Angler Paul
03-04-2013, 06:47 PM
Below are the options that were just released today followedby my comments.
Option
Size Limit (inches)
Bag Limit
Open Season
# days open
2012 regs
17.5
5
May 5 – September 28
147
1
17.5
5
May 11 – September 4
117
2
17.5
5
May 18 – September 16
122
3
17.5
5
May 24 – September 22
122
4
18
5
May 25 – October 2
131
5
18
5
May 18 – September 26
132
6
18
5
May 1 – September 12
135
Committee preferred option - #2
In 2012 the option that was favored by the NewJersey Marine Fisheries Council Fluke Committee Members was for a 170 dayseason with an 8 fish bag limit and an 18”size limit. However, a slight majority of the public spoke in favor of reducingthe season to 147 days with a bag limit of only 5 fish so that the size limitcould be lowered to 17 ½”.
The commercialrepresentatives, who outnumber the recreational representatives on the
Council then madea motion to favor that alternative and it became law despite the fact
that ourrecreational representatives voted against it.
I attended the advisors meeting last weekthe NJMFC committee now favors
reducing last years season length an additional 25 days. Ispoke in favor of increasing the size limit to 18” so that we could have a longer seasonbut I was in the minority. The option I liked best would have been for a seasonthat ran from 5/4-9/29 with an 18”size limit and a 5 fish bag limit. That would have resulted in a 149 dayseason. Despite the fact that this option was approved by the Atlantic StatesMarine Fisheries Council, it was removed from the list of those that will makeit to the public hearing. This is due to concerns from the majority of advisorsand council members present that a season that long might result in usexceeding our quota.
The majority of those at the advisorsmeeting were in favor of keeping the size limit at
17 ½” with abag limit of 5. Most favored the optionthat would do that while keeping
the season openthough 9/22. However, some representatives who were mostly from the
southern partof the State or back bay fishermen requested an earlier opening to the
season. Thereis also a possibility that after all the states have set their regulations, the
ASMFC mightallow New York and New Jersey to further relax their regulations if there
appears thatthere might me a coast wide estimated underage. Most advisors spoke
againstutilizing it if it became available for fear of it causing us to exceed ourquota. I
urged thecouncil to take a least partial advantage of it if it becomes available. I
mentioned thatwe are more likely to underfish our quota this year as there will be far less
participation.This is due to the fact that many of our marinas, private boats and coastal
homes weredevastated by Hurricane Sandy.
The Council’s preferred option is for aseason from 5/18-9/16. It will be hard to
change thatunless a big majority of us show up at the Council meeting to support a
longer seasonor at least one that extends the season further into September. It should be
noted that in prior years that we would havehad to give up 2-3 days in May to gain one
day inSeptember. This year their statistics show that it would be a one for one swap.
I also asked if there could be any optionscould be developed that would allow us to
return to an 8fish bag limit. I was told that there was insufficient data to increase the bag
limit this yearwith any of the options. I then requested that data be gathered so that we
might be ableto increase the bag limit in the future.
Below are some of the points that I madein support of the longer season. I intend to
bring them upagain at the Council meeting:
1.)Having a longer season is most beneficial for our various fisheries. When thefluke season is closed many fishermen are forced to target other species suchas stripers, sea bass, and blackfish. This may put undue pressure on thesespecies as well as others and cause us to exceed our quotas for some of them. We urge you to consider the effects that ashorter season for one species may have on other species.
2.) It is imperative that we have a fluke seasonthat will extend well into the fall because the other species that we normallyfish for then will be closed. More specifically, blackfish will either beclosed or there may be a limit of just one. Compounding the issue further itthe fact that fishing for sea bass is expected to be closed from 10/15 to 11/1.In recent years stripers have not been arriving in force until November so ifthe fluke season is not open further into the fall there will be virtuallynothing for surfcasters and inshore fishermen to fish for. If there is nothingto fish for in our state at that time, some of us will fish in others states ornot fish at all. It is particularly important for surfcasters to be able tofish for fluke late into the fall as many of us believe that our best chance ofcatching a couple keepers occurs during the fall mullet run.
3.) The fall is a time when manyof those who target doormats have a good chance at success. The big fish havefattened up over the summer and are on the feed as they stop at wrecks andrough spots as they migrate offshore. As is the case with surf fishermen, thistraditional fishery has been taken away from the trophy fishermen in somerecent years.
4.) A longer season is better forthe economy simply because it gives everyone regardless of whether they aresurfcasters, private boaters or charter and party boat fishermen more days tofish. For example consider the impact it might have on tackle stores, who caterto surf fishermen, if their customers are left with nothing to fish for in theearly fall. This is particularly true this year as shore area businessesstruggle to recover from the hurricane.
5.) Weather is more of a factorwhen the seasons are shorter. A sustained period of bad weather can bedisastrous during a shortened season. A longer season provides everyone withmore of an opportunity to reschedule trips that had been cancelled due to badweather.
6.) A 17 ½” – 18” fluke is really hard to catch. I was out on the water manydays last year and in fact logged in numerous fluke trips for the NJ volunteeranglers survey. I might have caught 5 or 6 fluke between 17 ½” and 18” the entire season. Giving up many additional days of fishing just to be able to keep anoccasional 17 ½” – 18”fluke is not worth it.
Regardless if you agree with me ornot, it is important to attend the Council meeting and voice youropinions. The fluke regulations aregoing to be voted on by the Council immediately after the public commentperiod. The meeting will be held at 4Pm on 3/7 at
the GallowayTownship Library on Jimmie Leeds Rd. in Absecon.
PaulHaertel
2ndVP JCAA
NJOArepresentative
BerleleyStriper Club member
NJBBAmember
Option
Size Limit (inches)
Bag Limit
Open Season
# days open
2012 regs
17.5
5
May 5 – September 28
147
1
17.5
5
May 11 – September 4
117
2
17.5
5
May 18 – September 16
122
3
17.5
5
May 24 – September 22
122
4
18
5
May 25 – October 2
131
5
18
5
May 18 – September 26
132
6
18
5
May 1 – September 12
135
Committee preferred option - #2
In 2012 the option that was favored by the NewJersey Marine Fisheries Council Fluke Committee Members was for a 170 dayseason with an 8 fish bag limit and an 18”size limit. However, a slight majority of the public spoke in favor of reducingthe season to 147 days with a bag limit of only 5 fish so that the size limitcould be lowered to 17 ½”.
The commercialrepresentatives, who outnumber the recreational representatives on the
Council then madea motion to favor that alternative and it became law despite the fact
that ourrecreational representatives voted against it.
I attended the advisors meeting last weekthe NJMFC committee now favors
reducing last years season length an additional 25 days. Ispoke in favor of increasing the size limit to 18” so that we could have a longer seasonbut I was in the minority. The option I liked best would have been for a seasonthat ran from 5/4-9/29 with an 18”size limit and a 5 fish bag limit. That would have resulted in a 149 dayseason. Despite the fact that this option was approved by the Atlantic StatesMarine Fisheries Council, it was removed from the list of those that will makeit to the public hearing. This is due to concerns from the majority of advisorsand council members present that a season that long might result in usexceeding our quota.
The majority of those at the advisorsmeeting were in favor of keeping the size limit at
17 ½” with abag limit of 5. Most favored the optionthat would do that while keeping
the season openthough 9/22. However, some representatives who were mostly from the
southern partof the State or back bay fishermen requested an earlier opening to the
season. Thereis also a possibility that after all the states have set their regulations, the
ASMFC mightallow New York and New Jersey to further relax their regulations if there
appears thatthere might me a coast wide estimated underage. Most advisors spoke
againstutilizing it if it became available for fear of it causing us to exceed ourquota. I
urged thecouncil to take a least partial advantage of it if it becomes available. I
mentioned thatwe are more likely to underfish our quota this year as there will be far less
participation.This is due to the fact that many of our marinas, private boats and coastal
homes weredevastated by Hurricane Sandy.
The Council’s preferred option is for aseason from 5/18-9/16. It will be hard to
change thatunless a big majority of us show up at the Council meeting to support a
longer seasonor at least one that extends the season further into September. It should be
noted that in prior years that we would havehad to give up 2-3 days in May to gain one
day inSeptember. This year their statistics show that it would be a one for one swap.
I also asked if there could be any optionscould be developed that would allow us to
return to an 8fish bag limit. I was told that there was insufficient data to increase the bag
limit this yearwith any of the options. I then requested that data be gathered so that we
might be ableto increase the bag limit in the future.
Below are some of the points that I madein support of the longer season. I intend to
bring them upagain at the Council meeting:
1.)Having a longer season is most beneficial for our various fisheries. When thefluke season is closed many fishermen are forced to target other species suchas stripers, sea bass, and blackfish. This may put undue pressure on thesespecies as well as others and cause us to exceed our quotas for some of them. We urge you to consider the effects that ashorter season for one species may have on other species.
2.) It is imperative that we have a fluke seasonthat will extend well into the fall because the other species that we normallyfish for then will be closed. More specifically, blackfish will either beclosed or there may be a limit of just one. Compounding the issue further itthe fact that fishing for sea bass is expected to be closed from 10/15 to 11/1.In recent years stripers have not been arriving in force until November so ifthe fluke season is not open further into the fall there will be virtuallynothing for surfcasters and inshore fishermen to fish for. If there is nothingto fish for in our state at that time, some of us will fish in others states ornot fish at all. It is particularly important for surfcasters to be able tofish for fluke late into the fall as many of us believe that our best chance ofcatching a couple keepers occurs during the fall mullet run.
3.) The fall is a time when manyof those who target doormats have a good chance at success. The big fish havefattened up over the summer and are on the feed as they stop at wrecks andrough spots as they migrate offshore. As is the case with surf fishermen, thistraditional fishery has been taken away from the trophy fishermen in somerecent years.
4.) A longer season is better forthe economy simply because it gives everyone regardless of whether they aresurfcasters, private boaters or charter and party boat fishermen more days tofish. For example consider the impact it might have on tackle stores, who caterto surf fishermen, if their customers are left with nothing to fish for in theearly fall. This is particularly true this year as shore area businessesstruggle to recover from the hurricane.
5.) Weather is more of a factorwhen the seasons are shorter. A sustained period of bad weather can bedisastrous during a shortened season. A longer season provides everyone withmore of an opportunity to reschedule trips that had been cancelled due to badweather.
6.) A 17 ½” – 18” fluke is really hard to catch. I was out on the water manydays last year and in fact logged in numerous fluke trips for the NJ volunteeranglers survey. I might have caught 5 or 6 fluke between 17 ½” and 18” the entire season. Giving up many additional days of fishing just to be able to keep anoccasional 17 ½” – 18”fluke is not worth it.
Regardless if you agree with me ornot, it is important to attend the Council meeting and voice youropinions. The fluke regulations aregoing to be voted on by the Council immediately after the public commentperiod. The meeting will be held at 4Pm on 3/7 at
the GallowayTownship Library on Jimmie Leeds Rd. in Absecon.
PaulHaertel
2ndVP JCAA
NJOArepresentative
BerleleyStriper Club member
NJBBAmember