so bad on the South Shore that even the relatively modest 4-fish limit has proven difficult to near impossible to achieve with any consistency.

It's really making me rethink leaving my boat in the water so late in the season every year. Fighting cold weather, frozen canals and snow shoveling my cockpit is no longer such an appetizing option. Certainly not for the current return on the extra effort required to fish the late season. And certainly not in my now-70th season of life.

What a disaster this live fish market nonsense has been. Just not for the greedy few. Not yet, anyway.

This photo is really hard to look at.
Anyone who has fished for Tog in the NY/NJ area over the last several years has witnessed the decline, no matter where you fish in our waters. Is there even time left to salvage this coveted species?

Why do you think so many folks are going to RI and MD? Sadly, it won't be long before those states also see a falloff in their respective Tog fisheries. I know the MD Charter Captains encourage the release of all the larger
Tog, which can help, but the guys in this photo are clearly running a commercial operation. Thye don't seem all that concerned about the future!

captmike those tog are very slow growing ,,,,,,,,,, i think the slower of all fish🐟,,,like a inch a year,☹️,,,,,,,,,am i right?,,,,,,,,, ><)))):>
><)))):>

i just saw what hunter said,,, they are slow growing,,, the slowest,,,,,,even years mite not get the big tog back😡,,, ><)))))))))))))))))))))))))))):<
><))))))))))))))))))))))))):<

Tough picture George.

Unfortunately it’s going to keep happening. 25 fish per trip is the law, what sometimes happens in actuality is another story.

It is amazing what goes on. Everyone sees it and knows who's doing it except for DEC!

When guys were getting in trouble for penning fish they got creative and I'll leave it at that.

Shore fishermen and boat rentals are easy targets but doesn't make the smallest dent in the problem.

To start, get some Undercovers on these PBs and CBs.

Really want to make a dent, go to 4th avenue in Brooklyn. Those big warehouses are home to some on the biggest live fish dealers in the country. Go there and check receipts, Check for tags. Check the licenses of everyone who sold fish to the dealers in the last 5 months.

Problem is.....its not a priority!