Skipjack Rumor
1 - 20 of 36 Posts
It really doesn't matter to me, but it makes you wonder. I heard this talk at a bait shop one day, then heard the same thing from a striper guide on the river. I haven't seen a skipjack this year. But I haven't been out as much. Last year I only caught two, both times crappie fishing, once on Melton Hill below Bull Run and another below the dam.
Joined
·
1,254 Posts
I hope so.
Joined
·
1,534 Posts
I hope so too..I have been having a hard time catching skips..Went last Thursday and caught one, and every time I hear people say they caught them here or there and I go I come out empty..Not saying people are lying but it seems I'm always a day late..By now my freezer would be full and so far I've invested quite a few hours fishing for them and only have 10 skips to show for it..That is pathetic..They have to be going somewhere...I know I'm not losing my mind..If people are gonna get all upset about killing and taking our trophy fish to pay ponds and such they should be equally upset about doing the same to the bait, cause just as the trophy fish disappear so does the bait..
I think part of the reason I haven't been seeing them is 1)spill at Kingston Stm Plt and 2)my Bull Run spot is now off limits. The Emory River has been heavily dredged for 1-1/2 years where some 40+ feet deep holes were filled in by fly ash. I didn't find skipjacks right there exactly, but downstream a good ways and there is a film on top of the water that looks like melted vanilla ice cream. I heard back in the winter there were skips at Bull Run, but I didn't want to risk a $250 trespassing ticket to find out. As far as the reason there haven't been any below Melton Hill Dam, maybe that has something to do with the Kingston spill, also, since it's the same river system and no obstructions.
Any other East TN fishermen have a theory??
Any other East TN fishermen have a theory??
Joined
·
509 Posts
Anyone know who we need to contact to voice our opinion to not allow it. I think if enough people complain thats what will not get it passed. It simply take enough people complaining.
Probably TWRA is who you need to talk to. But if you call them, it's possible it could be a wild goose chase, getting put on hold or disconnected, and if you're lucky enough to talk to a real person expect a lot of hum-hawing. I tried to contact TWRA by email for 2 simple questions--one was the use of sabiki rigs and the other was how many creek chubs we are allowed to possess in my county. Never got a reply at all. But I did happen to see a game warden at the post office near the courthouse, ran him down and he finally answered my questions.
Still I don't know how accurate this info on limiting skipjack, but both these guys who mentioned it are reliable businessmen. Again, I really don't have an opinion
Joined
·
2,027 Posts
Where did you go? I took Cattracker below Cordell Hull a couple of weeks ago and we wore them out right up against the wall. We cought 0ver 60 in less than three hours. I caught 60 oe better the week before that.
Joined
·
1,534 Posts
Haven't been to Cordell....Yet...I work in Nashville so I usually stop at Priest or Old Hick after work..I may go down to Cordell this weekend and try..I heard that ya'll were catching them there..I was on vacation last weekend so I didn't get to go..Went to Shutes last Wednesday cause I sometimes can catch them there under the bridge but only managed to catch one then my buddy at work tells me yesterday he caught about 20 there Saturday in about an hour..Hopefully I'll get out this weekend to try again but I'll be working on my boat too so not sure if I'll have time..
Jacking skip-jacks has turned into a "profession" seems like...Not being rude but some folks dont know or care when to stop / when i visit another state fishing i should respect it not rape it...I do not go & get skips out of state i dont have too..but i have seen too many people taking too many at a time in my own state....That is why Oklahoma put a limit on shad at 150 a day / people from another state was getting 55 gallon barrels at a time ...not gonna mention the state cause it was the people not the state / I wish they would limit skips i am fine with it / it would stop a lot of out of state bait hauling / I wish they would here in our state i would support it / I used to help folks out all the time with rigging / tying jigs / where & how to find them / different bait presentations / how to store them etc.... not any more ...seen too much dis-respect & greedeness:secret:
Joined
·
28 Posts
absolutely, I have met guys from Indiana, Kentucky, and North Carolina @ Cordell Hull and Old Hickory dams, packing skippies out by the coolers. They all are Big Cat guys either stopping on the way too a big tournament or just stocking up the freezer.
Even if they are bait; they are still a natural resource that should be monitored.
Even if they are bait; they are still a natural resource that should be monitored.
Joined
·
1,534 Posts
Right down the road, bout a 10-15 minute ride if that..
Joined
·
599 Posts
I don't have a problem with them catching all they will use. I do have a problem with what they catch and don't use. I hear about them throwing away freezer burnt skips all the time. Some people are just greedy by nature and will keep more then they will ever hope to use in a season.
Joined
·
507 Posts
I agree if they're getting tossed out then it's a shame.
However, don't forget about the economic impact out of state fisherman bring to your local communities/state. I have a fish camp on the KY/TN border and probably fish some of the areas you mention more than many "locals" and have been for several years. I've yet to notice a decline in the jack population. That's not to say there hasn't been one and it would honestly be too hard to measure if it were based on over harvest. Mother nature plays a larger role than anything and some years have been better than others based on that.
Aside from that I'll go along with whatever is decided. If fisherman are willing to travel hundreds of miles and stay in hotel rooms and what not then they'd more than likely pay the commercial fishing license fee too.
However, don't forget about the economic impact out of state fisherman bring to your local communities/state. I have a fish camp on the KY/TN border and probably fish some of the areas you mention more than many "locals" and have been for several years. I've yet to notice a decline in the jack population. That's not to say there hasn't been one and it would honestly be too hard to measure if it were based on over harvest. Mother nature plays a larger role than anything and some years have been better than others based on that.
Aside from that I'll go along with whatever is decided. If fisherman are willing to travel hundreds of miles and stay in hotel rooms and what not then they'd more than likely pay the commercial fishing license fee too.
Joined
·
2,027 Posts
I really do not have a problem with out of state folks comming here for bait, just look at it this way, if we did not have them here we would be going to thier state to harvest bait....
You have to remember this, how many eggs do one single skipjack produce and how many that are hatched survive of that one skipjack. Then multiply that by the thousands! When they do come here they are supporting our economy buy shopping, eating and staying in hotels.
You have to remember this, how many eggs do one single skipjack produce and how many that are hatched survive of that one skipjack. Then multiply that by the thousands! When they do come here they are supporting our economy buy shopping, eating and staying in hotels.
Joined
·
3,070 Posts
No shortage of skipjacks here in Western Kentucky.....maybe Tennessee needs a limit....and a special permit for out of staters.....lol. Skipjack permits......lol.
Joined
·
2,658 Posts
I will be helpin the economy this weekend by camping @ Hickory and buying groceries . I will only need a jack or 2 cause I will be bank fishing won't be dragging the boat .How is the fishing beneath Old Hickory dam ?
1 - 20 of 36 Posts
