Stricter Fluke Limits Possible in 2017

[BowhunterNJ]

 

The Mid-Atlantic Fishery Management Council and the Atlantic States Marine Fisheries Commission have announced an approximate 30% decrease in the commercial and recreational summer flounder (fluke) quotas for 2017.

The cuts come in response to the 2016 assessment update, which estimated biomass has been trending down since 2010 and indicates summer flounder has been experiencing overfishing since 2008. Details on how the cuts will translate to recreational regulations in the Northeast states remain to be seen.

However, a grassroots organization called Save the Summer Flounder Fishery Fund (SSFFF) is hoping that better data could improve the stock assessment models before the cuts are implemented.

The group, which formed seven years ago when the fluke fishery appeared in danger of a shutdown and funded research that caused managers to reevaluate their numbers, is currently funding independent fishery scientists with the goal of creating a more comprehensive fluke stock assessment model.

“This proposed cut is precisely why the research currently being conducted by teams from Rutgers and Cornell with full funding from SSFFF and its partners is so important,” said Nick Cicero, Sales Manager at Folsom Corporation and a founding member of SSFFF. “The new stock modeling information the project will deliver should help NOAA Fisheries managers make decisions based on more comprehensive and timely information than is currently available. We sincerely hope that NOAA Fisheries can put off the proposed cuts till they conduct and peer review a new fluke stock assessment.” ‎

 

 

http://www.onthewater.com/stricter-fluke-limits-possible-2017/

[Bill from NJ]

Whats next, the State requesting this be the minimum size?

 

 

 

[BowhunterNJ]

And only one fish...per boat...per month  

[koz]

these people at Mid Atlantic Fisheris  really need to pull their heads outta their butts! 

[TroutandBucks]

The main problem with fish over 18 inches which has been the limit the last few years is that mainly all fish over that size are breeding female fish. We have been wiping out all the eggs and the stocks are going down. We need a slot fish between 15 and 17 inches which will help take pressure off the bigger fish and mainly the females.  

[TroutandBucks]

Also could be a total fishery shut down this year for us fisherman 

[rgw]

i would rather them shut it down rather than raise the size limit, at least i wont have to waist $100 worth of fuel between boat and truck going down there in hopes of catching a keeper, every year shoprite looks better and better

[BowhunterNJ]

Don't think they'll shut it down...it's their same MO every year. They propose the "sky is falling" limits/closures and then offer something better than that but worse than the previous years regulations to make people feel like they "got something back" from it being in "shut down" mode.

[MGHunter66]

The main problem with fish over 18 inches which has been the limit the last few years is that mainly all fish over that size are breeding female fish. We have been wiping out all the eggs and the stocks are going down. We need a slot fish between 15 and 17 inches which will help take pressure off the bigger fish and mainly the females.

I agree, every species that has been restricted to slot limits has bounced back and thrived because of it. Why is this so hard for them to understand. All the data they want is out there for proof. There is obviously an undelying factor for why they choose to ignore it

[GhostBear]

If they shut down the recreational fishy they'd better shut the commercial guys down too. I still don't get why we need to tss them back at 17 7/8 and they can boat 30k pounds of 14's.

[TroutandBucks]

If they shut down the recreational fishy they'd better shut the commercial guys down too. I still don't get why we need to tss them back at 17 7/8 and they can boat 30k pounds of 14's.

I doubt they would shut down the commerical guys too much money to be made/lost from that 

[TroutandBucks]

I say make it a 3 fish limit of slot fish only  14 to 17 inches anything over that needs to be thrown back 

[BowhunterNJ]

i would rather them shut it down rather than raise the size limit, at least i wont have to waist $100 worth of fuel between boat and truck going down there in hopes of catching a keeper, every year shoprite looks better and better

 

A lot like winter flounder...they made it 2 fish and it's not really even worthwhile to spend the money to go:  gas, bait, chum, etc.

[TroutandBucks]

2017 summer fish trips coming to a port near you: Sailing Daily for: Sea Robins, Skates and Dog Fish 7:30 to 2:30 

[hammer4reel]

I was at the council meeting last week.

The NJ marine council voted 9/1 to go against the recomendations of the NMFS.

 

There was a presentation by the Atlantic states marine fisheries commitee.

 

which you can find here 

 

http://www.asmfc.org/uploads/file//5861288eSummerFlounderDraftAddendumXXVIII_PublicComment_Dec2016_Revised.pdf

 

clearly on page 7 shows we had better recruitment when we had a smaller size limit , which allowed part of the catch to be made up of males, ( shown in years before the 18" size limit)

 

we were asked to vote on five different options, we voted no on all options.

 

 

there is now time  for public comment and this is the option I sent

 

 

 

I feel a more reasonable option would be the following 

 

Option 6

 

A (5) fish bag limit composed of
(3) fish 16 to 19"
(2) fish over 19"
as their historical data shows best reqruitment was ALWAYS when we had a smaller length limit than 18" .
It showed when the catch was spread where it possibly added males to the daily creel as well as taking smaller less egg quanity filled females the fishery reruitment was always in an upward path.
It is only since  imposed limits that take 90% females and it also targets the fish carrying the most eggs to be the total daily creel. that recruitment showed a downward trend
 data showes the fishery had only failed under the management plan of raising the limit to allow less target fish .

It would spread the harvest over 3 top 4 years of age class fish/
Lower our poundage due to taking fish that weigh less as part of the creel etc.
and allow many people to much better enjoy the resource.while meeting their reduction requirements.
Lower throwback mortality number status quo hasn't worked 18 inches is the wrong number to have as a starting point

 

 

Thanks Capt. Dan Reelmusic Sportfishing