Here are the final Option for the 2011 Fluke Season

[Bottom Dweller]

2 for me too

[SurfJockey]

caught more keepers after the season than during season ...so did other guys I know.

Yup.  2 would be a good choice for the guys on the sand.

[Hunter 2]

#2 please.

[blackadder]

Well......

Since 3 of the 4 legal flatties caught by myself and kids last year were caught on a Sept 11th Sea Bass trip and had to go back as out of season I vote for the longer season option of #2. Although I would give up the 8 fish bag for a smaller bag with a single smaller slot fish but that is not a option......

Chris

[Uncle Luna]

#2 with shrimp fried rice.

[Kenny]

  Would rather have the longer season...

You and I think alike on this one. Many days are always lost to weather. Especially during hurricane season. Bag limits are rarely the problem in making up the options as most average 2 fish per trip with 18" limit . Looks good when you say 8 fish but rarely will it happen.I 'd love October too if we could drop the bag limit to get it but we'd overfish the quota. The surf and inlets give up some nice fish at that time. Give us Sept. this year and maybe next year Oct  

I can remember " back in the day" John.... late Sept into October fluke trips....nice big fat fish!!

[The dropoff]

I know that most guys want the longest season to fish for fluke (And I am one of them) but let’s take a look at what the last three years have been for ocean fishing in Sept.  Fishing in Sept. becomes a Friday Sat and Sun.  Most people have school things and sports on the weekends.  It is back to the daily grind.  Ok, to add to the back end, you are going to be able to fish maybe 12 days out of the whole month. Over the last three years, we have had 3 out of the four weekends be unfishable due to weather conditions.  Once we have one hard NE blow, it is going to take the bite about 7 days to turn back on.  So one hard blow will close the season down for Sept and you will not be able to fish anyway.

The other option of the Slot fish also sounds good.  It will let the back bay fisherman take home something for dinner.  It will keep fluke fisherman coming back instead of going out the first three weeks and then realizing that you are not keeping any fish so why should I go fish for them.  From speaking with some of the local bait shops this is what they said had happened.  The number one thing that was talked about is why fish for something I can not take home to eat.

No matter what way you look at it, there is a chance that one of the states over fishes their quota and from my understanding if one state over fishes the quota all the states are accountable for that. All of this data is going to be based on the MRFS system   and everyone knows that is broken.   I feel that NJ needs to do the right thing for their fisherman and give them the chance to take something home.  NJ will have to fight the MRFS data with the data that they collect through the free anglers survey.  NJ used the survey to come up with the options that we will have in front of us on April 7th.  We need more fisherman to take the time to fill out the anglers survey so that NJ will be able to go back to the Feds and tell them that by NJ data we did not over fish our quota. 

[Mark From PA]

Thanks Capt Fran.  Good info.  I personally would like the lower size limit, and if I have to I'll switch to blues and stripers come Sept.

[Nicktuna23]

I truthfully think all these options are bad.  Lots of shorts die when thrown back. I would suggest a smaller size keeper fish with a smaller bag limit. 

[ReelFun]

Fellow Anglers,

As a charter operation and someone who follows this Fluke thing here in NJ very closely, I have to weigh in on this conversation.

I went to last years meeting by the Marine Fisheries Council and listened to many views of the numerous options that were available and what the "public" thought of each of them. The guys down south Jersey had there "option", the surf fisherman had there's, the party boaters had there's and a few charter guys were there with their choice.

What I'm leading to is the fact that depending on your perspective, everyone had a different option choice......understood.

As they say, what goes around, comes around. My choice last year, as well as this year is the longest possible season available. For obvious reasons for me, time is money, and the more time I have to do my charters, the greater the likelihood I can survive for another year in this very tough economy. But not only for me ( I don't want to sound like a self serving snob) but for ALL the anglers that will be affected by these regulations.

We're talking about a multi million dollar money maker for the State of NJ (recreational fishing) and I believe that the reg's should not only help sustain a healthy fluke fishery, but also help to ensure that the reg's will aid the GREATEST number of residents here in New Jersey.

Options 3 & 4 are not worth giving up almost a month of fishing time AND loosing 2 fish (8 to 6) for the sake of taking home a slot fish. That's a poor trade off in my opinion. I believe option 2 above serves the best purpose.

Just my thoughts!
Capt. John

[Reckless]

I heard option 2 was approved. Got that from another site. Anyone hear anything?

[IrishAyes]

I heard the same thing. Fran from The Drop Off was probably at the meeting. I'm sure he will post when he gets a chance. I am on my way out shortly. Couldn't make this meeting.

I hope it is correct that option 2 got the nod. 

[Capt. Joe G]

State Council Sets 2011 Fluke Regulations

New Jersey anglers will have to contend with another year of an 18 inch minimum size limit for summer flounder – also known as fluke – in 2011, though the length of the open season on the popular species will last significantly longer than last year.

The state Marine Fisheries Council voted unanimously at its meeting Thursday afternoon to approve regulations setting an 18 inch size limit and a season which runs May 7 through Sept. 25 on summer flounder. Anglers will be able to keep eight fish per day.

[IrishAyes]

http://njsaltwaterfisherman.com/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=477&Itemid=1

[Reckless]

I like the later season!! Pretty quiet after labor day!! 

[The Broken One]

[Pops Soul]

I like the later season!! Pretty quiet after labor day!! 

Plus the fish are starting to fatten up

[Bottom Dweller]

exactly

[The dropoff]

Yes Option 2 was the one.   But Sea Bass was also talked.  Right now I need a drink  and think about what is going to happen and what happened at the meeting.