FLUKE you got what you asked for

[Capt John]

Guess that's easy to say if you don't make your living by fishing or selling bait & tackle? What we might want to do is take all the money we donate to these organizations that have been taking our money for years "helping us achieve a reasonable solution" and start a slush fund to help pay fines for those willing to stay out of compliance! *

RIGHT ON CAPT.....Now you're getting to the real meat of this issue. What the hell happened to "enough is enough" I heard in Pt. Pleasant? What happened to all that tough talk?????

If NJ went out of compliance, as I was told by "someone" very high up, it would eventually go to the Commerce Secretary, which could take a month or two, and he would send it back to NOAA for some kind of solution. By that time the 2017 fluke season would be close to an end. Buy some time and help save a few businesses

Bottom line....NJ was finally taking a stand, win or loose, being out of compliance even for a day. The message would be sent. But no, ASMFC threatens a shutdown and the our reps back down...B/S.

To paraphrase a line from "The Gladiator"....the time for half-measures is over.

[Ryelof]

Originally Posted by Gerry Zagorski

Timing is everything Dan. Although the timing may not have been right this year since this was more of a economic and political battle, I think based on new science, a slot has a better chance of being considered next year..

Lots of moving parts here Dan...Keep the faith, stay informed, share your opinions with others and sooner or later, the cream rises to the top.

Not for nothing Gerry, but we have decreased the quota and increased the size limits for 19 years, it hasn't worked according to "their" data, what makes you think it will change? Which moving parts will stop the insanity? Just saying.

The Science study being done by the SSFFF and reviewd by NMFS could shed additional light on a slot fish. Meanwhile on the Political side, we have bill HR1335 on the table to reform Magnuson.
reform the Magnuson act to give fisheries management

[Reel Class]

I'm sorry, but even someone with a blind eye sees that all of the community's "efforts" that have been made regarding fisheries management have gone literally nowhere. Year after year, lawmakers have been taking away from us, little by little, and now we're faced with basically the bear minimum in terms of what we can take. The next thing is complete closure - just like cod up in New England.

We've been patient, we've seen NO progress. That's the bottom line.

[hammer4reel]

Gerry the point is NOW was the time .
There was never a 3/18 on the table .it is our dep. Trying to maintain some type of fishery instead of taking a closure or the ridicules 2 Fish .

They picked the lesser of all evils . Keeping the size limit as low as they thought they could possibly pass . And are trying to keep enough Fish to sustain guys Fishing for them .

Now was the time to push the slot size Fish to lower the poundage. And keep a few Fish over 19 to appease their false data .

IMO waiting till next year to push for a slot Fish will be harder to sell .

.and while many don't like the shortened season .I believe the shorter end date won't change much .
As while years ago late September and October offered great fishing . Many of the last few year's the fluking really changes by the first week of september