Re: Extended Winter Flounder Season?
 

Dan,

Couldn't agree with you more. I remember growing up in the 70's and 80's I'd fish with my family all winter long for flounder, even with three feet of snow on the ground. We always caught fish. This was from the shore, not a boat with 10 lbs of chum! Fished mostly Shark River at what is now the boat launch, and when the fish moved out of there we headed to a street parallel with the Pt Pleasant Canal, think it was Maxon St. When the flounder migration was in full gear, we'd fish the wall at the Pt Pleasant Inlet or fish the at the Shark River Inlet. It was common to catch 40 to 50 flounder a day and remember some trips pushing a hundred or more fish. We never took that many as mom and dad were sticklers about taking only what we could eat. My point is there were just as many recreational guys fishing those days and the flounder fishing EVERY year was just lights out. You'd catch, many 2, 3 and 4 lb fish and you would equally catch MANY what we called postage stamps....small flounder that could barely swallow a blood or sand worm. Very solid cross section of varying years classes which is one sign of a very healthy fishery.

And now we have today. I can't help but think once again that our beloved flounder fishery has succumb to the commercial netting pressures while off shore. Back in the 70's and 80's there were just as many bass and blues around so I don't think the fall off in this fishery is due to predatory changes in the food chain. Like whiting and every other species we discuss, if you don't protect the stock and eat into the critical mass needed to perpetuate their numbers, you end up with what we have today. It couldn't be any sadder than what has happened with the flounder stock as they ALWAYS represented the beginning of the season, were great for families to fish, excellent fish to get your children started in the sport (plentiful and easy to catch) and they could reel them in, you didn't back then have to spend an arm and a leg to fish for them and a boat wasn't necessary. It was a tradition of sorts for many families to dust off the cob webs of winter and prepare for the season ahead. PLUS they are absolutely great table fare, far better in my opinion than their cousin the fluke!

It's disgusting to be talking about 1 - 2 fish creel limits, closed seasons, sand and blood worms which cost a dollar a piece to use for bait (one of the most insane things I've ever witnessed) and a resource which is a shadow of what it once was and what it still could be if this world got it's act together. One by one we see these very important resources pushed to the brink and nothing ever seems to change. Sad we never learn from our mistakes! Would still look forward to an open season with 2 fish but man it's beyond belief what has happened to this fishery! And as Hammer pointed out in his earlier post, this is after a series of closed seasons! I still wonder what goes on of shore during these closed seasons!

Dakota

Re: Extended Winter Flounder Season?
 

Sad part is we think there doing us a favor!

Re: Extended Winter Flounder Season?
 

The are still there you just got to be in the right place at the right time of the year. Nobody really fishes for them anymore I can't understand why? I can be very happy with 2 fish Jerry on the Monger used to fish early in the season for them. I loved those trips we always limited out & I never had a problem getting my limit of tasty fillets of nice sized flatties. I hope he does it again I know that when you fish for the stripers back in the keyport flats by the clam boats there are flounder mixed in with the bass you just got to fish for them.

Re: Extended Winter Flounder Season?
 

Doug, Did it for decades but at two flounder nobody want's to book a charter exclusively for flounder.If we are bass fishing on the Keyport flats we put a couple flounder rods out in April.As many charter boat capts. have expressed ''flounder bait is the most expensive''.Chum logs and worms are a fortune.Flat of worms,16 chum logs,bag of mussels=$80-$100.Ouch!!!!

Re: Extended Winter Flounder Season?
 

I agree the bait prices are expensive but if your chumming for the bass you don't need the logs. I used to use just the stings of fresh clams. I also used to die the strings ahead of time & re freeze the clams in no salt so they come out soft. I also used shedder oil on them before freezing them as well. This worked out very well. I also used to make my own chum logs out of cat food & yellow rice very easy to do & not very expensive either. But if I do bass fish this spring I'm bringing a flounder rod & I'm dead sticking it looking for the flaties. Just leave he price on the worms for your customers to pay for. Tell them there is the possibility of some flounder in the mix with the bass if you want pay the for the worms buy them ahead of time. Also I have caught the flounder on gulp bloodworms they work & I even caught them on nightcrawlers as well both inexpensive alternatives that do work.

Re: Extended Winter Flounder Season?
 

Today is the day. The New Jersey Marine Fisheries Commission is expected to approve a year round season at their meeting today, March 6th. If signed it still has to be signed off by DEo Comish. Let's get 'er done!

Re: Extended Winter Flounder Season?
 

Anyone offering a flounder trip? head boat or Charter?

Re: Extended Winter Flounder Season?
 

I would assume if it is open in the summer, the Paramount will be making a drop or two on the 10 1/2 hr trips to try to get people their two jumbos.

Re: Extended Winter Flounder Season?
 

Is there a chance it will open up tomorrow or do we still have to wait a couple of weeks ?

Re: Extended Winter Flounder Season?
 

Federal waters are open State water has to go before DEP and then be voted on may not be till end of this season