Proof The System Is Broken - We killed 3x the fluke we took home

[OVERBORED]

How could we possibly be on the same page when their is such a variety of tactics.. What's good for deep water fluking is not as so good for the inshore guy. Or the surf guy, or the fly fisherman and on an on.

We need to send a clear message to our politicians that we should have the same access to the same fish that are in the same waters at the same time. It is that simple. Sometimes being as close as we are we tend to miss the big picture. And in this case common sense in our side.

This all goes back to conservation equivalency. The rules should be the same for every angler fishing in NYS. This has caused more BS in management buy pitting one states rec anglers against the other. The old divide and conquer.

Were not talking about tactics. We're talking about guys who are happy catching a keeper once in a while vs. Guys who want to limit out every time out.

You read it here. One rec could care less about the guys who goes on a PB with hopes of putting some fish on the table. He's content floating around, hoping something with fins commits suicide!

And on and on. So many sides to this battle. If you think its one dimensional, you already lost.

 

[george]

Were not talking about tactics. We're talking about guys who are happy catching a keeper once in a while vs. Guys who want to limit out every time out.

You read it here. One rec could care less about the guys who goes on a PB with hopes of putting some fish on the table. He's content floating around, hoping something with fins commits suicide!

And on and on. So many sides to this battle. If you think its one dimensional, you already lost.

I never said this is one dimensional. And when it comes to fluke, everyone wants fish to take home. This isn’t striped bass.

Let’s get back to the real issue. We’re killing more fish as bycatch than we bring home to eat. Just last week we tossed back a 3-pound floater thanks to bad regulations. That fish died, and so did others as I culled trying to find a keeper.

The truth is it shouldn’t come down to what we want. It shouldn't be a "battle" Every decision should be driven by science, for both recreational and commercial sectors. Politics has crept into the system, and if it keeps going this way, it will destroy it all

 

[OVERBORED]

Politics has played a role in fisheries since Magnuson-Stevens was enacted and probably before. It has evolved to the point where in spite of every intention, most species are overfished.

And everyone is to blame!

 

[Snapprhead27]

I remember years ago fishing for fluke on a head boat, under the RSA permit. Wasn't it a slot size?

 

[george]

And everyone is to blame!

They make the rules. Therefore they are 100% to blame. NO blame can be on the angler who follows those rules.

 

[BoatGuy]

Every decision should be driven by science, for both recreational and commercial sectors.

I hear many people with many opinions. I have yet to see anything related to "scientic". I have a background in a medical lab. Everything we did was driven by facts and data.

 

[pequa1]

Facts and data never enter politics or the minds of the politicos and lobbyists.

 

[OVERBORED]

They make the rules. Therefore they are 100% to blame. NO blame can be on the angler who follows those rules.

100% blame for what?

According to your report, you released over 100 fish. Sounds like the fishery is healthy. Isn't that their job? To prevent over fishing?

 

[Matts]

If actual science ruled the regulations, then, IMHO, we should have a slot limit for Fluke as well to protect the larger and most successful spawning fish.

However, the slot would have to allow us to take 18" fish so we could sat least be reasonably assured of going home with something to eat after all the time, effort and money invested. Four fish at 18-23" sounds good to me.

i would be happy with 4 at 18-21 or 22.

but that would lead to much higher actual take, which is what ASMFC bases the quotas on, so I don't see it happening.

 

[pequa1]

the vocal minority that own the party boats will never go for a lower bag limit or a slot. As my favorite tackle shop owner in Amityville told me years ago, even if its unlikely, a paying customer wants to have the hope of four fish or a doormat, or both... So long as the commercials rule the roost the future of the fisheries are at their mercy.

 

[OVERBORED]

Comms. have had success as a vocal minority because of unity. A common cause which is making a living.

Recs don't have that unity or sense of urgency.

 

[longcast]

 

[BoatGuy]

Comms. have had success as a vocal minority because of unity. A common cause which is making a living.

Recs don't have that unity or sense of urgency.

Well said. I went to a meeting regarding fishing regulations (2021?). I think I went with Crabman and Captain Paul Risi to Stony Brook. I felt I wasn’t getting involved and if regulations were passed that I didn’t like I had only myself to blame.

A few things stuck in my mind after the meeting

• The charter boat and Party boat Captains and the Bait store are very vocal AND aware of the issues.
• There were few recreational fishermen there. If there were some there, like myself, they were not very vocal.
• I also realized I was not as knowledgeable about the issues as maybe I should have been. To his credit, Capt Risi sent me links to education myself. At least I try to read up. The average recreational fisherman probably does not.

Back then I used to think I could support the RFA, IGFA or NYSF and they would represent the recreational Fishermen. While they asked for our financial support, I am not sure how well they identified with and supported recreational fishermen.

Talking to the average recreational on piers, they have little knowledge of the fishing issues, regulations, and without enforcement some keep whatever they catch.

 

[pequa1]

The average "fisherman" knows nothing of three bluefish, one weakfish, etc., let alone the length on most. Hell, my local bay constables barely know the basics ! Heck, I "schooled" one last year about the blues and weaks.

 

[BoatGuy]

The average "fisherman" knows nothing of three bluefish, one weakfish, etc., let alone the length on most. Hell, my local bay constables barely know the basics ! Heck, I "schooled" one last year about the blues and weaks.

And these fishermen are not going to meetings. Therefore no recreational representation.
We are going to get what we deserve.

 

[george]

I have been sitting in these meetings for 40 years. What started with good intentions, like most fisheries management efforts, has turned into a circus. The scientists tell us what needs to be done, and then we tell them it is not enough.

These meetings do little more than hand the final say over to politicians, most of whom have never wet a line in their life.

It is time to stop blaming ourselves for the failures of leaders who refuse to make the hard decisions. Stop blaming anglers for skipping meetings that have become boring, bloated, and embarrassing. Stop bickering over personal wants and start focusing on one thing: securing our fair share of what science says is sustainable, and demanding that conservation equivalency be eliminated.

We also fight among ourselves. Surfcasters, boaters, kayakers, and every other group want rules tailored to the way they fish. That is only natural. But if we cannot get past that, the ones who really pull the strings will continue to divide and conquer us.

The truth is an email and social media campaign will get us much further than these predetermined meetings ever will. Many of us here are in the top 10 percent who actually follow management closely. For the other 90 percent fishing is just that, fishing. It is their passion. It is their sport. It is a chance to relax and enjoy the water. They are not advocates. They are anglers. And that is exactly how it should be.