Unusual becomes usual

[ronaultmtd]

We have had Spanish Mackerel in the upper Bay before...but never in the numbers nor as wide spread as this year...they have been caught above the Harry Nice Bridge in the Potomac and in the creek mouths and rivers tributaries all up and down the Bay. Weakfish have returned as have big bull red drum, Cobia and flounder...Speckled Trout are in the creeks and rivers...Walleye Pete has caught dozens of bull reds up to 60 pounds...while the Striped Bass fishery has been decimated, other species are filling in the blanks, some species rarely found like lizard fish, cutlass fish and hound fish...I believe we will see the return of big tide-runner yellow-belly croakers in the next few years...cyclic boom and bust seems to be the norm...Slot limits have proven hugely successful in bringing back Channel Bass...and could be with Striped Bass so long as big fish are not allowed to be harvested...