NMFS Cuts Fluke 7.8% In Final Ruling

[CapBob]

Star Ledger 12/30
Al Ristori

Council's fluke TAL accepted by NMFS
Sunday, December 30, 2007
The National Marine Fisheries Service (NMFS) will be publishing a final rule accepting the Mid-Atlantic Fishery Management Council's TAL (total allowable landings) of 15.77 million pounds of fluke. Only 40 percent of that figure goes to recreational fishing. Though the TAL represents a 7.8 percent drop from last year, it's far better than the much lower TAL endorsed by the Monitoring Committee and pushed by some environmental groups.

Recreational regulations will be published shortly in another final rule. It will be some time before a choice of regulations for N.J. waters will be presented, but we're probably looking at a 19-inch minimum length. Even larger reductions were made in the TALs for scup (porgies) at 38.8 percent and 15.6 percent for black sea bass.   
 
Rep. Frank Pallone (D-NJ) saw that final rule and stated "I am disappointed in the 8 percent cut in summer flounder quota for 2008, but without the stellar lobbying effort of the fishing community, we may have been faced with even bigger cuts. These consistent cuts to the yearly quotas have not produced the result that was intended, and that is why I am planning to introduce legislation to add flexibility to the Magnuson-Stevens Act when we return in January."

[IrishAyes]

That is somewhat good news.  Doesn't go far enough though for the recs.  Not when you consider the number of fish that are out there. 
Kudos to Rep Pallone if he does introduce the bill to add flexibility to the Magnuson-Stevens Act.  That is what is needed for us to have a reasonable quota.

[Hotrod]

Well Hopefully this years short season will help produce the larger fish in 2008.

Pretty sad that you need a door mat to be able to keep it. 

[IrishAyes]

Ok, I just checked my log book for last year.  On my boat, with about forty fluke trips, we managed 461 keeper fluke.  Not a bad year, considering.  The average size per fish was 18.44 inches.  The average for the trips was 11.525 keeper fish. 

Out of these, there were 137 fish that measured 19" or better.  Doing the math, that means that if my numbers stay the same next year, I will be able to keep about 1/3 of the fish that I was able to keep this year.  That is a 66% decrease, going by my calculations.

CAN SOMEBODY, PLEASE EXPLAIN TO ME HOW THIS WILL ONLY AMOUNT TO ONLY A 7.8% DECREASE IN MY CATCH!

Is my math wrong?   

[Luna Sea 5]

 

[CapBob]

IT is not going to be good, we also had a good year with some outstanding fish. But as Joe said overall you'll be keeping about 1/3 of the fish compared to the previous year bngh bngh bngh

[Capt. Mike]

Here is a Fix!!!
No fluke on the menu at restaurants...
No commercial fishing!!!
These fish do not have a pray in hell to survive after being drowned and drug up in the nets to be thrown back if under size. If they pull them up let them keep them, that is part of their weight. Why throw back fish that are doomed, in hopes of bigger fish. This is the root of the problem.

All fluke should only be allowed to be caught on rod and reel. NO LONG LINE or NETS.
Can't have striped Bass on the menu, no commercial guys here.
 
bngh bngh bngh

[IrishAyes]

The comms don't only throw back fish under 14" (their limit) they throw back legal fish so they can bring in more of the bigger fish which they get more $$$ for.  There are legal fish being released DEAD for this reason, and they are not counted against their weight limit.  As Capt Mike said, they catch em in their net, let them keep what they have and count it against their weight limit.

[Bucktail]

A 19" minimum size will definitely be tough on all the flukers.

But on the bright side, at least we'll still have a season!

Just trying to stay positive.

[ped579]

Yeah, for this coming year.  If we don't get more flexibility worked into the act the following years could be a disaster.

[Fishin Dude]

OUCH!    '<'((((><

[ped579]

Double OUCH... bngh bngh bngh