Our skipjack numbers in S.E. Tennessee have crashed. I don't think it is due to over-harvest however. It happened during three years of extreme low flow and very little Springtime generation at Watts Bar, Chickamauga and Nickajack (and probably other Dams toward Knoxville).
Hardcore catfishermen from here have been making weekend trips to Kentucky to stock up on skipjack. Nobody is selling them... all caught and kept for personal use. They would LOVE to learn of someplace closer in Tennessee where they can stock up (Hint, hint, hint).
But it's clear that this issue cuts both ways. Tennessee isn't the only "victim."
We had awesome Spring flow this year. I'm betting we'll see a replenishment of skipjack numbers next year???
For the record... I'm a hardcore cat man but when skipjack get hard to find, I just head for the grocery store and stock up on chicken breast. Works just as well and they never run out.
