NJ Fluke Season Proposals go to ASMFC

[CapBob]

Fluke proposals not as drastic as feared
 


There is a good chance that the fluke regulations for the coming season will not be as bad as expected.

They will be onerous, make no mistake about that. Fisheries management officials cut New Jersey back 40 percent from 2007 — even further than anticipated. The proposals, however, are not as terrible as we feared they might be.

The talk last fall was of minimum sizes of 19 to 20 inches with a possession limit of two or three fish and a short season. It has not come to that yet.

The state Division of Fish and Wildlife has submitted six proposals to the Atlantic States Marine Fisheries Commission that it feels will meet the necessary cutback.

The proposal that might agree with most anglers in the state is a season running from May 24 through Sept. 8 with an eight-fish limit and an 18 1/4-inch minimum size.

A couple of other proposals that will draw some support are a season running from June 28 through Sept. 8 with a two-fish limit and a 17 1/4-inch minimum, and a season running from July 4 through Sept. 2 with a 17 1/4-inch minimum and an eight-fish limit.

The ASMFC's summer flounder board will rule on the six proposals next week, and, if approved, they will then come back to be discussed by fishermen and one will be picked as final by the state Marine Fishery Management Council.

The rules in 2007 were a season running from May 26 through Sept. 10 with a 17-inch minimum and an eight-fish possession limit.

The problem the council is always faced with in picking rules for the entire state is geography. The south Jersey fluke fishery opens earlier than north Jersey, and south Jersey back bays before anywhere else.

The season running from May 24 through Sept. 8 with an eight-fish limit and an 18-inch minimum would give fishermen about the same length season as last year. This would encompass both Memorial Day and Labor Day, big days for the party and charter boat industry as well as anglers.

The 17 1/4-inch proposals, an increase of only a half-inch over 2007, will not be popular with either south Jersey or the professional boatmen because of the loss of May and so much of June.

Whatever the rules, it is probable that New Jersey anglers will suffer through another fall unable to take home a summer flounder or a winter flounder.

As bad as New Jersey will be hit, New York will be impacted even worse. The ASMFC's board is demanding a 60 percent cutback in the latter state.

New York's proposals include ideas such as a season running from May 24 until mid-July with a 19 1/4-inch minimum and two fish, and a season from mid-May through Sept. 1 with a 20 1/4-inch minimum and four fish.

There still is no word out of Trenton about the new blackfish regulations. The guess is that the Nov. 15-Dec. 31 season will be cut from eight to four fish.


This article is from the print media, it does not mean that ASMFC will OK any of them or impose further restrictions.  Also the Black Fish season is in danger.

[Capt. Mike]

Thanks for the info Capt. Keep our fingers crossed. 

[ped579]

Thanks for the heads up Capt.  the odds are not in our favor.  But one can hope...

[IrishAyes]

Thanks for the info Capt Bob.  Any way you slice it, the regulations SUCK.  So many fish out there, it is unbelievable that it will come to this.  There will be many outlaws because of these idiotic regulations. 

Perhaps one day we will get people who make the rules who have a brain inside their skull.

[CapBob]

I guess they are not taking into consideration it only took the Commercial boats 17 hrs to reach their quota

But the Bio Mass is in trouble, Bullsh*t

[Luna Sea 5]

good post

[TurboDan]

Thanks for the info Capt Bob.  Any way you slice it, the regulations SUCK.  So many fish out there, it is unbelievable that it will come to this.  There will be many outlaws because of these idiotic regulations. 

Perhaps one day we will get people who make the rules who have a brain inside their skull.

I agree 100%.  The people we really have to be angry with are our representatives in Congress.  NMFS and ASMFC are only carrying out the orders that they are given and following a bad law that Congress handed them.  I think given flexibility and some more data to work with, the managers would gladly up the TAL and we could have a normal fluke season again.

We all have to support Rep Frank Pallone's bill to add flexibility to the Magnuson-Stevens Act.

[IrishAyes]

You are correct in that NMFS and ASMFC are only carrying out their orders, BUT, if they know the order is whacky, they should have a sit down with the makers of policy and do ALL in their power to SHOW that it is a whacky order and WHY it is a whacky order.  We, as citizens should not have that burden when the obvious is available to those who we elected.

THAT BURDEN MUST BE PLACED ON THEM.

[gymrat987654321]

Those proposals arent that bad. i thought they might be worse. i could live with those.

[CapBob]

GymRat,

Before you speak about the proposal's not being bad, just look into the past.

The commercial boats have not had a change in the size of the fish they are allwed to take in 12 years.

Additionaly if the powers that be are concerned about the Fluke Bio Mass, perhaps they should consider limiting the commercial guys (who by the way are allowed to take 60% of the allowable poundage) that all the fish that are scooped up in the nets and are not legal are thrwn back DEAD!!!!!!!!

The commercial boats waste more than we catch!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

I am not bashing commercial boats as my Dad and Uncles were netters, and thats were I got my start,  but if we are concerned about conservation and the endangerment of a specific species...thats look at the whole picture USING REAL DATA, not madeup or guess-tam-its!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

[tomc76]

Those regs suck. No other way to put it.  Heard it was going to be 2 fish at 19" which to me is just brutal, wouldnt even bother at those limits. 17.5 is nothing great either, might put some time in, but it really is getting tough to put a catch together. In my eyes what this will do is just basically put a lot of un needed pressure on other species, Stripers will take a beating this summer. 

[IrishAyes]

Gymrat, when the powers to be give you several scenarios, it is not because they care for you, it is so you THINK; Gee, it could have been worse. It is nothing but smoke and mirrors.

The problem is, THERE IS NO NEED FOR THESE PROPOSALS.  There are more fluke now than there has been in decades.

They are NOT considering conservation when they allow you to keep the BREEDERS only. 

[Pops Soul]

I have been trying to keep up with all that is happening with the fluke situation and I can usaully read it until it starts to get under my Skin so bad I want to bash the computer with a hammer. bngh bngh  But I have to ask is there any changes happening for the 60% of the COMMERCIAL take 

[IrishAyes]

No change in commercial catch, Skip.  Still 60% and STILL 14 inch size. 
And yet again we get it stuck where the sun don't shine.

[Pops Soul]

 bngh bngh bngh bngh bngh bngh bngh bngh bngh
That's why I was afraid to ask that question, I had a feeling I knew the answer. bngh bngh bngh bngh bngh bngh bngh bngh bngh bngh bngh

[ped579]

This is going to be one hell of a ride ladies and gents.

With the unrealistic limits, and the tolls going through the roof times are not looking good for the party boats, the 6 pack charters and the B&T's that rely on tourists to fill their spaces and shops.

I can see the shore becoming like it was many years ago; a place to go if you could afford to get there.

Places like Point Pleasant, Brielle, Sea Girt, and any place that has a train station, were still accessible by the masses.  This is not going to be pretty guys, unless we help put a stop to this madness and help pass the word that we the people have had enough.

Can you say impeachment?

Paul

[mboy]

Those regs suck. No other way to put it.  Heard it was going to be 2 fish at 19" which to me is just brutal, wouldnt even bother at those limits. 17.5 is nothing great either, might put some time in, but it really is getting tough to put a catch together. In my eyes what this will do is just basically put a lot of un needed pressure on other species, Stripers will take a beating this summer. 

Not really, you can only keep 2 of those.

Seabass will take a beating as they are good eating.

Personally, I fish for fun. I do keep fish to eat myself and bring for friends at work, etc.

If I go out, catch 2-3 keepers yet go to throw back 50 fish, that's a good day. I always use the absolute lightest tackle I can and have fun catching them.

I can understand if you fish from a head boat or something and only occasionaly, then you need to keep every possible fish.

For me, I am happy keeping a few fresh for the table, but catching a lot as I enjoy fishing.

The 1st several keepers this season (including Fishinfool's 1st fish on our new boat- a 19") went back into the drink.

I think 19" fish to keep is getting a bit crazy as minimum, but their is no reason the limit needs to be more then 6-8 fish per person. That is plenty of meat, especially when talking about 17"+ fish.

I ABSOLUTELY resent the fact the commercials get a larger portion of the quota and ESPECIALLY they get to keep fish we have to throw back, by several inches.

That's I disagree.

[sea nymph]

Time to move further south to Maryland where the regs are 15 1/2" with 4 keepers ALL YEAR!

[CapBob]

I Guess I might have to change my Tactic's and become a Bluefish Specialist bngh bngh bngh bngh bngh bngh bngh bngh bngh bngh bngh bngh bngh bngh bngh bngh bngh bngh bngh bngh bngh bngh bngh bngh bngh bngh bngh bngh bngh bngh

[Capt.Dave]

It may be true that commercials get 60% of the total and they can keep smaller fish BUT...

They are on a HARD QUOTA and cannot catch over that quota.  Their winter season which is about 1/4 of the annual catch was caught in 17 HOURS.  Now they get to sit around the docks with their thumbs up their butts until probably May.  If you don't think that is a tough way to make boat payments and feed the kids you are nuts.

As to the small size they are forced to use mesh sizes that allow a vast majority of the smaller fish to escape and since most of the fish that they bring on deck end up dead it is better to count the smaller fish toward their quota rather than throw them overboard dead.

Now do I agree with how the fluke quota is split up, not exactly, but we need better science to figure out just how many there really are and how to get better more consistant seasons.