PROWLER5 - TUES., JULY 30TH - FLUKE REPORT

[hammer4reel]

Originally Posted by Gerry Zagorski

Lots of people complained about the slots the past few years, I think they would have helped us this year... Lots of 17 -18 inch fish going back.

Pat had brought it up at the final meeting . Since we had 2 years of keeping those smaller fish that age class of fish that would be 18-18 1/2” was pretty wiped out .
Most of the keepers have been 19-21”

I personally have no issue throwing back fish under 18” to have the limit we currently have .
Next years season should be back to where we were 2 years ago before the slot .

Until out of state commercial boats quota gets lowered we aren’t going to see much improvement .
As they hammer our stocks first before pushing towards states north of us .


Look at the reports from mid Long Island to Massachusetts. They are having the best fluke seasons they ever had .
Party boats limiting out and throwing LOTS of keepers back above 19 “


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[Gerry Zagorski]

Originally Posted by hammer4reel

Pat had brought it up at the final meeting . Since we had 2 years of keeping those smaller fish that age class of fish that would be 18-18 1/2” was pretty wiped out .
Most of the keepers have been 19-21”

I personally have no issue throwing back fish under 18” to have the limit we currently have .
Next years season should be back to where we were 2 years ago before the slot .

Until out of state commercial boats quota gets lowered we aren’t going to see much improvement .
As they hammer our stocks first before pushing towards states north of us .


Look at the reports from mid Long Island to Massachusetts. They are having the best fluke seasons they ever had .
Party boats limiting out and throwing LOTS of keepers back above 19 “


.

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I know exactly where you're coming from Dan and I see your and others point of view.... The larger fish are what you target however, us Ham and Eggers would have a lot more for the table so far this this season with the slot.

[NoLimit]

None of the males get over 18" - we are killing all the breeders with all the males dying of old age (or in a trawl net)

[hammer4reel]

Originally Posted by NoLimit

None of the males get over 18" - we are killing all the breeders with all the males dying of old age (or in a trawl net)

Studies are showing 90% of the male fish don’t come inshore .
Thats why even when taking slot fish the last few years , they were females still with eggs in them .

So who’s ready to move the fluke fishing to thirty miles off to be able to catch 17” male fluke .

You can only catch what’s here