This will fix everything

[Foul Hook]

I read this article and figured if we all agree too this we will get back a boat load of mortality fish.https://www.google.com/url?sa=t&sour...fIZ8t2bLt19Hf_

[Capt Joe]

Who is “we”? Voluntary great, Armed F&G coming on board telling us what hooks “we” have to supply? NOT!

Originally Posted by Foul Hook

I read this article and figured if we all agree too this we will get back a boat load of mortality fish.https://www.google.com/url?sa=t&sour...fIZ8t2bLt19Hf_

Before another regulation is put on the books, it would be good to have two questions answered by NMFS. How was the 35% mortality rate arrived at for recreational anglers since personally I don't think I've released a summer flounder in the last five years that didn't swim away unscathed.

Second question is if popular belief is we should begin the process of harvesting smaller fish (slot fish) to remove the pressure on larger breeders, how does increases in hook size support that. I would think it would accomplish the exact opposite, meaning we'd have a higher mortality rate on larger fish after the three fish quota was attained and less on smaller fish which in many cases are sexually immature fish. I guess the solution to our problems is the continued harvest of larger breeders is basically what this study is suggesting.

NOAA / NMFS increases size limits, in the process mandates the harvest of larger sexually mature fish from less than 90% in the 80's and 90's to in excess of 90% over the last two decades, creates an imbalance and reduction with SSB destroying recruitment in the process, assigns an arbitrary mortality rate to the recreational community as a result of those size increases and then sponsors a study in support of increasing hook size to increase the proportional harvest of larger fish. At the same time, NMFS scratches their heads as to why recruitment is down for JUST the last six years as they believe. What's the definition of insanity?

NMFS has to do four things:

Bring back as slot size, leave hook sizes alone
Protect the breeders by reducing size limits commensurate with limits in place during the 90's / early 2000's
Close the fishery to commercial harvest during the spawn without altering their overall quotas
Address the disparity in ex-vessel prices between varying size fish being off-loaded by commercial operators.

If the following steps are taken, fishery will immediately begin the rebuilding process. All parties dependent on the resource will benefit.

[bunker dunker]

hook type and size?????? wow are we in trouble.

[Capt. Debbie]

Hey if you use 5/0 to 7/0 J hooks the season could be April 1 to December 1 too if that truly cures all.

You can regulate the season by changing hook size is one of the things it says? That's a good thing. Very difficult to enforce.

[penn50w]

Wanna lessen mortality rates, don't throw GUT HOOKED fish back after you rip the hook out removing their innards - either cut the line as far to the hook as you can and release the fish and the hook will rot away in a few days (unless it's stainless) or if you want your rig or jig that bad, they should let us keep that "GUT HOOKED" fish as part of the daily limit but the hook/rig/jig must be left intact until reaching your dock - COMMON SENSE

[Foul Hook]

Relax Gina! I put this up as something I personally found to be interesting, NOT to implement some sort of Legislation.

[hammer4reel]

Anything to lower the B.S. mortality quota we get charged with could be a good thing .

But in reality I have had plenty of 14" fluke have no issue engulfing an 8/0 gami and a 6" gulp .

.

[Capt. Debbie]

The J hooks I use have a relatively long shank to prevent the hook from turning needed to gut hook. Need to swallow the whole hook to gut hook.

[Finprof]

In Chesapeake Bay any fishing with bait requires using a non-offset circle hook. DNR will board and check. There is no regulation on size. I use size 6 circle hooks with bloodworms to catch bait.
This regulation has been in effect since last year. Coming soon to a body of water near you.