Ok now !

[Captain Rich]

bureauofmarinefisheries@dep.nj.gov
3:10 PM (27 minutes ago)


If You Can't Keep It - SAVE IT!
Reduce Discard Mortality

The recreational summer flounder (fluke) season that opened on May 25 keeps intact an 18-inch minimum size limit for fluke in coastal waters, instead of the 19-inch size limit originally mandated by the Atlantic States Marine Fisheries Commission (ASMFC).

DEP Division of Fish and Wildlife biologists provided data demonstrating that a19-inch size limit would:

- Result in excessive harvesting of breeding females that are key to ensuring a healthy and sustainable resource

- Adversely affect recreational anglers and businesses, as fluke is one of the state's most popular sport fish

- Negatively impact the fluke population by increasing the discard mortality to levels that are higher than the anticipated harvest

In addition to adopting the 2017 New Jersey Summer Flounder regulations, DEP is implementing an extensive public outreach program aimed at reducing discard mortality. It is extremely important anglers do their part to conserve the fluke fishery by reducing the mortality rate of fish that are caught and released. You can help by using best practices such as:

- PLAN AHEAD - Expect to release fish on any given trip and prepare the equipment necessary to do so (dehookers, nets, recompression tools, etc.)

- APPROPRIATE GEAR - Use gear suited to the size of fish that you are trying to catch. 5/0 - 7/0 size hooks are recommended to land bigger fish and reduce discards.

--HANDLING FISH - Use knotless rubberized landing nets and rubberized gloves to avoid removing the slime layer from discards and help ensure their chance for survival

Information regarding the 2017 fluke season and tips on how to reduce discard mortality can be found on the Fish and Wildlife website at: http://www.njfishandwildlife.com/fluke.htm. Also, follow us on Facebook for the latest updates: https://www.facebook.com/NJFishandWildlife/.

Please do your part to reduce discard mortality of fluke, and ensure healthy fisheries and great fishing for the future. Fish On!