Fluke Options Poll

[cool hand fluke]

Good points Allen but I think some of the #18 inch 8 fish options are drawing votes away from others.

If there was only one 18 inch 8 bag option in poll my guess is its lead would be substanital over the 17.5 option

Whatever it is, can't wait til fluke season

Al

[Gerry Zagorski]

Cool hand makes a good point.

I also would like to see us be able to keep 17.5 inch fish because you know most of the decent size fish we get are going to be right on that mark.

However, I'd much rather have the longest season possible to keep the fishery open. I think it's better for business and it gives me an option to fish for them when the fishery would otherwise be closed.

One other point I'd like to make.... As much as we all don't like to see a fishery limited by closures and size regs, I think the Fluke and Striper fishery has improved over time in terms of size and numbers because of these limits. We just need to continue to make sure the science behind the fisheries is not flawed and that the special interests groups don't influence the regs.

[Reel Class]

Originally Posted by cool hand fluke

Good points Allen but I think some of the #18 inch 8 fish options are drawing votes away from others.

If there was only one 18 inch 8 bag option in poll my guess is its lead would be substanital over the 17.5 option

Whatever it is, can't wait til fluke season

Al

Very true Al, good point.

[Sparky4711]

70% of my trips are in the bay so I'm for # 5 but to make everyone happy, 2@15.5 and 5@18 to easy!!!!!!

[Sparky4711]

2@17.5 and 5@18

[Pete]

Not sure. I can recall reading that most fish 18" and over are prime egglaying aged females. If that is the case then wouldn't we be killing off the "breeders" with 8@ 18"? Not trying to cause a shytestorm here, but if in fact this is what science tells us. Then why do we want to kill those fish off in greater numbers?

Naturally, we'd be killing off prospective breeders at 17.5" 16" or even 15" for that matter. But, if we continued to take those 18" survivors with a higher bag, wouldn't we then be eliminating the future juvenile stocks? Which in turn would lead to a kind of, ought oh, here we go again, greater size limits with smaller bag.

I have to assume that through all the hard work done by the SSFFF in getting the proper numbers looked at. And, the possible season bag and size limits proposed. That with any option, the fishery can bear the projected numbers and sustain in future years.

In bygone years October has been very productive with very good catches put together. Yeah you had to work for them but, there was a lot less pressure on them as others were after different species.

I mostly bay fish now so I'd like to see a 17.5" size and the diminished bag of five wouldn't overly anger me. But, I fully understand the call for the longest season with the highest bag.

No matter what is decided, one thing is for sure. There will be plenty of bitching to go around. There isn't a one size fits all option. I really wish there was.