Summer flounder rules in for revamp

[rumster]

Originally Posted by emcjim

Thanks for your suggestion, Tuna John. I just sent the following comment. Feel free to copy and paste the parts that you agree with.

Fluke stocks must be re-building. My log shows that I caught more in 2014 than in any other year. On many trips in Northern NJ, however, keepers were few, or none, because the vast majority were less than the 18” minimum. Comments:
1. Please use stock data and catch data from the same year. In the past, this apparently was not done. Catch data should be available for the most recent year (2014), but do not use it unless you also have a stock assessment for 2014. Otherwise, we anglers are unfairly penalized for a re-building fishery.
2. Please recognize the economic impact of the recreational fishery for fluke. Commercial fishermen may have a stronger lobby than we sport fishermen. However, recognize that many people make their living in the recreational fishing Industry. Party-boat captains, charter-boat captains, their crew members, bait-and-tackle shop owners, and their employees, owners and employees of boat-building companies, marina owners, and their employees. So it’s not one man’s livelihood versus another man’s “sport” -- it’s one industry versus another industry. I believe the recreational industry has a much larger gross revenue that the commercial industry, and therefore the recreational fishermen should be allocated more than half, perhaps 60%, of the total allowable catch.
3. Regional regulations are a good idea. Combining NJ, NY and CT for 2014 made sense to me – I hope this continues.
4. The present bag limit is 5. I personally would be willing to reduce the bag limit to 4, while lowering the minimum size to 17”.

Why in gods name would you automatically agree to a decrease in the bag limit??? It`s sad that the fishing community has been beaten senseless with ridiculous regulations based upon faulty data to the point that we suggest decreasing our bag limits further. I appreciate your enthusiasm and agree that something has to be done, but if we as the fishing community are to roll over and openly suggest decreasing our own bag limits we are done. There has to be a better option.

[Joey Dah Fish]

I have one word for all government agencies. Arrrrrr

[BCinerie]

Never give up fish! Eventually we will be out of business!

[tuna john]

Thanks... seems like the easier it is the more people will do it.
Have to agree don't want to give up fish either.
We need to get feedback from some party boat captains, JCAA/RFA folk as well and make one comment that benefits all of us, obviously we all won't agree on everything but I think our goal is all the same. With all the members and lurkers if we all cut and paste it can be a lot of comments received.

I think it Should include the bad data used to make limits , economics, and recreational loss. Im not a good writer nor do i have all the facts but i think ecmjim has a good start.

[emcjim]

So far comments are on reducing the bag limit. Perhaps I should have worded that differently. "In any negotiation, to get something, you have to give up something. To get the size limit reduced to 17", I would agree to reduce the bag limit from 5 to 4". After seeing the comments, I think that is better wording.

[BCinerie]

You have to give to get? We give up fish and get what ? To keep smaller fish ? Bullsh*t!
Those who ask for more get more! We want what Is right. More fish longer seasons and a reasonable and correct size limit! We need a more progressive size and limit structure including slot fish and trophy fish etc!


Never give up fish!

[Reelron]

A couple years ago we gave up a fish to get a 1/2 inch lower size limit. How did that work out for ya? The limit rose and we never got that fish back, that's how that worked out!

If you continue to go ahead with giving up a fish every couple years, to get the size limit lowered how many years will you have left to be able to fish for fluke! The math is pretty simple there fellas! But maybe instead of doing the math you should do you homework. Take some time out of your life and go to the meetings with a reasonably prepared statement and be heard! Don't wait for someone else to do it for you.