Flounder

[bulletbob]

I have read that Cormorants swallow small ones down one after the other, non stop.. LOTS and lots of cormorants out there these days.. Wonder if they might be a factor??? bob

Originally Posted by bulletbob

I have read that Cormorants swallow small ones down one after the other, non stop.. LOTS and lots of cormorants out there these days.. Wonder if they might be a factor??? bob

Bob hope all is well. I've seen Commorants coming up with one flounder after another in the back of Shark River. Fish ranging in size from keepers to postage stamps. Are they a contributing factor to the decline of flounder and every inshore species, I would have to think they are. But recruitment levels declining 90% annually from 60 million to 5 million, the associated destruction of another spawning stock biomass (same as what were experiencing in the summer flounder fishery) in addition to skyrocketing catch levels in the '80s that weren't managed properly are the key drivers causing the demise of this fishery.

[Blind Archer]

Back in the day, the flounder caught in the west end of the Raritan bay would be gorged to the point of expelling clam necks all over the boat. Commercial clamming in that end of the bay has removed much of the clam since then. No food ...no fish.

[bulletbob]

Originally Posted by Blind Archer

Back in the day, the flounder caught in the west end of the Raritan bay would be gorged to the point of expelling clam necks all over the boat. Commercial clamming in that end of the bay has removed much of the clam since then. No food ...no fish.

I remember that very well.. I lived in Union Beach for 2 years around 81-83..
We used to catch massive flounder, and 2 things would spill out of them.. Clam necks and corn from all the guys chumming for them with corn in those days...bob

[duranautic al]

Take a cruise around the bayshore rivers,creeks and estuaries.More cormorats,osprys,eagles and other birds that would make an easy meal out of a flounder.Never mind the overabundance of the endangered dogfish,harbor seals and the biggest culprit... The Striped Bass...they suck them off the bottom like candy

[bulletbob]

Originally Posted by duranautic al

Take a cruise around the bayshore rivers,creeks and estuaries.More cormorats,osprys,eagles and other birds that would make an easy meal out of a flounder.Never mind the overabundance of the endangered dogfish,harbor seals and the biggest culprit... The Striped Bass...they suck them off the bottom like candy

You know, never thought of that.. Stripers love small flounder.. Years and years ago, they were prime bait for few guys in the know.

.The resurgence of Stripers to an extent has coincided with the demise of flounder in the same waters... A possible factor?.. Probably, but as you stated, a proliferation of other predators that simply were not around 30-40 years ago as well....Doesn't look good for winter flounder short term, thats for certain.... bob

[Gerry Zagorski]

Originally Posted by bulletbob

You know, never thought of that.. Stripers love small flounder.. Years and years ago, they were prime bait for few guys in the know.

.The resurgence of Stripers to an extent has coincided with the demise of flounder in the same waters... A possible factor?.. Probably, but as you stated, a proliferation of other predators that simply were not around 30-40 years ago as well....Doesn't look good for winter flounder short term, thats for certain.... bob

I think this has something to do with it... Years ago when Stripers weren't as plentiful we had a lot of Flounder around. The other thing I seem to remember each year was when the Stipers showed up the flounders left the area.

[TomKat]

Thanks Dakota.Unbelievable.What a disgrace.

[Skolmann]

Originally Posted by Blind Archer

Commercial clamming in that end of the bay has removed much of the clam since then. No food ...no fish.

It’s been my observation (& shared by a few others I have spoken to) that Super Storm Sandy had a dramatic impact on the clams beds of not only Raritan Bay but Romer Shoals and the False Hook Bar. Ever since then the spring stripers bite on clams has been nearly non existent. So I’m assuming the lack of clam forge has also effected the winter flounder population.