Fluke Options Poll

[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".