Fluke and Sea Bass Returns

[Billfish715]

Do you remember those 16 & 17 inch fluke you had to toss back last season? How about those sea bass that made their way from the inshore reefs to deeper offshore waters? Well, they have made their way back inshore to where you can now keep them. A bit sarcastic? Well, yeah, I guess I was. Here's the point. Look at the prices customers are paying for them at the counter. Those 16-17 inch fluke that the trawlers bring back to the market make perfect sized fillets for a consumer.

If you laid out $100 for a half day on the water and never caught a legal fluke to fillet, you can take that same $100 and go to the fish market and get 5 pounds of prime fluke fillets. Do you see where this is going? If you go fishing with the intention of bringing some fillets home for dinner, you could spend the same money and go to the market and buy the same fish you would have to release if you were on a boat.

It's a good thing most fishermen don't look at fishing in that way or the party and charter business would be done. There is something more rewarding when the fish you eat are the fish you caught. They might even taste better knowing that they are yours.

Here's a novel idea........one that will never fly.........a guaranteed one fish limt for every paying customer. Everyone on a party boat will be allowed to keep one of the fish they caught regardless of its size. Of course you can keep the legal-sized fish and established limits. If you are going to pay a store owner, who paid a commercial fisherman for the fish you had to throw back, why not just let part of the fare you paid to the captain, pay for at least one fish that might end up on ice in the market anyhow.?

It's thinking out of the box and would be shot down for being too extreme and perhaps for starting to let some of the water out of the swamp. That kind of thinking goes over very well with the populace but not with the establishment. The establishment sees the change as a major attack on their livelihood and gets their blood boiling. We all know the reaction to the last person who tried to drain some of bogged-down sections of the government.

We all know it's about money yet no one wants to compromise. The government agencies exist because of the money they get directly or indirectly from us. We just want a little bang for our buck. Throw us a bone. Let us deduct our fishing expenses from our taxes. Food, fuel, tackle, bait, protective gear, tolls..........yada, yada, yada all cost money and include taxes. All we want is a fish to eat.

This pandemic has told us to follow the science. The marine fisheries agencies also tell us to follow their science. How is all of that working?

[Gerry Zagorski]

I think it would be great if people were allowed to keep 1 slot Fluke say between 16 and 18. Problem is the way that would get figured into our regs. I would think plugging a slot fish into their calculations would increase assumed landings against our quota which would likely lead to a shorter season.

As for me and I think most, we want the longest season possible so we have the ability to fish as many days as possible.

[Detour66]

The bottom of the ocean is paved with gold. And they don't want us to have it!
Like they say "follow the money"! Tight lines!

[Stanton327]

Fluke more expensive than tuna!!! Jesus Holy Christ on a POGO stick!!!

[hammer4reel]

Originally Posted by Gerry Zagorski

I think it would be great if people were allowed to keep 1 slot Fluke say between 16 and 18. Problem is the way that would get figured into our regs. I would think plugging a slot fish into their calculations would increase assumed landings against our quota which would likely lead to a shorter season.

As for me and I think most, we want the longest season possible so we have the ability to fish as many days as possible.

When everyone wanted status quo (which we knew was a pipe dream)
We should have asked for a slot fish then .
They would have been more willing at that time with all the BS going on .

It’s my understanding after talking to some people in FG that a slot is something they are now looking into .

Our quota are done by tonnage , smaller fish weigh less .
When explained to them that guys catching 10 shorts are getting held accountable for 4 fish dying on release.
it makes no sense to not change to allow some of those smaller fish to actually ho home with the angler
.
Make once a limit is reached fishing for them stops .

Many more guys would go home happier, and less fish would be lost to release mortality charged against our quota .

Will see how this plays out in the next few weeks .

Problem is it turns into saving the fishing industry instead of the fishery .

Reg makers don’t give 2 shits about the industry , so save the fishery so we can at least fish , the rest will come .

Having a long season when there is nothing to keep just is foolish .
Being able to actually keep some fish will get more people out fishing .

.

[hartattack]

ASMFC meeting next week to review NJ options. Dial in, send comments, use chatbox during meeting to express yourself. http://www.asmfc.org/calendar/02/202...mendment-/1667

Hope to see other njfers there ...

[frugalfisherman]

Quit whining just poach.

[Billfish715]

Originally Posted by Gerry Zagorski

I think it would be great if people were allowed to keep 1 slot Fluke say between 16 and 18. Problem is the way that would get figured into our regs. I would think plugging a slot fish into their calculations would increase assumed landings against our quota which would likely lead to a shorter season

.

I wonder how many people (including those on the ASMFC) actually understand how the figures are input into the algorithm. Everyone, however, understands the final numbers. Just how those numbers were crunched is a mystery, at best. It is part of the science that we are supposed to accept. The science is still just a bunch of numbers, the outcome of which, is determined by what data is plugged in and what variables are not!

How will the slot fish enter into the quota? That's a good question You used the word "assumed" landings. I think that is an accurate description. Assumed is the key word. My "guess" is that the figures that are currently used are far from accurate and have always been that.

Quite a few fluke were caught last year. Quite a few were released. Quite a few died after being released; and of course there were those that were boxed and filleted. Still, those numbers are only conjecture since there are no accurate records of the number of fluke that were taken, released or died. There has to be a way to input the "assumed" numbers of slot fish to offset the "assumed" mortality rate.

Someone, from the recreational fishing community should be given access to the algorithm's data and challenge the findings of the ASMFC by adding additional variables that might have been missing.

My guess for the upcoming report about last year's totals is that we overfished our quota but we will be given a "stay" for the coming year. For the time being, I don't think much will change. The party boat numbers were down due to the pandemic restrictions. Fishing participation, in general, was down. Lots of fluke were still caught, but how would anyone, no less the scientists ever know?

[Capt Sal]

Originally Posted by Billfish715

I wonder how many people (including those on the ASMFC) actually understand how the figures are input into the algorithm. Everyone, however, understands the final numbers. Just how those numbers were crunched is a mystery, at best. It is part of the science that we are supposed to accept. The science is still just a bunch of numbers, the outcome of which, is determined by what data is plugged in and what variables are not!

How will the slot fish enter into the quota? That's a good question You used the word "assumed" landings. I think that is an accurate description. Assumed is the key word. My "guess" is that the figures that are currently used are far from accurate and have always been that.

Quite a few fluke were caught last year. Quite a few were released. Quite a few died after being released; and of course there were those that were boxed and filleted. Still, those numbers are only conjecture since there are no accurate records of the number of fluke that were taken, released or died. There has to be a way to input the "assumed" numbers of slot fish to offset the "assumed" mortality rate.

Someone, from the recreational fishing community should be given access to the algorithm's data and challenge the findings of the ASMFC by adding additional variables that might have been missing.

My guess for the upcoming report about last year's totals is that we overfished our quota but we will be given a "stay" for the coming year. For the time being, I don't think much will change. The party boat numbers were down due to the pandemic restrictions. Fishing participation, in general, was down. Lots of fluke were still caught, but how would anyone, no less the scientists ever know?

Key word is GUESS, It is all a guess nation wide.In Florida there are so many Red Snapper they are a nuisance because there is a 1 day season on the Atlantic side. GOVERNMENT CONTOL !!!

[Foul Hook]

Originally Posted by frugalfisherman

Quit whining just poach.

🙄👍🏻
Im with this guy!!