Fluke Regs - Who was behind it??

[reason162]

Anyone know what organizations pushed for the current regs?

Seems like near-universal disapprobation for the 1 inch "slot." Someone is responsible for this last minute curveball - anyone know the details?

[Duffman]

If you read thru the multitude of threads on the matter, it seems the for hire community spoke up in the public session and may have swayed the vote. As in…..they were in favor of option #2. Whether that’s true or not, I don’t know. Admittedly didn’t listen in.

Think about it tho. 2 fish 17-17.999 means more “casual” or “tourist” customers to take out fishing and bring home some some meat.

I have no clue what to believe anymore. Done reading, done commenting. I’ll just do my thing.

Started fishing as a kid with my dad to enjoy this shit, not stress over this BS.

[reason162]

I assume it was the party/charter boat voices but was RFA or other groups involved in advocating for option 5, is what I want to know.

[Capt Sal]

Originally Posted by reason162

I assume it was the party/charter boat voices but was RFA or other groups involved in advocating for option 5, is what I want to know.

That is a joke. Ridiculous

[Gerry Zagorski]

The RFA does not take positions on the options. Our organization wants what the recreational community wants.

[Skolmann]

Originally Posted by Duffman

Think about it tho. 2 fish 17-17.999 means more “casual” or “tourist” customers to take out fishing and bring home some some meat.

I have no clue what to believe anymore. Done reading, done commenting. I’ll just do my thing.

Started fishing as a kid with my dad to enjoy this shit, not stress over this BS.

Agree. This allows the summer tourist or the father who takes his son out fishing once or twice a summer a better chance to bringing home a fluke for the table. Which in turn could spark more of an interest in fishing.

I’ve said it countless times in recent years, I just want the rod to bend when I go fishing. I’m no longer overly concerned with catching a keeper, a limit or a trophy. Yes, for sure accomplishing one or any of those is a nice feeling but to me it’s just the cherry on top of a day out on the water. I’m just as happy (maybe more so sometimes) catching 50 short fluke in a session using scaled down tackle than I am drifting & dreaming or bouncing a bucktail all day for that ‘one bite’. One of my most memorable days on the water was several years ago when I caught over a 120 fluke in a 5 or 6 hour period on the Manasquan River and not one was a keeper BUT using tackle more suited for light freshwater fishing maybe every fish fun.

Same 👍 (although I actually started with my grandfather & mother).

I go out on the water to escape stress not trying increase it.

Just my opinion and certainly not speaking for anyone other than myself.

[hammer4reel]

Originally Posted by Skolmann

Agree. This allows the summer tourist or the father who takes his son out fishing once or twice a summer a better chance to bringing home a fluke for the table. Which in turn could spark more of an interest in fishing.

I’ve said it countless times in recent years, I just want the rod to bend when I go fishing. I’m no longer overly concerned with catching a keeper, a limit or a trophy. Yes, for sure accomplishing one or any of those is a nice feeling but to me it’s just the cherry on top of a day out on the water. I’m just as happy (maybe more so sometimes) catching 50 short fluke in a session using scaled down tackle than I am drifting & dreaming or bouncing a bucktail all day for that ‘one bite’. One of my most memorable days on the water was several years ago when I caught over a 120 fluke in a 5 or 6 hour period on the Manasquan River and not one was a keeper BUT using tackle more suited for light freshwater fishing maybe every fish fun.

Same 👍 (although I actually started with my grandfather & mother).

I go out on the water to escape stress not trying increase it.

Just my opinion and certainly not speaking for anyone other than myself.

What about the 10 percent of guys who have no problem fishing Oceanside catching ALOT of fish well over 18” .
We are supposed to throw all those fish back looking for shorts ?
Yet the Delaware bay gets to keep any combination of fish over 17”

And they more than doubled the commercial quota during our summer season from 2000 pounds a week to 5000 pounds a week .

They just fed everyone a mouthful of crap and you guys are licking your lips .

Here’s the reality . Commercial guys can catch 11 of the 12 years of age class fish for their quota .

We have to all fish for 66 percent of our quota from 1 years worth of age class fish , and 33% from the remaining 9 years .
If you think that’s fair equitable use of the resource , might as well make everything catch and release

[Skolmann]

Originally Posted by hammer4reel

What about the 10 percent of guys who have no problem fishing Oceanside catching ALOT of fish well over 18” .

So 10% of fisherman should dictate what the other 90% can keep ? Explain that to me.

Are there not other species you could target ? I mean after, all the sudden everyone with a 21’ boat has gone tuna crazy.

Let me ask you this, does the average fisherman go fishing for the sole reason of putting food on his table/freezer or go for the whole overall experience (being on the water, catching fish <both legal and sub legal sized>). Because if you answer that it’s solely to provide food then they need to take a remedial economics 101 course.

I’m in 100% agreement with you re the increase in the weekly commercial allowance. That’s a complete slap in the face to every aspect to the recreational fisherman.

[hammer4reel]

Originally Posted by Skolmann

So 10% of fisherman should dictate what the other 90% can keep ? Explain that to me.

Are there not other species you could target ? I mean after, all the sudden everyone with a 21’ boat has gone tuna crazy.

Let me ask you this, does the average fisherman go fishing for the sole reason of putting food on his table/freezer or go for the whole overall experience (being on the water, catching fish <both legal and sub legal sized>). Because if you answer that it’s solely to provide food then they need to take a remedial economics 101 course.

I’m in 100% agreement with you re the increase in the weekly commercial allowance. That’s a complete slap in the face to every aspect to the recreational fisherman.

Has nothing with that 10 percent dictating the season . It’s those 10% that understand how bad we just got jammed .

We could have had 3 fish at 17 1/2’’ and fished for everything larger included .

The slot we got only gave you (2) fish allowed under that 17 1/2” and took away everything larger .
You gave up 9 years of age classes to get just those fish between 17 and 17 1/2 “ .
How can’t you understand that difference .

I pushed for a lower size limit so guys could take a few fish home on all those trips where guys just catch shorts instead of losing them to mortality throwing them back .

How many guys are going to want to throw back bigger fish on all those trips when they are fishing on a pod of fish 18” to 24” ?

.
You can’t pick out the good , without seeing the bad.

.

[bigjamaica]

Originally Posted by hammer4reel

What about the 10 percent of guys who have no problem fishing Oceanside catching ALOT of fish well over 18” .
We are supposed to throw all those fish back looking for shorts ?
Yet the Delaware bay gets to keep any combination of fish over 17”

And they more than doubled the commercial quota during our summer season from 2000 pounds a week to 5000 pounds a week .

They just fed everyone a mouthful of crap and you guys are licking your lips .

Here’s the reality . Commercial guys can catch 11 of the 12 years of age class fish for their quota .

We have to all fish for 66 percent of our quota from 1 years worth of age class fish , and 33% from the remaining 9 years .
If you think that’s fair equitable use of the resource , might as well make everything catch and release

Hello Dan, just curious, did you comment during the call that night?
I listened to most of it, and commented on sea bass, but, I did not comment on fluke.
I only remember hearing two other party boats from my area commenting. (It's possible there were more but, I did not hear them)
One of them, seemed to liked the slot option that was chosen.
The other one, (who I thought would pick three at 17.5 or greater, said: "he liked the idea of a longer season. However, I don't believe he ever picked an option.
I know from years of attending fisheries meetings there was always a desire, by many people, to have a slot fish. But, we never did get one.
My original intentions were to speak in favor of three fish at 17.5 in.
After listening to many of the comments I decided to abstain, and let's the chips fall where they may.
I would have been fine if they had picked the three at 17.5, but, I can't say that I'm upset at the choice they did make.
BTW, I had no input concerning any of the options, prior to the NJ council meeting. I am currently not on any advisory board, and never have been for fluke or sea bass
To the OP: if there was some "Nefarious plot" to pass the current option vs. 17.5"/3, I don't personally know of any party boats, or real charter boats that would have been behind that.