where do the anchovies go?

Plankton blooms?

My guess would be the food resources are more abundant (Zooplankton including copepods, etc. etc.) in the inshore waters in the warmer months when the seas are calmer. In addition the Kelp offers cover. The Kelp dies off in the the Winter--they are more exposed, food likely dimisines with the die-off of the Kelp, and, as mentioned, seas are pretty rough. To me, that fact that they stay in the dark depths during the day and only come near the surface at night in Winter is evidence that cover is important as well as more tranquil waters (there is generally less wind at night except in storms). I would guess teh Anchovies don't thrive in such conditions, bu like many wild creatures, they move to a survival mode during the Winter and await the abundance of Spring.

Well, they don't ALL come inshore in summer.  There are still schools of them way off shore.  I suspect they just expand their range in the summer ... because they can.

-Allen

Well, they don't ALL come inshore in summer.  There are still schools of them way off shore.  I suspect they just expand their range in the summer ... because they can.

Good point and it makes sense--afterall those Albacore 40 miles offshore aren't eating Plankton 

I think albies eat "sauries". ?

not anchovies?

John, have you ever caught an albacore?

Come on, you can't really believe that albies eat ONLY sauries.  I've seen sauries, chovies, macks, squid, pelagic crab, and a bunch of other things I can't even begin to identify in the stomachs of albacore.

-Allen

I have opened a can and found albacore in it! also found sushi-grade loins at the farmer's market!   

No I didn't mean only sauries, but that is what I have heard is the main diet. I know squid get targetted at
certain times of the year too.

I brought it up because I would never have heard of a saury but that I was reading about albacore.

recreational pb fishing for albacore seems about as smart as fishing for salmon from a kayak...

J