Some Comments on Fluke

[CaptTB]

Originally Posted by captadamnj

In the "game" of MRFSS, NY played the game by keeping the season long, long, long. The Council did the exact opposite yesterday of what has gotten NY in trouble.

That's not totally accurate Adam. The start of NY's troubles and the continuation of them resulted from constantly RAISING their size limit to keep season or extend it. NJ was not looking to increase size for season but maintain it. NY has since maintained or increased its season but with a VERY high size limit, much higher than NJ. I know I do not need to explain to you the difference in weight of a 20+ inch fish vs. an 18" fish and what that means to a states landings.

In addition, while you are correct about seasonal guidance from ASMFC staff, you will also recall that going down in size is always cautioned since they have little to no data to tell them what will happen. There has always been a caution that they cannot accurately predict (a relative term in fisheries management to be sure but you know what I mean in this context) what effect it will have.

I could go on with the previous cautions given byu tech staff every year there has been proposals to drop size limits, but I know you are aware of them already.

MRFSS is always a crap shoot, that is for sure!