Commercial Fluke Quota
 

The weekly catch per boat for February is 6,000 lbs. per week. That’s about 3,000+ fish per boat per week. Simple math puts the possibility of one boat catching 12,000 fluke in a month. Keep doing the math and see what possible totals you can come up with. Juggle some numbers and add ten commercial boats into the mix. How many fluke would they possibly take in a week ( discounting any and all culls )? Now, how many recreational and charter/party boats would it take to catch the same amount?

It’s just something to consider. There’s no need to start this commercial/recreational conversation again, but it does make you think. Perhaps the regulators will look at the possibilities and do some realistic math.


https://www.state.nj.us/dep/fgw/pdf/...od01-26-22.pdf

Re: Commercial Fluke Quota
 

This is secondhand information I got from someone I talked to at the wholesale level about 15 years ago. At the time I was informed they were paying about $3 for small, $4 for medium and $5 for large size fluke. If you're coming in with 6000lbs of fluke do you want to get $18,000, $24,000 or $30,000? Keeping the large breeders and throwing back the smaller ones which are probably going to die is a lot more profitable and would make a lot more sense from an economic standpoint so saving the breeders with a recreational slot fish is silly. Like I said secondhand info.

Re: Commercial Fluke Quota
 

Recreational folks don't have lobbyists who are as effective as the commercial guys! There are a lot more of us (recreational) then there are commercials!

Re: Commercial Fluke Quota
 

Correct , that’s because recreational anglers won’t put the money up to fight for their interests .
The commercial fleet has no problem each throwing THOUSANDS of dollars each to fight their case .

99% of Recreational fisherman won’t throw 5 bucks .


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Re: Commercial Fluke Quota
 

i think folks would give more if they were given more.the last time i can remember
the rec guys getting anything in their favor was the 200 mile limit and that because the comm guys were on board.the gov makes way more money on the comm peeps there for it always falls there way.mind over matter!!!!

Re: Commercial Fluke Quota
 

We had a lobbyist last year the NJ Chapter of the RFA paid for and we are in the midst of finalizing a contract with another lobby group as we speak.

If anyone would like to support this effort see Dales post and click on the link to donate https://www.njfishing.com/forums/sho...d.php?t=116611

Re: Commercial Fluke Quota
 

You need to do more than lobby. You need to set up PACs. Politicians want money in return for their votes. That's why the teachers' union and CWA give millions each election cycle in NJ.

Re: Commercial Fluke Quota
 

I tried getting my charter customers to join the RFA and donate to SSFF. Most of them didn't even know what they were??? The people that visit this site are informed for the most part but do not assume all recreational fishermen are. Some think it is only the for hire people that should

Re: Commercial Fluke Quota
 

It still comes down to a small group of individuals making decisions that affect the livelihoods and recreational opportunities of us all. The decisions they make are deeply seated in traditional practices. There is no motivation for them to change distribution quotas that have remained pretty much the same for many, many years. Any change in the status quo would require them to think and evaluate and question the goals of the committee. This is the epitome of "group-think" which is commonplace in any organization, especially one that does not meet on a daily or weekly or monthly basis.

It's quicker and easier to simply agree with what has been done before. There is no time or room for personal reflection on the part of the committee members. Don't expect anything to change unless those individual committee members are approached with convincing evidence that would change their minds. It's not that they can't think. It's that they don't ask enough questions within their committee. They never seem to question or change their mission statement.

When a group thinks like a group and not as informed individuals and when they are afraid to break ranks, nothing changes nor does anything get done. It's a political arm of the government that answers only to themselves. What do you expect?

I'm sure the members think they are somehow saving the fish stocks by their decisions. But, when their decisions are predetermined, they will stubbornly stick to the status quo and not budge. Someone within the voting group has to pause and at least consider the facts and data that have been reported so thoroughly on this site by Tom. That might be the wedge in the log jam that we have been facing.

I'm only dreaming to think that the committee might look at the successes of their decisions to rebuild the fluke stocks over so many years. No one on any of those panels can truthfully answer that their regulations of the last 20+ years have restored anything. Why should I be surprised at their thought process when it reflects every bit of the political accountability that is absent in Washington or Trenton or your local government? No one will admit that they might have done something wrong or that their program is not working as it was supposed to. It's juvenile, and immature and wrong!

Re: Commercial Fluke Quota
 

And this is why we all need to get and stay involved.... Too many people say it makes no difference, why attend meetings they do what they want to do.. Point in case we're talking about a big reduction in Black Seabass and only one recreational person in the ASMFC spoke up at the meeting?

As far as Summer Flounder, I think they are listening because people spoke up and as a result I think we have a really good chance of getting a slot fish in our regs...

People can sit on the couch if they want but the other groups won't... You need to lead, follow or get out of the way and make your voices heard! If you don't (not directing this at you Bill) you're part of the problem, not the solution.

If you want change get involved!