Fluke Options Poll

[NoWorries]

Everyone seems to only see this from their own view. Fluke quotas are established with an average catch per fisherman per day. This year I believe it was 1.5 fluke per day. Reducing the size will certainly increase that number to the point where I believe we will over harvest and pay for it next year. We're very close to rebuilding this fishery.

[Reel Class]

Originally Posted by NoWorries

Everyone seems to only see this from their own view. Fluke quotas are established with an average catch per fisherman per day. This year I believe it was 1.5 fluke per day. Reducing the size will certainly increase that number to the point where I believe we will over harvest and pay for it next year. We're very close to rebuilding this fishery.

Excellent point.

[Fish The Drop Off]

Originally Posted by NoWorries

Everyone seems to only see this from their own view. Fluke quotas are established with an average catch per fisherman per day. This year I believe it was 1.5 fluke per day. Reducing the size will certainly increase that number to the point where I believe we will over harvest and pay for it next year. We're very close to rebuilding this fishery.

I believe if we go with a 17.5 fish the harvest will go up to 2.3 or 2.4 per person. It could be a very large increase in looking at the BIG Picture.

I personal would love to get a smaller fish since weather over the last five years has shut down the fluke fishing in Sept. One or two good storms in Sept will be the end of fluke fishing.

[Lard Almighty]

I voted for 8 fish @ 18 inches May 5 – Oct 21. Longer season, highest bag limit, good for the captains. I like the later start because the boats will still get plenty of business in April from stripers.

As for people believing the best way to fill the freezer is 17 and 17.5 inch fish, you are right that it would be easier. However, the 18 inch-plus fish are there; the sharpies in the bow almost always catch the majority of them on any party boat. Maybe no one wants to admit that catching a keeper fluke is more challenging than just robotically dropping squid/spearing to the bottom?

[jwstand]

As the father of 3 young children 8, 6, 5 I would like to see a more attainable keeper. I took my boys out 3 times last year, and though they caught a few fish they were massively disappointed they could not bring home dinner for mommy. From the sheer number of just missed a keeper fish caught over the past 2 years it seems the bio-mass is in good order. I prefer a management that protects the breeding stock as the most valued commodity. It has worked well in FL and LA for multiple species!

I grant I am not the world's finest fluke fisherman, certainly closer to the bottom, but:

Dad to fish $50. 3 kids to fish $120. Tackle, drinks, sandwiches for trip $40. Coming home with no dinner for mommy $200 shopping trip for her! My kids - "mommy we caught you dinner!!" Priceless! AND a recommendation we go out AGAIN!!!

So yes, my interest in the smaller size is self-serving, but also in the hope my children will grow up appreciating the resource we have at our back door, as well as the importance of respecting credible attempts to maintain and protect it for ALL to enjoy, not just the most skilled amongst us (me not being one of them!).

[Bates]

I fully understand the desire to get the size limit down so those 17.9in fish you released last year will go in the box and any keeper is better than none. But, if history is correct, about a month into the season we will hear, why do I have to throw back 17 3/8ths inch fish, we need a lower limit. Do you really think there are that many 17.5-18in fish out there that they will carry the party boat fleet through the season? If the fleet, party and private, takes 15 to 150 fish each trip the resource is going to be depleated pretty quickly.

[reason162]

And that's why 1 slot fish @ 17 or 17.5" is the compromise, NOT juggling the bag vs. size limit.

[Capt. Debbie]

Chris,

Agree- but you never know.

But my point is that you CAN fish and keep. Actually getting keepers in the boat are a whole other matter. But that goes without saying. It's more for the PB's that I like it. On your own boat/charter you can go for whatever you want. Fluke is just another option.

PB's will obviously not target an out of season fish. And the angling skills for catching Taug and fuke are a universe apart. So having a longer season gets occassional flukers back. Hard core blackfisherman are a different breed.

Last year we had the huricane blow through and everyone yanked their boats and few put them back in. While on the tow boat and my own boat you could see private vessel fishing traffic was WAY down after the first week of Sept. 2011. Bait shops said the same.

The weather does kill opps. But the PB's are ready to go everyday. Let them add Fluke to casual fisherman customer. Hardcore fishermen will be looking stripers and later Taug in the Fall.

The longer season makes a great transition from Fluke to blacks. Don't you think- at least from a PB perspective?

Originally Posted by Chris G

Capt Frank, I combined both you're replies.

A longer season (as dictated by this past season) does not necessarily mean that you will get to fish & catch. This past year we got what everyone wanted, a longer season (and a larger bag limit) but in the grand scheme of things meant nothing once Irene showed up. 2 days prior to Irene was the last time we caught any signifigant amount of fish. Furthermore, the interest for fluke fishing dwindled... not only from lack of fish, but also from people recovering from the hurricane. So, just because you have a longer season, doesn't mean you'll actually get to utilize the alotted time. Grant it, hurricanes are rare but NE'ers and residual hurricane effects are not.

Also, it may be "most popular fish for targeting" but really the majority of the fluke clientle/business is from Memorial Day to Labor Day. I'm not saying that people like you and I (fisherman) wouldn't target them before or after, but from a business stand point that's when you're going to see most people (IMO).

I know you mentioned that this is a mild winter, and it's hard to imagine but, but alot can happen from now until late April.

Overall, I would just rather see more people go home with fish for dinner during the height of the season, than gamble on a longer season during two of the more unpredictable months of the year. When people go home with something to eat, it actually brings people back. It gives them hope. I don't about you Frank, but i'm pretty tired of hearing "Last time I was out I caught (insert some ridiculous number here) of fluke & not a SINGLE keeper".

[Ram 204]

Oprion # 2 appeals the most to me the larger fish are there its a matter of being in right place at the right time

[River Rat]

Option #2 for me... shocked at how many folks are willing to reduce the bag limit. Once we give those 3 fish up may never get em back.