See here:
http://www.dnr.maryland.gov/fisherie...vest_FINAL.pdf
"The estimate of the 2009 Chesapeake Bay spring migrant harvest is 90,654 fish, which is
the highest harvest on record"
"An analysis of MRFSS estimates for Waves 2 and 3 in Chesapeake Bay indicates that the
2009 spring harvest is the result of a dramatic increase in the estimate of private angler success
(catch rate as fish harvested per angler trip), as opposed to an increase in effort."
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To me if you look at the data it shows how flawed the data collection system is. It should be believed that the charter reports are accurate since they have to log their catches. They are also on the water much more than the average recreational angler. For the "estimated" drastic increase in efficiency to occur soley on the recreational angler side shows that it this increase isnt a result of "more fish being in the bay." Given the small sampling of anglers online forum reports (i know it isnt science) during the trophy season, many anglers posted that their trips were less successful than years past, I doubt that recreational anglers as a whole are becoming more than twice as efficient than years past.
Again, this report just shows how flawed the data collection system is...