Summer flounder rules in for revamp

[newsman]

Atlantic fluke rules are in for a major overhaul. Public input is sought this fall. Details at http://www.examiner.com/article/summ...and-overhauled

[shrimpman steve]

Here we go again

Bend over and grab your ankles!

[bulletbob]

Originally Posted by shrimpman steve

Here we go again

Bend over and grab your ankles!

maybe not... Perhaps they will enact a slot limit of some type..
yeah, right... bob

[Gerry Zagorski]

BOHICA

Bend Over Here it Comes Again

[Captain Rich]

Is BOHICA related to FUBAR ??

[bunker dunker]

this is why I always have my bestest fishing buddy dexter Russell with me.

[tautog]

The RFA should hand out astroglide outside the meetings.

[tuna john]

maybe someone with a good knowledge of this subject can write a meaningful comment that shares most of our views on this site. then we can copy and paste it, im sure a lot more would comment if it were made easier.

[shrimpman steve]

Great idea

[emcjim]

Thanks for your suggestion, Tuna John. I just sent the following comment. Feel free to copy and paste the parts that you agree with.

Fluke stocks must be re-building. My log shows that I caught more in 2014 than in any other year. On many trips in Northern NJ, however, keepers were few, or none, because the vast majority were less than the 18” minimum. Comments:
1. Please use stock data and catch data from the same year. In the past, this apparently was not done. Catch data should be available for the most recent year (2014), but do not use it unless you also have a stock assessment for 2014. Otherwise, we anglers are unfairly penalized for a re-building fishery.
2. Please recognize the economic impact of the recreational fishery for fluke. Commercial fishermen may have a stronger lobby than we sport fishermen. However, recognize that many people make their living in the recreational fishing Industry. Party-boat captains, charter-boat captains, their crew members, bait-and-tackle shop owners, and their employees, owners and employees of boat-building companies, marina owners, and their employees. So it’s not one man’s livelihood versus another man’s “sport” -- it’s one industry versus another industry. I believe the recreational industry has a much larger gross revenue that the commercial industry, and therefore the recreational fishermen should be allocated more than half, perhaps 60%, of the total allowable catch.
3. Regional regulations are a good idea. Combining NJ, NY and CT for 2014 made sense to me – I hope this continues.
4. The present bag limit is 5. I personally would be willing to reduce the bag limit to 4, while lowering the minimum size to 17”.