Survey of Summer Flounder Anglers

[RUCoopExt]

Dear Anglers,

We’re conducting an online survey to better understand the fishing practices of anglers targeting summer flounder off New Jersey, including regions fished, fishing tackle used, and practices for handling summer flounder upon capture. This survey is a part of a Rutgers University undergraduate student’s summer research project with the objective of describing anglers’ fishing practices while targeting summer flounder off New Jersey to better understand the impacts of discards and discard mortality and inform fisheries management decision-making. It is estimated that the survey will take approximately 10 minutes to complete. Please click on the following link to complete the survey:

https://rutgers.ca1.qualtrics.com/jf...ZvOoIoegAX0v09

Thank you very much for your interest and willingness to participate in this survey. If you have any questions, then please contact us using the information below.

Thank You,
Max and Doug


Max DiSanto (mfd101@scarletmail.rutgers.edu)
Undergraduate Researcher, Rutgers University

Dr. Douglas Zemeckis (zemeckis@njaes.rutgers.edu | 732-349-1152)
County Agent III (Assistant Professor), Department of Agriculture and Natural Resources, Rutgers University

[bhackemup]

All the surveys so far have done is curtail any possibility of having a productive day on the water. Sea bass is the perfect example. The stock has been restored yet 2 fish is what we get, 1 weakfish, NO blackfish, 3 fluke.

Aquaculture is the the only winner when it comes to fishing regulations and I, personally, am not interested in eating contaminated Talapia which is an invented fish that is fed with contaminated fish food from China and chicken coops over the fish ponds like in Vietnam.

[TerriMc223]

Happy to assist ! I am all for additional research.

[bulletbob]

Originally Posted by TerriMc223

Happy to assist ! I am all for additional research.

Not me.. rest assured, if ANY state run, or state sponsored, or state assisted "survey" is given information it considers "detrimental to the fishery", it WILL be used against recreational fishermen each and every time.. always has been, always will be.

They never have listened to the voice of reason, and will always react in a negative way against the recreational sector.. They always have done so, and always will do so.. Anyone that shares private fishing information with state or federal "fisheries management" needs their head examined.. Where is the funding for this ""survey"" coming from?? .bob

[bulletbob]

This was copied directly from the Rutgers Budget office web site.. It tells you where the money comes from.... bob




The Rutgers Budget

As New Jersey’s premier state university, Rutgers derives its revenue from a mix of private and public sources. Like other public universities, Rutgers relies on government funding as a vital component of its annual budget. Along with tuition and fees, direct state appropriations and state-paid fringe benefits are the primary means of support for the university’s educational offerings.

[Fishin Polski]

Here's a survey for you. How many owners of fishing type recreational boats think that the regulations, that they keep shoving down our throats, have decreased the value of your boat for resale?? No more surveys just decrease the size limit so we don't have to keep killing the breeding fish!!!!

[KMAC]

Originally Posted by RUCoopExt

Dear Anglers,

We’re conducting an online survey to better understand the fishing practices of anglers targeting summer flounder off New Jersey, including regions fished, fishing tackle used, and practices for handling summer flounder upon capture. This survey is a part of a Rutgers University undergraduate student’s summer research project with the objective of describing anglers’ fishing practices while targeting summer flounder off New Jersey to better understand the impacts of discards and discard mortality and inform fisheries management decision-making. It is estimated that the survey will take approximately 10 minutes to complete. Please click on the following link to complete the survey:

https://rutgers.ca1.qualtrics.com/jf...ZvOoIoegAX0v09

Thank you very much for your interest and willingness to participate in this survey. If you have any questions, then please contact us using the information below.

Thank You,
Max and Doug


Max DiSanto (mfd101@scarletmail.rutgers.edu)
Undergraduate Researcher, Rutgers University

Dr. Douglas Zemeckis (zemeckis@njaes.rutgers.edu | 732-349-1152)
County Agent III (Assistant Professor), Department of Agriculture and Natural Resources, Rutgers University

Good catch and release practices are an effective way to preserve fluke stocks. Short to keeper catch ratios can be 10-1 or more with many of those shorts gut hooked. The simple answer is to mandate the use of circle hooks for bait fishing. Survival rates of short fluke released will increase dramatically.

[duranautic al]

Originally Posted by KMAC

Good catch and release practices are an effective way to preserve fluke stocks. Short to keeper catch ratios can be 10-1 or more with many of those shorts gut hooked. The simple answer is to mandate the use of circle hooks for bait fishing. Survival rates of short fluke released will increase dramatically.

the simple answer is NOT to mandate the use of circle hooks...how about lowering the size limit a couple inches?...how many fish have to be handled in order to put a three fish limit in the box?..mandating the use of specific gear(circle hooks) will only lead to more revenue through fines on the average angler...then what?...outlawing the use of Gulp because it works too well??...JUST GIVE US A COUPLE SLOT FISH!!...i know i'd be off the water earlier and not weeding through shorts to try and get that last keeper!

[Short Cast]

I wonder how many hundreds of thousands of our hard earned dollars were given to this "teacher" so he could have a summer job to find out that we go out get, on a boat, chase all over the ocean and bays to catch nada & then go home with nothing?

We're all pushed to the brink with government restrictions, mandates and bad regulatory decisions and practices. We complain about inaccurate data, for that reason I'm not sure it's fair to place blame on people trying to address that through research. Researchers aren't the ultimate decision makers and how or if their findings are used is outside their control. When government is involved, it's my experience to approach everything with a large degree of skepticism as most on this thread have eluded to because normally when they ask you to look left, you should be looking right.

That said, keep in mind the "Summe Flounder Sex and Length" study conducted in 2016 by Rutgers. They're findings were fact based and spot on regarding the ultimate problem this fishery is experiencing and in fact contradicts the management philosophy NMFS in employing with continued increases in size limits. They can only do the research, NMFS will determine if their findings are ultimately factored into future legislation. In my opinion, that's where MSA and politics in general have lead this fishery entirely down the wrong path.

In the end, Rutgers study might be the pivotal research that finally gives us the slot limit we've been asking for. I say that with guarded optimism but believe we'll see it within the next 2 - 3 years but if we don't it's not the fault of the people who put the time and effort in conducting the research.