Fluke Option to be Voted on March 6th

[CapBob]

I received this email from Tom Fote of the JCAA in reference to the possible Fluke options:

The summer flounder options that I sent out last week were not correct.  I thought it was strange that it had a 1/4 increment so when I arrived at the ASMFC Meeting Monday I talked to Tom McCloy and he gave me the tables they are going to present to the Summer Flounder Board on Thursday.  The tables are below.  If they are approved on Thursday by the summer flounder board the New Jersey Marine Fisheries Council will be holding a advisors meeting to receive comments and then probably discuss and vote on it at their March 6th meeting.  The NJMFC does not have easy job in making a decision since the southern part of the state needs the early season and the party and charter boats need the bigger bag limit to survive.  There are no good choices but they will have to choose one.  I thought we might only have choices with a size limit that was between 18 ½ and 19 ½ and least we are doing better than that.
 
I am hoping that the benchmark assessment finally corrects the bad science and we can go back to realistic quotas.  We all make mistakes and I hope that this year NMFS can admit that their targets are wrong and stop killing the recreational and commercial fishing industry.
 
I am sorry if I caused you any inconvenience but I wanted to get the word out as soon as I saw something. Here are the correct numbers:
 
17 ½ inch June 28 through Sept. 8 with a two-fish limit
17 ½ inch July 4 through Sept. 2 with a eight fish bag limit
18 inch May 24 through Sept. 8 with an eight-fish limit
18 ½ May 17-October 17  with a eight-fish limit.
 
I will send out an email after the ASMFC Summer Flounder meeting finishes in Alexandria on Thursday. Have a good time at the boat show and stop by the JCAA booth to get information on getting the pots of the reef bill. Bill Figley will be at our booth two of those days to discuss it.

[IrishAyes]

As I stated in a previous post on this subject.  What a poor choise of options.  None of them make any sense nor are they needed to be this tight.

What we need, besides good science, is an outright revolt against the people who made these options necessary.  All the politicians who can not think for themselves and need the tree huggers to tell them what is good for the country have to go, along with the tree huggers. 

[ped579]

I agree Joe.  I am probably going to get kicked by a lot of friends on this one but I am voting on the basis of who has the same thoughts and desires as I do.  If it be that I have to cross party lines well maybe that is what it will take.

I am tired of politicians saying one thing and doing another that is why I am against McCain.

Hope is for people that do not have the desire to change things.  I am willing to make changes in my thinking as long as it does not go against my philosophy.

Hoping for change in the fishing agenda is like hoping for "Pigs to Fly" to quote Corzine.

We have to make things happen ourselves.  Make sure to vote and vote often.   Seriously, get out and allow your rights to be exercised before they are taken away.

Paul

[CapBob]

Instead of a "Boston Tea Party" I see a Jersey "Fluke Party" Looming!!!1

Reincarnate "Teddy Roosevelt"

[Luna Sea 5]

 

[IrishAyes]

You are correct CaptBob, in thinking that a revolt is in order.  It will happen if this continues.

[Capt. Mike]

As I stated in a previous post on this subject.  What a poor choise of options.  None of them make any sense nor are they needed to be this tight.

What we need, besides good science, is an outright revolt against the people who made these options necessary.  All the politicians who can not think for themselves and need the tree huggers to tell them what is good for the country have to go, along with the tree huggers. 

Tune up the chain saw, and take a stance!!!
This is all knee jerk reaction, so if they want to cash in on feel good regulating, no fluke on the menu. Open season for recreation fishing only for the next ten years.

[Ronster]

This seems pretty arbitrary to me.

Is there any scientific information that explains what the pros and cons of the proposed size/time frame options listed above?   

And yes, I know that con #1 is a bunch of pissed-off rec anglers.   

[Ronster]

I am sure this is probably posted here somewhere, but...

The flounder meeting to determine this year's season, bag and size limits will be March 6 at the Atlantic County Library on Jimmie Leeds Road in Galloway Township. The New Jersey Marine Fisheries Council meeting begins at 4 p.m. The summer flounder catch will be reduced 39 percent.

[TurboDan]

Is this a public meeting, does anyone know?

[Cow Killa]

i like #4

[Ronster]

Is this a public meeting, does anyone know?

I pulled it from a newspaper article.    I doubt they would have been listing a location if it wasn't public (unless the author is hoping for an angry, torch-bearing mob to descend upon the place.)

[Capt.Dave]

Here is a complete list that came out of the fluke committee that will be presented on March 6th, yes it is a public meeting and everyone who puts their name on the list will be given a chance to speak.

size 17 1/2" bag 2 season 6/28 to 9/8

Size 17 1/2" bag 8,season 7/4 to 9/2

size 18" bag 2, season 5/24 to 9/8

size 18" bag 8 season 5/24 to 9/7

size 18 1/2" bag 8 season 5/17 to 10/6

Oviously there is no good option and note if the bag limit is cut to only two fish per day the season only is extended by one day.

The real problem is that unless the weather goes completely bad we will probably overfish our quota and be faced with less fishing or a complete shutdown in 2009.

Support the SSFFF and support the bait and tackle shops that Sponsor the SSFFF together we may get the science and power to bring some reason back into flounder fishing.

[CaptJoeThumper]

55 years of Fluking all for naught.
Let me think this one out. 
You can keep 8 fish, who are the healthy breeding stock over 18 inches.
And you must throw back juveniles, 10-20% which are dead.
So If I read this right...the breading stock is being culled out while the juveniles get depleted.  DUHHH.
If this isn't a recipe for disaster I don't know what is. 

I've suggested before many times: If it hits your deck it's yours on the commercial level. 1 million pounds is 1 million pounds whether it's 1 lb or 8 lbs fish.  Why throw back dead fish?? Make it count in tonage.
Recreationally: 5 fish 14-18 inches.  1 trophy fish over 25 inches counts in your creel limit.
The larger fish can survive being thrown back allot easier than a juvenile.

The party boat captains will have paying customer's going home happy and with some fish.  1/2 day boats will be full.
The season could be extended recreationally without hurting the biomass. 
Think of the huge boost the the local economy's for a longer length of time with the extended season.

I just don't get it.  Maybe somebody can explain it all to me. 

[IrishAyes]

Hi CaptJoeThumper, first off, let me welcome you to the site.

Great first post.  Goes along with what everyone here has been saying all along.  It makes absolutely no sense to keep the breeders and toss back gut hooked fish that are dead, buy, that's our government for you.  No one with an ounce of sense on any of them councils/commitees/organizations, or whatever else you want to call them.  Most of the people running the fish regs are clueless.

[OffTheHook13]

55 years of Fluking all for naught.
Let me think this one out. 
You can keep 8 fish, who are the healthy breeding stock over 18 inches.
And you must throw back juveniles, 10-20% which are dead.
So If I read this right...the breading stock is being culled out while the juveniles get depleted.  DUHHH.
If this isn't a recipe for disaster I don't know what is. 

I've suggested before many times: If it hits your deck it's yours on the commercial level. 1 million pounds is 1 million pounds whether it's 1 lb or 8 lbs fish.  Why throw back dead fish?? Make it count in tonage.
Recreationally: 5 fish 14-18 inches.  1 trophy fish over 25 inches counts in your creel limit.
The larger fish can survive being thrown back allot easier than a juvenile.
The party boat captains will have paying customer's going home happy and with some fish.  1/2 day boats will be full.
The season could be extended recreationally without hurting the biomass. 
Think of the huge boost the the local economy's for a longer length of time with the extended season.

I just don't get it.  Maybe somebody can explain it all to me. 

Bam.....A logical alternative to this debacle.

It's unbelievable how stupid the rule makers are.

[Hotrod]

Hi Capt Joe. Good Points.  Welcome to the site