2024 and 2025 Fluke Options Poll

[Broad Bill]

Hammer we're in complete agreement on this. No way are recreational discards anywhere near commercial discards in either absolute numbers or as a percentage of catch or landings. North Carolina and Virginia make up just about 50% of the annual commercial harvest and I assume the 7 day boats you're referring to are from those states. They destroyed the southern stock, fish primarily during fall / winter months as well as during the spawn when fish are in highly concentrated schools and most vulnerable to netting. The waste from their netting I'd bet the ranch exceeds their entire catch quota for the entire year which is a disgrace in how this fishery is being managed. And yes, fish the recreational sector are forced to release are harvested or killed by commercials in their offshore migration in the fall, inshore migration in the spring or while stacked up wintering offshore. It's exactly the same reason we lost the winter flounder fishery, no stock can be pounded year round and during the spawn and survive. This one won't either so truthfully next week's meeting to me is anti-climatic because decisions as always have already been made and none of the options will address what's ailing this fishery if management doesn't address commercial regulations and the multitude of negative impacts their practices are having on the stock. In the big picture once again, the recreational angler is going to get the proverbial short end of the stick and nothing is being done for two more years to address the issues effecting the fishery.