2023 fishing regulations

[Dclark2]

When do THEY decide to post NJ, DE, and MD fishing regulations for 2023 year,
after the fishing season ...................... All states can't be this FU.....

[Gerry Zagorski]

State regulations can’t be set until the federal government finishes their work by looking at 2022 data and setting quotas for 2023. The preliminary work has already started and it’s looking like we will get a 10% increase in Fluke and a 10% reduction in Seabass. This is subject to change since not all the 2022 data has been finalized and reviewed. This is the way it happens every year and for every state.

Over the next several weeks the quotas will be finalized. The states will then be able to submit a variety of regulation options back to the feds which are subject to approval. Once approved the state will decide which approved options they want to put forward for public comment, hold a public meeting and decide on which option becomes our new regulations. This usually happens in April and until then, the 2022 regulations remain in effect.

[Bigadam119]

Originally Posted by Gerry Zagorski

State regulations can’t be set until the federal government finishes their work by looking at 2022 data and setting quotas for 2023. The preliminary work has already started and it’s looking like we will get a 10% increase in Fluke and a 10% reduction in Seabass. This is subject to change since not all the 2022 data has been finalized and reviewed. This is the way it happens every year and for every state.

Over the next several weeks the quotas will be finalized. The states will then be able to submit a variety of regulation options back to the feds which are subject to approval. Once approved the state will decide which approved options they want to put forward for public comment, hold a public meeting and decide on which option becomes our new regulations. This usually happens in April and until then, the 2022 regulations remain in effect.

Thanks Gerry. Any idea what a 10% increase could get us? Possibly another 18+ fish?

[Togfather2530]

With as lousy as the fluke fishing was and the sea bass was decent I’d say it needs to go the other way. Yea give us another 18” breeder fluke 🤦*♂️🤦*♂️🥜

[Gerry Zagorski]

Originally Posted by Bigadam119

Thanks Gerry. Any idea what a 10% increase could get us? Possibly another 18+ fish?

Hard to say Adam since it could go several ways. Right now I think most people are OK with the number of days in the season and a 3 fish limit. I think that's where it stays but where it goes from there is tough to say.

Right now we have 2 slots at 17 - 17.99 and 1 at 18 or over. Could we go to to 3 @ 17 1/2 or above and no slot? That could happen but right now since the slots are so narrow, I think if that changed, the assumption would be more landings and I'm not sure the 10% increase would cover that along with the season length staying and the bag limit staying the same. At that point you have to start horse trading shortening the number of days for more assumed landings.

We shall see and needless to say, input now at the begging of the process becomes more important then in the end. If your preferred option is not considered early in the process, it won't be a choice in the options the state takes forward.

Hope this make sense and although we might not like the process, that's how it works.

Much more to follow on our site here so be looking for updates and opportunities to get involved.

[hammer4reel]

Get rid of the slot and make it 17” across the board .
Guys fishing skinny water can keep the smaller fish they catch , evening out the ocean fishery where most of the fish are larger .

.

[Gerry Zagorski]

Well looks as if the early indication of a possible 10% Fluke liberalization did not come to pass since more data was introduced and reviewed over the last week or so. Looks like status quo for now.

More information to follow as it becomes available.

[elevatorworker]

Originally Posted by hammer4reel

Get rid of the slot and make it 17” across the board .
Guys fishing skinny water can keep the smaller fish they catch , evening out the ocean fishery where most of the fish are larger .

.

Agree 100 percent

[Jigman13]

Originally Posted by elevatorworker

Agree 100 percent

You'd be surprised by the size of skinny water fish. It was harder finding slots this past season vs 18+" fish.

[frugalfisherman]

I'll be following the same rules I followed last year.