PROWLER5 - TUES., JULY 30TH - FLUKE REPORT

[reason162]

Originally Posted by Prowler 5

As of tomorrow, Aug. 1st, NY goes from 19 to 19-1/2 just like that in the middle of the season.

I wonder which sector pushed for the half inch increase in exchange for a longer season? A: NY Party Boats.

[Gerry Zagorski]

Lots of people complained about the slots the past few years, I think they would have helped us this year... Lots of 17 -18 inch fish going back.

[hammer4reel]

Originally Posted by Gerry Zagorski

Lots of people complained about the slots the past few years, I think they would have helped us this year... Lots of 17 -18 inch fish going back.

Pat had brought it up at the final meeting . Since we had 2 years of keeping those smaller fish that age class of fish that would be 18-18 1/2” was pretty wiped out .
Most of the keepers have been 19-21”

I personally have no issue throwing back fish under 18” to have the limit we currently have .
Next years season should be back to where we were 2 years ago before the slot .

Until out of state commercial boats quota gets lowered we aren’t going to see much improvement .
As they hammer our stocks first before pushing towards states north of us .


Look at the reports from mid Long Island to Massachusetts. They are having the best fluke seasons they ever had .
Party boats limiting out and throwing LOTS of keepers back above 19 “


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[Gerry Zagorski]

Originally Posted by hammer4reel

Pat had brought it up at the final meeting . Since we had 2 years of keeping those smaller fish that age class of fish that would be 18-18 1/2” was pretty wiped out .
Most of the keepers have been 19-21”

I personally have no issue throwing back fish under 18” to have the limit we currently have .
Next years season should be back to where we were 2 years ago before the slot .

Until out of state commercial boats quota gets lowered we aren’t going to see much improvement .
As they hammer our stocks first before pushing towards states north of us .


Look at the reports from mid Long Island to Massachusetts. They are having the best fluke seasons they ever had .
Party boats limiting out and throwing LOTS of keepers back above 19 “


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I know exactly where you're coming from Dan and I see your and others point of view.... The larger fish are what you target however, us Ham and Eggers would have a lot more for the table so far this this season with the slot.

[NoLimit]

None of the males get over 18" - we are killing all the breeders with all the males dying of old age (or in a trawl net)

[hammer4reel]

Originally Posted by NoLimit

None of the males get over 18" - we are killing all the breeders with all the males dying of old age (or in a trawl net)

Studies are showing 90% of the male fish don’t come inshore .
Thats why even when taking slot fish the last few years , they were females still with eggs in them .

So who’s ready to move the fluke fishing to thirty miles off to be able to catch 17” male fluke .

You can only catch what’s here

[dales529]

Honestly this is where picking the longest season comes into play. My Guess is Aug and September (yeah blah, blah on hurricanes) Fluke going to quiet the crowd as we will be busy catching.

Not saying regs dont suck. the slot would have been huge this year and they (fisheries management) are missing the larger picture but years are cycles and this year will be a late bite. Only wish we started in July and went to November!

[DMac]

Originally Posted by Gerry Zagorski

Lots of people complained about the slots the past few years, I think they would have helped us this year... Lots of 17 -18 inch fish going back.

The reason your seeing a lot of 17-18 inch fishnis because they were below 17 last year. The reason your not seeing many 18-19.5 inch fish thisbyear because the slot limit destroyed a year class of fish. Putting pressure on a 1 inch class of fish was horrible idea. Fishing was much better before slot. Slot did a lot of damage because it was poorly chosen to be too restrictive.

[hammer4reel]

Originally Posted by DMac

The reason your seeing a lot of 17-18 inch fishnis because they were below 17 last year. The reason your not seeing many 18-19.5 inch fish thisbyear because the slot limit destroyed a year class of fish. Putting pressure on a 1 inch class of fish was horrible idea. Fishing was much better before slot. Slot did a lot of damage because it was poorly chosen to be too restrictive.

Exactly what I posted earlier , and spot on .

But why guys would rather keep 17” fish while throwing back 20” fish to keep them is lost on me .

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