Looks Like Fluke Option 5 Passed

[Leif]

Great, we can keep less and they are smaller and the season is shorter??

That makes sense.

Leif

[Rich Pfish]

I can see the PB and 6 pack reports already.

"Come on down, limits all around the boat, over 200 keepers landed today. The bucktailers in the bow limited out in the first hour. We were back at the dock early."

What B.S.

[Dave A]

So let me get this straight...nobody seems to have wanted option 5 but except for a few of us, nobody thought it was important enough to take off time and go to the meeting. A few more in favor of 18" and the longer season would have made the difference. And while I'm at it, SHAME on all of my fellow industry members that did not go. For those who don't know, I have a "non-sponsor" tackle shop in Brielle. Where were all the other tackle shop owners, sponsors and non-sponsors? From what I saw, there were 2 other non-sponsor tackle shops represented. Also, there were only 3 pb captains from between Atlantic Highlands and Barnegat Light and 2 of them don't even fluke fish. Where were the rest of you? I am sick and tired of attending meetings and then listening to or reading gripes and complaints from all of you that never take the time to try and make a difference.

[CaptTB]

Originally Posted by Dave A

So let me get this straight...nobody seems to have wanted option 5 but except for a few of us, nobody thought it was important enough to take off time and go to the meeting. A few more in favor of 18" and the longer season would have made the difference. And while I'm at it, SHAME on all of my fellow industry members that did not go. For those who don't know, I have a "non-sponsor" tackle shop in Brielle. Where were all the other tackle shop owners, sponsors and non-sponsors? From what I saw, there were 2 other non-sponsor tackle shops represented. Also, there were only 3 pb captains from between Atlantic Highlands and Barnegat Light and 2 of them don't even fluke fish. Where were the rest of you? I am sick and tired of attending meetings and then listening to or reading gripes and complaints from all of you that never take the time to try and make a difference.

I feel your pain and frustration Dave.

As Dave said, 2 of the partyboat captains in attendance don't fluke fish but understand the ramifications of our choices to both that fishery and others. Coincidentally they were both related to me

Thanks Butchie, Howard and Jeff for going, especially my brother since I could not go and he went in my place(I was on the boat with the Coast Guard until after 4:00 today for our annual topside inspection)

Understanding that the average fisherman will not typically take off from work early to go to a fisheries meeting that does not change the fact that there were MANY of the fluke boat captains from up and down the NJ coast that were conspicuously absent.

I am sure they will be the first ones to bitch.

[Mike K]

We're going to catch so many fluke this year that in 2013 the size limit will be 28" and the season one day - July 4th.

(Lighten up guys)

[Life's A Beach]

njfishing.com
site has 5727 active registered members
108 million hits per year
36K unique visitors per month
~ 70 sponsors; party boat, charter boat and tackle shops
248 votes; NON hidden ballots
32% Option 5
37% Option 2
65% 18" fish agregate
Owner (Gerry) put up poll
Private boat VOTES favored #2
For Hire boat VOTES favored #5

From MY notes:

Blackfish
53% Reduction - Season as previously posted
ADMITTED "ERROR IN SCIENTIFIC NUMBERS USED FOR SETTING THIS SEASON"
'Looser restrictions MAY follow'

Sea Bass
57% Increase in our allotment
Season as previously posted; PROBABLY have Jan and Feb 2013
'cooperation between state and federal'

Fluke
38% Increase in our allotment
MRFS &/or 2011 NJ Volunteer Program used for recommendations; THE LATTER WAS USED

-2% towards our target for the past 11 years - (pretty good management in my opinion if the can get us that close over that long stretch)

SLOT FLUKE - A couple Board members wondered why this was taken off the menu; "Law Enforcement wouldn't be able to enforce it". C.O.s caught feelings when called on the carpet about their about-face on this option. They said that upon further review they wouldn't be able to enforce this so they would 'put it to the bottom of the list of laws to enforce and just not enforce it period'. C.O. stated the party boat industry as their primary reason for their change of heart (they told Board to lose this option). They said ONE person 'might catch ALL the 17.5" fish and distribute them around the boat'. They also said they would have to count the fares and dig through the racks and measure the 17.5" racks to see if there was only 1 slot fish per fare.

SPEAKERS (not all noted)
Bergen County Fish Club #5
JCAA #2
Berkeley Striper & Beach Bugger Asso #2
Fishermen's Den #2
Spring Lake Fishing Club #2
Jamaica #2
Reel Seat Bait #2
Voyager #2
Adam Nowalsky (Karen Ann II) #5
Cape May Charter Asso #3
Fran Verdi (Fish the Drop Off) #5

[Dave A]

Mike,
Brielle Bait was not there, I was and I spoke and favored option 2.

[Knot Guilty]

Congratulations to all who voted for a shorter season and giving back 3 fish.
Please hand out red noses to all who fish from your boats so we can see you
when you are throwing back 17.499999 fish and complaining, "we can't catch
a keeper". CLOWNS !

[frugalfisherman]

I personally was in favor of 2 but, 2010= 6 fish at 18. 2011 8 fish at 18 and a longer season. Just because it's 5 this year doesn't mean it stays that way as many are saying. I fish a lot mainly on the J2. Caught a lot of big fish but had a limit twice last year and it took me both the am and pm trips to do it once and the all day monday the other. Rarely did I see others limit out and if they did they were guys who fish all the time and had all the fluke they needed unless they were Dugger from 18 and Counting. We are loosing 2 1/2 weeks of seabass but it's a hell of a lot better than last year and jan/feb season is back. Look at your glasses. They are half full.

[Life's A Beach]

Originally Posted by Dave A

Mike,
Brielle Bait was not there, I was and I spoke and favored option 2.

HA HA HA

Sorry Dave

I'm so used to changing your loyal customer's posts to "non sponsor brielle shop".......it just happened

couple that with the time of the post and i'm sure u will 4 give me