Revised 2011 fluke options

[hookset]

I found these figures on the net.


Ø 2010 Target = 997,000 fish Preliminary 2010 Harvest Estimate = 593,677 fish

Ø 2010 Regulations: 18” size limit; 6-fish bag limit;
open season from May 29 to Sept 6 (101 days)

Ø 2011 Target = 1,335,000 fish






Option
Size Limit (inches)
Bag Limit
Open Season
# Days Open
% Liberalization NJ VAS
1
18
8
May 14 – Sept 18
128
62%
2
18
8
May 7 – Sept 25
142
77%
3
17.5 / 18
1 / 5
May 21 – Sept 5
108
81%
4
17 / 18
1 / 5
May 28 – August 28
93
81%




Option 3 with the dual size limit of 17.5 / 18 inches 1 / 5 fish reads as follows:

1-fish greater than or equal to 17.5-inches plus 5-fish greater than or equal to 18-inches

[hookset]

Personally, I would like the options that allows us to keep one or two fish. You can't catch a limit in NJ unless you are on a boat. So with option 3, we could at least keep a 17.5 inch fluke. I caught hundreds of fluke last year from the surf around this size and a lot smaller, and hardly any keepers.

What do you guys think, or prefer?

[DarkSkies]

Here's some interesting thoughts on the 2011 fluke regs.
Sent in by Finchaser, thanks!

http://brick.patch.com/articles/final-2011-fluke-reg-options-leave-much-to-be-desired
Final 2011 Fluke Regulation Options Leave Much to be Desired


Hunter Boney, 10, weighed in this 4.5 pound fluke at Absecon Bay Sportsman Center, Absecon, during the 2010 summer flounder season. Absecon Bay Sportsman Center
Photos (1)

http://o1.aolcdn.com/dims-shared/dims3/PATCH/thumbnail/88x178/crop/88x88+0+0/http://hss-prod.hss.aol.com/hss/storage/patch/587b22258fe5cf2eed2c3223b66eecd0 (http://o1.aolcdn.com/dims-shared/dims3/PATCH/resize/600x450/http://hss-prod.hss.aol.com/hss/storage/patch/587b22258fe5cf2eed2c3223b66eecd0)Credit Absecon Bay Sportsman Center









Under 18 inch size limit would decrease season length by more than one month.

By Daniel Nee (http://brick.patch.com/users/daniel-nee) | Email the author (http://brick.patch.com/articles/final-2011-fluke-reg-options-leave-much-to-be-desired#) | March 25, 2011


When anglers were told last fall by the federal government that the summer flounder quota would be increased 30 percent for the 2011 fluke season, people jumped for joy. Finally, folks thought, anglers who spend millions of dollars on bait, tackle, fuel and accessories would be able to keep a reasonably-sized fish once again.
Unfortunately, even with the increase in quota and significant liberalizations, it appears New Jersey anglers will once again contend with a size limit so high that anglers will find themselves throwing back 50 fish (if they’re lucky) before keeping one. Back bay anglers will be hit the hardest, as usual.



The final options approved by federal regulators, which state regulators have to choose from, are:

Size Limit Bag Limit Season Dates Season Length
18 inches 8 fish May 14 - Sept. 18 128 days
18 inches 8 fish May 7 - Sept. 25 142 days

Slot Option 1:1 Fish @ 17.5 inches 5 Fish @ 18 inches
-May 21 - Sept. 5 108 Days

Slot Option 2:1 Fish @ 17 inches 5 Fish @ 18 inches
-May 28 - Aug. 28 93

The longest proposed season, 142 days, keeps the summer flounder regulations at a level where an 18 inch minimum size limit is required. The only two options dropping the limit below 18 inches are slot limit options which would reduce the season length by about a month.


My take on this issue (by issue, I mean mess) is unpopular with a good many anglers, but I will shout it from the roof tops anyway: The size limit needs to drop, even if season length is sacrificed.
My reasoning?

First off, as an avid back bay angler who grew up fishing in Barnegat Bay and the Manasquan River, it is an outrage to me that children and families have to fight unbelievable odds to bring home a keeper fish on a given summer day when they wet a line in our back bays.

I live at the Shore year 'round, own my own boat and can head out on the water whenever I please; but how about families that only get to spend a week at the Shore all season? Will they rent boats, patronize tackle shops and buy equipment – all so they can have the honor of purchasing flounder at the fish market on the way home?
Will young children head back to North Jersey, Philadelphia or New York and tell their friends about the good time they had fishing, or will they talk about sitting on a boat for hours and having to throw every fish back?
Additionally, let’s talk about that nagging little statistic called “discard mortality.” That refers to the number of fish that die each year after being de-hooked and thrown back.

In New Jersey, we throw so many fish back due to the high size limit that federal regulators have said we have nearly reached parity between the number of discarded fish that die and the number we take home for dinner. It is absolutely unconscionable from a conservation perspective – not to mention a perspective of common sense – that this many fish must needlessly meet an untimely death, all in the name of “managing” this fishery.

I won’t even delve into the fact that, since only female fish reach 18 inches or more, we’re only targeting one gender of the species.

So with that, everyone should feel free to attend the state Marine Fisheries Council meeting April 7 at 4 p.m. at the Galloway Township Library. Get up during public comment and tell the folks on the council whether 18 inches or 17.5 inches is better for you. Talk about a long season versus a slightly lower size limit.
I want a longer season, too. But I want a flounder dinner (that doesn't require a trip to the fish market) even more.

[Shorelady]

I am very torn by the options. This past summer I introduced my nephew to fluking from the surf. I instructed him to log his catches. His goal: A keeper, just one! Well after 78 shorts, he gave up. It is very upsetting as I was hoping there would be a least 1 fisher in his generation to carry on a 5 generation tradition of fishing in the family...... And he really had the touch for fluking!
Personally, I fished more from the kayak the past two seasons and have much increased my keeper to short ratio. But still not what it was not that many years ago from the surf. I also miss the longer season.

[finchaser]

any reduction in size or bag limit will result in over fishing and a possible shut down in 2012
Come join us at the meeting the more the merrier. the 142 season is what is being supported by most