"Yes, they're eating the fish". On this Election Day this quote seems appropriate, a version of Trump's recent claim, as it relates to fishing. For me this picture will be one that says a lot about the state of the fishery in 2024 and the fall run. Now I'm not going to get involved in all the comments that blew up social media but it really does say a lot.
I'm not here to pick on head boats, but maybe a bit, but what this shows is that we are hammering down on those slot fish of 28-31" size. These fish are from one of the biggest party boat operations out in Long Island. These pics come from recent trips after the initial push of big fish hit the Fire Island area a few weeks back. Now those anglers, beach and boat, are getting solid shots at those 2015 and 2018 year class slot fish. While the only fishing mortality from the big fish we saw in the past three weeks was from recreational catch and release, this "new" body of smaller fish are the ones heading home for the table.
The below fish was posted today from one of the beaches down the Jersey Shore. New Jersey also falls in the 28-31 inch slot and must have been just at the upper limit at 31 inches exactly. That's a pretty big looking 31 inch fish but pics can be misleading.
It seems the sand ell bite has turned into a sand eel/adult bunker/peanut bunker bite mostly off the beaches in New Jersey. The thing about this time of year is just putting in the time and being in the right place at the right time. I was going to give it a shot tomorrow morning but I talked myself out of it with the wind going SSW. I just don't want to commit.
And today is the Presidential election. I had to work early this morning and after it was a mad dash down the Turnpike to fulfill my civic duty. I didn't know which way I was going to cast
my vote until I stood inside the booth, took a breath, and made my choice. I hate that elections these days seem to come down to the lesser of two evils, or the better of two of not the best choices. We have to do better than this. And the division, well enough already.
I can honestly say I thought about not voting in the presidential row and just staying to the state and local options. But I knew that would just be cowardly. What do I think? I think in the end,
in a few days, after all the "counts" come in Donald Trump will be our president once again. And, life will go on, hopefully somehow for the better. If Harris wins, then I hope the best for her and all of us. I would never be one to say "Not my President', no matter who wins. I will support the President and United States as a proud citizen. Not that I like everything we have done, currently do, or will do in the future, but we are the best country in the world. We just have to start believing that once again.
