SW Wind; as a person that spends many hours on the CT River every seasons, I can tell you it is FACT that the increase in the Striped Bass population is directly linked the reduction in population of the river herring. The time and numbers coincide perfectly, personal observations make it hard to believe much of anything gets past some of the larger schools of fish. I have watched them chase and eat herring, hickory shad, white perch, gizzard shad and yellow perch. I am sure they prey on every species that will fit in their mouths while here. As the herring and white perch numbers drop in the lower river, there appears to be less stripers pursuing them here, yet the numbers remain strong out in the sound as the squid spawning migrations begin.