Jcaa alert - pots off the reefs and fluke

[Angler Paul]

JCAA ALERT - POTS OFF THE REEFS AND FLUKE The Mid-Atlantic Fishery Management Council (MAFMC) is meeting next week to discuss two issues that are of great interest to recreational saltwater anglers. There will be a session on Monday, December 12th at 3:30 - 5:00 PM to take final action on New Jersey's request for Special Management Zone status for the 13 artificial reefs located in Federal waters. The purpose of the request is to remove fixed commercial fishing gear from the reefs. Conflicts caused by the presence of fixed gear has caused a suspension of funding to the NJ Artificial Reef Program.
The other issue is the proposed reduction in the summer flounder quota for 2017. This session will be held at 1:00 - 3:00 PM on Wednesday, December 14th. A two fish limit at 19" with a significantly shorter season is on the table. This is a draconian measure that will have a very serious negative effect on the fishing community. JCAA requests that NO reduction in quota be made until an updated stock assessment and fishery management plan has been completed.
We urge all concerned anglers to try to attend these meetings. The location is:
Royal Senesta Harbor Baltimore
550 Light Street
Baltimore, MD 21202
410-234-0550
Full details can be found at:
http://www.mafmc.org/briefing/december-2016

[SaltLife1980]

Wow 2 fish at 19in! Shit is getting outta control!! We are all going to have to take up Golf soon bc you wont be allowed to fish.

[Jpell15]

What will the boats do if its two fish at 19? Switch to bottom fishing and wipe out all the ling and winter flounder?

[chrislars]

Have to wonder how much abandoned or cut off gear is on the reefs! I know we brought up a few this year along on the party boats' anchors that had been down there for a long time.

It would be a monumental task, but recovery of those old pots to clean off the reefs should be the next task after tethered ones are removed. Anyone else seen the videos of the piles and piles of rope and fishing line that comes off the reefs when divers get down to them? It's crazy!

[frugalfisherman]

How about catch and kill? If they implement ANY stupid fluke regulations then we recreational fishermen kill all shorts before throwing them back. I think that might get their attention. We can be as stupid as they are. As for "pots off the reefs" keep dreaming.

Two fluke will put the party boat fleet out of business and put a major dent in the recreational fleet. I don't see this having a good ending especially with commercial guys flooding the markets with smaller fish the retailers sell at 16.99 a pound. For that matter look at the prices Spike's in Pt Pleasant charges for uncooked fish, it's absolutely insane. BUT recreational guys who support the boating industry and local economies made up primarily of small businesses continue to get screwed. Where is the boating industry lobby in all this because these regulations continue in the direction they are the boating industry is out of business as well. As I've said before, when there's a fair allocation of a public resource between commercial and recreational interests, I'll abide. If the resource was shut down for EVERYONE for three years to rebuild like flounder (even though we know what good that did!) I'll abide. But to spend the kind of money we spend to have a sport we enjoy yanked out from under us so a special interest group or government can benefit they can all collectively kiss my ass!

[JBird]

How in the wide world of sports do you go from 5 fish at 18 inches to 2 at 19?!?! Where's the middle ground here?
And hasn't it been proven that the majority of fish over 18 inches are female?
My understanding is that by the time you get close to 5 lbs nearly 100% of the fish are female. Why do they continue to encourage us to take bigger fish when they know they're females? Makes no sense!
I've been saying for years now that we need a slot fish for fluke.
If they must reduce quota then how about this:

1) Shorten the season by a week or two. At the same time adjust the black seas bass season to coincide with the fluke season closing date. We're not asking for more BSB quota, just asking that the quota we are allowed is available the day after fluke closes. The party/charter boat businesses are choked in the fall when fluke closes. Making BSB available would put people at the rail.

2) Slot fish. Does anyone catch 5 fluke at 18 inches anymore? Sure it happens but realistically it's increasingly uncommon. I don't think a 4 fish bag would be the end of the world if one of the 4 was 16-18 inches. You would almost guarantee every angler taking at least one fish home for the table with an additional 3 possible. This MAY also have the effect of more people releasing big fluke. This scenario COULD play out on a party boat:
------Guy gets his slot, gets 2 more keepers. After that another guy gets a 7 lb pool leading fish. Now the guy with 3 of his 4 catches a 5 lber but decides to release it because he wants a shot at the pool.--- It's possible.

3) Ban the use of English hooks. Sorry guys but those f***ing things kill fish.

I know all you "experts" are going to make all your BS arguments about how I'm wrong but I'll tell you this: I've been working deck for 15 years, the last 5 on a 1/2 day fluke boat and I've unhooked thousands upon thousands of fluke. Those stupid little hooks are FAR more difficult to disgorge than a regular J hook or octopus.

My 2 cents.

[Gerry Zagorski]

Originally Posted by JBird

How in the wide world of sports do you go from 5 fish at 18 inches to 2 at 19?!?! Where's the middle ground here?
And hasn't it been proven that the majority of fish over 18 inches are female?
My understanding is that by the time you get close to 5 lbs nearly 100% of the fish are female. Why do they continue to encourage us to take bigger fish when they know they're females? Makes no sense!
I've been saying for years now that we need a slot fish for fluke.
If they must reduce quota then how about this:

1) Shorten the season by a week or two. At the same time adjust the black seas bass season to coincide with the fluke season closing date. We're not asking for more BSB quota, just asking that the quota we are allowed is available the day after fluke closes. The party/charter boat businesses are choked in the fall when fluke closes. Making BSB available would put people at the rail.

2) Slot fish. Does anyone catch 5 fluke at 18 inches anymore? Sure it happens but realistically it's increasingly uncommon. I don't think a 4 fish bag would be the end of the world if one of the 4 was 16-18 inches. You would almost guarantee every angler taking at least one fish home for the table with an additional 3 possible. This MAY also have the effect of more people releasing big fluke. This scenario COULD play out on a party boat:
------Guy gets his slot, gets 2 more keepers. After that another guy gets a 7 lb pool leading fish. Now the guy with 3 of his 4 catches a 5 lber but decides to release it because he wants a shot at the pool.--- It's possible.

3) Ban the use of English hooks. Sorry guys but those f***ing things kill fish.

I know all you "experts" are going to make all your BS arguments about how I'm wrong but I'll tell you this: I've been working deck for 15 years, the last 5 on a 1/2 day fluke boat and I've unhooked thousands upon thousands of fluke. Those stupid little hooks are FAR more difficult to disgorge than a regular J hook or octopus.

My 2 cents.

I've been saying the same thing Jay... Why encourage people to only keep bigger fish.... Most fish over 19 inches are female and they are the breeders. I believe as a result of the SSFFF study (sex and size landings) a slot fish could be on the table. That is once the report is finalized and it goes through NOAA peer review. Problem is I don't think that is going to happen in time to effect next years regulations.

Here is the way these things usually go down..
- They initially threaten us with really restrictive limits.
- At the last minute they trow us a bone and give us another fish or 2
- Everyone is happy because they feel like we got something
- Every year that something is less and less

[frugalfisherman]

Works every time

[Angler Paul]

FYI - in addition to the 2 fish at 19" they are also proposing an 88 day season down from what I believe was a 128 day season this year.