Fluke Options Poll

[Scoundrel]

As I don't get to get out as much as I would like, I would like the 5 fish 17.5 inch regulation. As has been said, Mid September on it always seems as if a storm kills the Fluke fishing. 17.5 would also make a lot more kids smile as their fish gets thrown in the keeper box.
Another factor is fuel prices. It is alot easier to justify my fishing expenses when I come home with a bag full(hopefully) of fillets. I don't need 8. 20 fillets on a limit trip would be great.

[hammer4reel]

like option 2,From looking at my logs , we used to be winter flounder fishing until almost May, so I see no reason for us guys up north to want to have an early season start.
might be becuase I bass fish much more but I see the third week and later as the earliest I started to fluke fish , and def caught WAY more fish in the channels in October than I ever caught fishing even the last wek in May
be nice to fish the dep channels on October like we used to . Was a little less traffic then but LOTS of nice quality fish. only thing that hurts that time of the year is unstable weather can push the fish out quick.

but would give us something to still fish for till the fall bass run gets underway
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[redbraid]

After the first big storm in early or mid Sept fluking will be done anyway. Personally dont like to eat the bigger fish. Plus the 17 1/2" gives the guys on the surf a better chance to home some fish. Remember not everyone fishes from a boat.

[FishNDoc]

I truly believe that we all owe much to the people that finally got things going in the right direction, especially with the SSFFF. The party boat captains who are fighting for their livelihood deserve our support. I would vote for the option that they think is the best. They have earned it. My best guess would be # 5.

[Ryan W]

Originally Posted by FishNDoc

I truly believe that we all owe much to the people that finally got things going in the right direction, especially with the SSFFF. The party boat captains who are fighting for their livelihood deserve our support. I would vote for the option that they think is the best. They have earned it. My best guess would be # 5.

Agreed. Have not talked to any of the other deckhands or captains, but I STRONGLY feel that we will benefit most from option #5. I have yet to see anyone get more than 5 keepers on a half-day trip (think bunker dunker did it last year, but I wasn't working that trip). We will not be fluking past the end of september anyways, that is tuna season, and I can't see us fluking before may 5th. From my perspective option 5 is the only option.

Everyone wanted the longer season last year instead of more fish to take home and then fluking was dun-dun-dun-duuuun around labor day.

Those that say "if we give up fish, we will never get them back" are a lot of the same people who said that if we gave up size we'd never get that back too. We've got the opportunity to get size back right here without having a 2 day long season and we got fish back last year.

[Islander II]

Option 2 seems to be the best, to me.

[cool hand fluke]

I like option 4 - my experience is ocean water isn't warm enough for fluke until around Memorial Day. However, real key for me is keeping bag at 8 fish .
I understand some fish bays and rivers early on but that's not my preference.

Also, I enjoy the October shot at doormats.

Seems most of us want one of the 8 fish options so far in the poll.

Al

[joeya78]

option 4 the larger fish are hard to find sometimes in early may, but usually by the end of may they are there. October deep ocean

[CTW]

Option 5, fits in with our typical weather patterns and will or at least should provide for some fish being taken home in light of the previous years limits. The party and charter boats need this as well.

[Knot Guilty]

Trying to have some forward thinking. If some think it's easier to catch a 17.5"
fluke than an 18" you are right. That goes with all other size limits on all other fish as well. If you think you can limit out on more trips, you may be right.
Will we meet our quota faster, you're right again. Will they close the season early, right again. Will the party and charter guys lose booked trips, right again.