Re: FISHERMEN/Capt. Ron
My take is a little simpler and I know will anger some.. I personally thing we have caught and eaten too many,, Same with winter flounder,whiting, tog, sea bass, weaks... The pressure that fluke are subject to in the NY Bight is unreal.. Those fish are not everywhere.. They are in specific areas where they have the right conditions to survive well.. That includes food, temps, shelter, oxygen, and whatever else they require. Trouble is, these areas are well known these days, and are subject to intense commercial and recreational fishing..
Think about it guys.. Areas without the massive human population still have good fluke fishing... Rhode Island, Montauk, parts of Mass.. The bays and rivers down south are still loaded as well, although the fish are smaller... These fish in the NY/NJ metro area get hammered relentlessly.. On any given day there are thousands and thousand of guys catching fluke, and this is day after day, week after week, from May until the season closes.. then the commercial guys go offshore and get them... I have never seen anything like the masses of boats and anglers we are seeing these days, for just about anything that swims in salt water.. Its odd, at a time when I am seeing less and less fresh water fishermen, I am seeing ever increasing numbers of salt water fishermen... I usually fish on head boats on Monday or tuesday so i don't have to deal with crowds.. However even on a plain old Monday , I am going on bottom boats that are all railed up by 6:30 am.. Back in the 80's the same boats might have carried 15 people, or 20 tops, on a Monday.. I dunno, I just think the fish we seek are just under too much pressure.. More regulations???.. I think not, .. A little more self control among individuals?.. maybe... Wish I had the wisdom to solve the issue.... I'm not that bright however... bob
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