Gator

Since we're on the subject of electronic monitoring systems, I'm going to make a pitch for a freezer alarm. Nothing to do with boating, but a buddy of mine lost everything in his chest freezer a few weeks ago and a couple of other guys on here have had the same thing happen in the not-so-distant past. I purchased a Temperature Stick monitor for my chest freezer two weeks ago. It works on Wifi and is easy to install. You set up alarms for temperature, humidity, or power loss (since these things don't work without power lol) and receive text messages in or off app with the option of email alerts to you or a designee. The sensor sends a report to the app once an hour, more often if you want. With the storms this week and Tommy and I being in Cape Cod, it was interesting to get notification that the unit hadn't checked in for three consecutive cycles and to see once we had power back how warm the freezer got (it went from 2 to 10 degrees in four hours). The thing cost $140, but there are some cheaper options on Amazon too. I figure you get what you pay for and based on the reviews chose to go with the Temperature Stick. So far, so good.

Based on jigging the salt, single hook stainless trailers and reduced spoon profile in deeper water will increase your odds, as will a stiff rod and of course braided line. You can't drive it home hard enough. The lighter the jig or spoon, the easier time you will have setting the hook too. The learning curve is half the fun.

It's funny that Tommy and I were all about the riggers on Sunday, without a diver hit to show for three hours trolling. Different day, different presentation. Even though we were fishing in tight for browns (and caught one 14.5 lbs, but somebody wasn't in the LOC), we still caught a few salmon.

I may have to pull the Lund down there at some point and leave Nothing But Net at the dock. We are headed to the Cape on Friday to pursue stripers and tuna, and most of the rods that we use for that (all built by yours truly) should serve double-duty for Lady O kings. I will reach out when we get back.

Nicely done! I think you set up near us at one point; we were actually wondering whether you were a DEC boat checking rods until we saw the drift sock come out.

He's a keeper!

The cores are gone.

Mason RediCore and Cortland Kerplunk 27 lb ten color. Free to a good home. Pick up in Rush, NY or Sandy Creek Marina, Hamlin.

I for one would love to see somebody like Tom offer his take on this. If you know him, could you direct him to this page and maybe ask if he could take a few minutes to carve out his thoughts? I and certainly most on here appreciate that there are no easy answers and that proving cause and effect over correlation is nearly impossible given the variables and caveats. But some informed speculation would be greatly appreciated.

There's emerging evidence in model organisms that germ cells can pass on an organism's "history" using a unique form of molecular memory that isn't limited to genomic information, and that this can impact things like stress resistance. For example, the progeny of parents that experience starvation are more adaptable to nutrient stress and this effect can persist for several generations. I'd say that it's not beyond belief that milking jacks could elicit some form of selective inheritance though a similar mechanism. And that's independent of the obvious fact that milking jacks bypasses endogenous selection in the wild through competition for females. If you artificially select for youth over normal selection for fitness, intuition says you'll get progeny that become sexually mature at a younger age. Is that true? I don't actually know, but dollars to donuts it contributes.

I think you may have been the only boat out there when we motored past the pier heads at 5:10 am. It was an epic day, for sure. We only had two of us, but couldn't get three rods down. Probably the best bite I've seen in years. Too bad it got so stinking hot so fast. And those weird bees with extendable legs that hover near you and move at light speed? They freak me out.

After reading a bunch regarding naturalization, I'm a fan of the genetics theory. I'm sure bait plays a role, too, but in terms of adaptation as well as abundance. Organisms will shift toward their niche so as to remain viable. Earlier spawning, energy redirected to eggs rather than growth, these are all classic cues. We see exactly the same thing happening in the lab (we study metabolic plasticity and aging's effect on neurologic disease). When our models start showing signs of genetic drift, we backcross them onto an ancestral stock. What's the word on reintroducing some of that Pacific heritage? Natural reproduction isn't doing us any favors in terms of size at sexual maturity. Maybe it's time for an infusion of "new blood". Thoughts?

I can't remember the last time we had to spin on a fish, nor the last time we had 700+ feet ripped off in a heartbeat. But much as it pains me to admit it, my body's been knocked about enough to be satisfied with a dozen teenagers and the occasional low-20s fish, like this morning. I'm not sure that the fight is actually proportional to the size, anyway. Some of those teenagers tear it up right in your face. Exciting stuff. And once they're done running and you're dragging in a fish on a wire diver, those last 200 feet are much easier these days. But then I'm also satisfied to cast to sub-100 lb bluefin on topwater, with no interest whatsoever in winching in an 800 lb giant. In short, IMHO the fishery is more accessible to anglers of all skill levels and ages, so I'm not complaining. If they were giving away youth, I'd take a few decades - and maybe sing a different tune.

We fished the evening bite, or lack thereof. It was choppy with a NE wind and despite marking some decent bait in 180, we only took six shots between 4:30-7:30, with a mix of skippers and teenagers. Everything was deep between 85-95 down.

Nice fish! Tell Brian if you caught it on a Gambler rig. He'll be tickled pink. If you didn't, shhhh...he's very sensitive and a bit fragile you know lol. It seems like there are three year olds to be had now and the lake is starting to set up. We did a handful on Sunday up to 17.

Great start, keep it up! A buddy of mine's kid landed a 300 lb tuna at age nine, I got no doubt your kid will be reeling in kings by five.

I stand corrected. I had no idea that jacks were being used. Thanks, Rick.

Sunday was insane. We still couldn't see crap when we got off the lake at ten AM. Here's a picture of a visitor from years ago jigging lakers on the Bar.

I recall looking at a bunch of data on naturalization last year and finding that the size of saltwater species introduced to freshwater generally declines as they adapt, through epigenetics or whatever transgenerational influence holds sway over growth rates. They also tend toward earlier reproductive maturity. I don't think this is limited to kings. And I don't think that there's anything fisheries managers can do to mitigate the process, even if they wanted, although I'd be the last one to say that data doesn't matter lol. Information is power, but sometimes the outcome is just in God's hands. So long as the fish are healthy and drags are screaming, I'm going to enjoy what we have.

Yankee's WHI post really sticks the landing. And H2B nailed it with "we are in the new normal". As much as I love a big, ripping king, I actually prefer teenagers, particularly when you measure hits in dozens - IMHO kids can better handle them and my arthritic hands don't feel like they've been worked over by Cousin Louie afterwards.