Some Comments on Fluke

[Fish The Drop Off]

Originally Posted by socks

Where do you fish out of Capt.? It was the best option for all of NJ anglers?
Back bay? Ocean? Surf?
So where do you think that the majority of the 17.5-17.99in. fish will make their home for the fluke season ?
1. Backbay
2. Surf
3. Ocean

Only pick one PLEASE.

I fish out of What I call Central NJ. I can fish out of BI or LEI. I can't just pick one since I fish all of them accept the surf.

[Fish The Drop Off]

Originally Posted by Garone Custom Rods

Survey says WRONG!

Garone custom rods,
Please remember that site has a following that comes from North NJ. You can see this buy the list of charter boats that are on the site. The poll that was run on this site option 2 and 5 were very close.

[Jay]

It is what it is. Changing the subject, Capt Fran, I know it's ealy but looking forward to the RFA trips this year, keep me posted. Thanks.

[mickrazz]

Originally Posted by Cuz

No one loves to catch fluke more than me. It's been an obsession since I was five years old. In 1955 my great-Uncle Joe and my second cousin Richard Human who lived on Jamaica Bay, L.I. built a wooden 16' boat together in their garage. I learned how to fluke fish from them in that boat. There weren't any size or bag limits. They still just kept decent size fish and just enough to eat. Maybe we ALL should go back to those days and not keep so many fish. No one said we have to catch limits every time we sail. I've seen so many pictures on this site of limit catches it got to be annoying.

I'm happy for all the children who are going fishing on a party boat this year. I witnessed a father, mother, son and daughter on the Sea Tiger this past July catching fluke. Every time the kids caught a fish it was under 18". They were getting frustrated. The daughter, about eight years old, kept asking her dad why all their fish had to be thrown back. I figured the father paid over $100 bucks for their half day excursion. They didn't get to take any fish home.
I spoke to the father who swore he would not do this again. It saddened me to no end. And I have been very upset about it. I imagined as a little boy going fishing with my great-uncle and his son and not bringing a 'bragging' (any size) fish home. I wouldn't be fishing today.

So to all the youngsters, who are going to be able to keep a fluke or two, and to all the party boat captains who hopefully get returned fares, have a great fluke season!

Nice post Cuz. I agree with you. 5 fish at 17.5 is a very nice bag of fillets to take home. I think the headboats will do well with repeat customers that have a much better chance to bring home some meat. Whats with everyone getting their panties in a bunch? Is it REALLY necessary to bring home 8 fluke? Can anyone give me a GOOD reason why 5 fish isn't enough?

[Angler Paul]

I thought the Board stated that the "NJ Volunteer Program" was the "science" that they used, not MRFFFFFSSSSSSSSSS ???__________________

Either the MRFSS or the NJVAS may be used in developing regulations. Usually the MRFSS data is used but for the fluke regualtions in 2011, NJVAS data was used. The NJMFC may use either provided all the options are approved by the ASMFC. I am glad you brought that up because our state biologists are urging fishermen to particiapate in the program. They particularly request that occaisional and less experienced fishermen take the survey so that the data does not become skewed by the more experienced fishermen. Last year I logged in 182 trips, which whas more than anyone in the state. The more data they receive, the more accurate if becomes. This info. is used to help the fishermen of NJ, not hurt them. The NJMFC will usually opt to use the most favorable data for us whether it comes from the MRFSS or or the NJVAS. PLEASE help out by participating in the survey by logging in your trips at the link below.

Paul
2nd VP JCAA
member - BSC, NJOA, NJBBA, SF


http://www.njfishandwildlife.com/marinesurvey.htm

[Jay]

Originally Posted by mickrazz

Nice post Cuz. I agree with you. 5 fish at 17.5 is a very nice bag of fillets to take home. I think the headboats will do well with repeat customers that have a much better chance to bring home some meat. Whats with everyone getting their panties in a bunch? Is it REALLY necessary to bring home 8 fluke? Can anyone give me a GOOD reason why 5 fish isn't enough?

Exactly! I couldn't agree more. First of all, how many times does actually anyone limit out anyway?

[dales529]

Been tied up way too long with work (not complaining mind you) but have been following whats going on and especially with this thread.

As differing opinions are as common as fishing reports on here with what option was chosen by the board that is all well and good. There is no way any option picked was going to appease everyone so its no suprise that there is a divide. personally I would have gone with option 2 but again thats the benefit of having "choices" to discuss and vote on.

What is really disturbing is the lack of memory when it comes to how those "choices" were arrived at. Without the tireless work of some that are being bashed here you would never have had a reason to post your thoughts. To even remotely pin blame on any fishing group that represents the best interest of NJ anglers is disgusting to say the least. Do you forget the 99% of all the good that has gone on with Fluke quotas, seasons etc because you dont like the vote??? Last year the Back bay, Surf guys were pissed. This year otheres are pissed. Guess what we all won before hand by even having a choice. The votes were by personal anglers NOT Groups.

The work that goes on ahead of giving you a "choice" is what counts and you are all damn lucky we had a choice. To see comment on where do i send my money now or I am no longer going to support so and so is beyond my comprehension because you obviously dont understand what the real issues are and WHO is fighting for YOU.

Jay: Not to worry, RFA-NJ trips will be posted up soon.

[Garone Custom Rods]

Originally Posted by Fish The Drop Off

Garone custom rods,
Please remember that site has a following that comes from North NJ. You can see this buy the list of charter boats that are on the site. The poll that was run on this site option 2 and 5 were very close.

Yes site may have a North Jersey Bias but thats because there are WAY more people up north.

[buckfin732]

The reason 5 Fluke is not enough.First off i spend my hard earned money to fluke fish,love to eat it year round and pack my freezer with it.Why are we giving up bag limit to a fishery the is rebuilt and then some i just dont get it.I dont want to hear how frozen fish sucks cause that is just opnion so you have no argument there.Second when is the last time you have seen a bag limit go except for last year with fluke and that was because we had to donate a butload of money to hire private people to debunk state science.At this point we will have to donate for every species that we fish for Save the Fluke,Flonder,Sea Bass,Porgies,Blackfish,Weakfish and anyhig else that swims in the water what a joke.Someone stated that with the price of a trip you could buy alot of fish in the store i like to catch my own all while relaxing on the water.That is the complacent attitude that gets the bag limit droped the "Thank God we still have a season for them " please.And if its just about the sport then maybe the party boats should put that on their signs at the boats so all the wally weekenders will know before they board.That will go over like a fart in church There is no guarantee for fish no matter what size limit there is.

[Gerry Zagorski]

Exactly Dales.....

The way I look at this is we might not have had any Fluke season if organizations like the RFA and SSFFF and individuals like Adam, Fran and Tony who volunteer their time had not been involved.

Lastly, we are all on the same team. Do we have differing opinions on the options, sure...Would I have preffered option 2, yep but that does not does not mean I'm going to through my brother under the bus because he has minor difference of opinion to mine. We need to keep in mind the bigger picture here. Our rights to fish are under constant pressure and common sense tells me we would not be as effective if we tried to protect them individually. We need to do it as part of the team.

There is no "I" in TEAM and Together Everyone Accomplishes More. It's the big stuff we need to stay united on and we can't let the little things divide us.