NOAA sets fluke reduction harvest for 2016:

[bulletbob]

Originally Posted by RussH

Hook and line can never do the damage the draggers are doing.

I used to agree with that statement.. for decades.. I can't any longer, just too many people fishing these days, with equipment and knowledge that could only be dreamed of only a decade or two ago..

The population in the NY/NJ metroplex is staggering, and the pressure on inshore and offshore fish is relentless.. We need some regulation, thats for sure. Things have changed, and we really can no longer take what we want.. What we DO need is some common sense regulation.. Fluke are a prime example of what NOT to do.. Take ONLY the biggest fish out of the population, and throw all the small ones back??.. Stupidity, dreamed up by some non fishing egghead bureaucrat no doubt. Realistic slot limits make a lot more sense to me, but what do I know.. Let recs take a few smaller fish home to eat, and NOT keep all the breeders they catch on any given day. most fishermen would be happy to release some of their larger fluke if they could take some eating size fish... bob