NOAA sets fluke reduction harvest for 2016:

[Gerry Zagorski]

Originally Posted by 1captainron

The commercial size is 14 inches......
The 3 year study funded by SSFFF and done by Rutgers, proved that over 90% of 18 inch fish were female.
Unfortunately, all that data and hard work was tossed because it was an independent Study!! Now it is going to be done all over again "WITH" the blessing and credit going to you know who!

Funny, isn't in Ron? Here is a Federal Agency, NOAA with a 5 billion dollar budget with almost 1 billion dedicated to National Marine Fisheries Service and we need to pay for the research?

Not saying this isn't the right approach, but you'd think that a billion dollars would buy us the best science.

For those of you not in the loop, let me try and explain what is going on here.
- Our quotas for fluke are determined by the stock assessment studies done by the National Marine Fisheries Service branch of NOAA.
- We think the science behind these studies is flawed.
- NMFS agrees the science could be better but say they can't afford it.
- Last time around SSFFF paid for a study which indicated the science was flawed. They tried to present the study info at the NMFS meeting and were treated like outsiders because it was not "their" study.
- We've changed our tact to work on the inside now. Rather then do an independent study, we and others are giving them monies targeted to improve the science of their studies of stock assessments.

It's important to note that the SSFFF monies are going directly to science and not to buy political influence or favor. No one at the SSFFF is paid a salary or getting reimbursed for their expenses. It's a 100% volunteer organization 100% dedicated to the Fluke Fishery.

It's also important to note that there is no guarantee that the studies we are supporting will get us more favorable regulations. That is dependent on what the study findings are. So, this is not an exercise to try and get more quota. Rather, it's an exercise to get better science to assess the stocks which will lead to the proper quotas.

I hope you will all consider supporting the SSFFF and thanks to the generosity of everyone who supported our fund raising activities at the Christmas party, we will be sending the SSFFF a check for $870.

More funds are needed for the study so please visit www.ssfff.net to learn more and consider contributing to this important fund.

Thanks for listening to my long rant and lets muster all the support we can to support the SSFFF and the future of a healthy Fluke fishery for us and the generations to come.

[Capt. Debbie]

Captain Ron stop making sense. You know this is the same old sh*t year after year no matter who's there.

That's why Trump is inexplicably leading.. he's not PC and honest. A politician will say anything at any time that suits their needs. Doesn't matter which party.. it's just same sh*t different day is all.

Originally Posted by 1captainron

"I am most disappointed in the restrictive rule for our commercial and recreational Fishermen in New Jersey", Spoken like a life time politician!!

Pallone promises to work with OTHER members of the States delegation "For more favorable catch limits in the Future.........Wait a minute, many years ago when all this crap started, wouldn't today be the future they talked about? Hasn't he been working with Other delegate's in the past or is this just gonna happen now??

It's more Bullshit once again....if you think for a minute that anyone in the business isn't going to do what they have to do to survive, your nuts.
All those who have sat back on their ass all these years and did nothing but complain, will be the first one's typing how they can't believe all the Pirates out there! We will be made to look like criminals.

Once again, tossing back DEAD fish and killing the Breeders....Smart move NOAA. For the Millions of dollars this organization gets, you'd think they'd have it together by now. Justifying the Job or the Organization at the expense of the American people.

[hammer4reel]

Screw all the science until after they show its not about them making money.

If any science fouled or not was used to make an actual determination of fish counts showed their wasnt a sustainable fishery ,
then why are they SELLING fish quota's of fluke 30000 pounds at a shot, to WHO EVER wants t buy them , thats the REAL question.

The second question would be when they are selling those quotas outside of our local waters to foriegn interests how they are enforcing those poundages arent exceeded

[mako28]

Cant wait to see the numbers they will say recs caught in the month of Sept. when everyone was blown out for most of the month. I agree a rod and reel can never harm a fishery. Take a draggers nets when the doors dig in or the roller gear. Mesh size of nets dont have a conscious. Once the back of that net gets clogged with keepers and junkfish everything else is killed by sheer suffocation. Quota filled, shovel back all the dead without discrimination. Yet a rod and reel can catch a limit and quit fishing. Nets arent that smart. Rod and reel - lets start at a 50/50 shot. get a bite miss it. Draggers no miss. Get another bite, miss it. Draggers dont miss. The fish doesnt like your offering doesnt like it, doesnt take a second look, swims away. Draggers - no bait no miss. So you can sell the BS that rod and reel can compare. Add up all their tows and the days they are out while most are tied to the dock, it will never compare. We take this BS of cuts YOY, the recs do their part and yet some still look to give back,lol. Yea right.... Bridge for sale any interest.

[JBird]

I've wanted a slot for fluke for years. Say 2 fish between 16"-18". I just hate unhooking a tourists' gut hooked 17 incher and tossing it back knowing it's crab food. It's such a waste.

[hammer4reel]

Originally Posted by mako28

Cant wait to see the numbers they will say recs caught in the month of Sept. when everyone was blown out for most of the month. I agree a rod and reel can never harm a fishery. Take a draggers nets when the doors dig in or the roller gear. Mesh size of nets dont have a conscious. Once the back of that net gets clogged with keepers and junkfish everything else is killed by sheer suffocation. Quota filled, shovel back all the dead without discrimination. Yet a rod and reel can catch a limit and quit fishing. Nets arent that smart. Rod and reel - lets start at a 50/50 shot. get a bite miss it. Draggers no miss. Get another bite, miss it. Draggers dont miss. The fish doesnt like your offering doesnt like it, doesnt take a second look, swims away. Draggers - no bait no miss. So you can sell the BS that rod and reel can compare. Add up all their tows and the days they are out while most are tied to the dock, it will never compare. We take this BS of cuts YOY, the recs do their part and yet some still look to give back,lol. Yea right.... Bridge for sale any interest.

everytime I see about how Recs cant hurt a fishery makes me think there must be alot more guys who just dont know how to fish then im accustomed t talking to .

sure a dragger goes through an area and the fish are caught. no denying that, they dont have to want to bite, they dont have to get hooked etc.
but each of them is taking 500 pounds a day. and really there arent that many net boats here. no where near the days to fish we get to.

a good charter boat with boat limits of 6 guys can put between 70 and 120 pounds in the boat. add up all the charter boats, good private boats, then all the head boats and you would see , we also put a serious hurting on the fish each week.

last season when guys cried there were no fish around, the draggers were staying local, and doing short drags for their daily quota.

there were ALOT of fish around.
but if you were not fishing the small areas holding bait you werent going to find fish.
they arent going to stay in areas that lack food.

guys who looked and found the bait had quick limits each day.
but still in all.
I am SURE the guys I know who fish alot and put their time in , caught way more fish than the local draggers took

[reason162]

Originally Posted by hammer4reel

then why are they SELLING fish quota's of fluke 30000 pounds at a shot, to WHO EVER wants t buy them , thats the REAL question.

Is there a limit to the quota that's for sale? Because if there is, I would assume that cap is based off the data as well (flawed or not).

[Detour66]

Now it's wait and see! Length of season, bag limit and size of fish! They got us where they want us! Sorry to say!

[Gerry Zagorski]

So can someone tell me this.....

1) If we are selling Fluke quota to domestic or foreign commercial interests, it should be public record and I'd like to see evidence.

2) If it's is in fact happening, are they sharing in our overall quota?

3) How are their catch limits being monitored ?

4) Where does that money go?

The factual answers to these questions are a total game changer to me. We need answers and proof.

[hammer4reel]

Originally Posted by Gerry Zagorski

So can someone tell me this.....

1) If we are selling Fluke quota to domestic or foreign commercial interests, it should be public record and I'd like to see evidence.

2) If it's is in fact happening, are they sharing in our overall quota?

3) How are their catch limits being monitored ?

4) Where does that money go?

The factual answers to these questions are a total game changer to me. We need answers and proof.

I reached out to the guy that showed me that info. I will post it once i get the links from him