Here are the final Option for the 2011 Fluke Season

[The dropoff]

2010 Target = 997,000 fish      Preliminary 2010 Harvest Estimate = 593,677 fish

2010 Regulations: 18” size limit; 6-fish bag limit; 
open season from May 29 to Sept 6 (101 days)

2011 Target = 1,335,000 fish



1. 18 inches   8 Bag limit  Season  May 14 – Sept 18   Days Open 128  Liberalization 62%

2. 18 inches   8 Bag limit  Season  May 7 – Sept 25     Days Open 142  Liberalization 77%

3. 17.5 / 18 inches   1 / 5 bag limit   Season   May 21 – Sept 5  Days Open 108  Liberalization  81%

4.  17 / 18 inches   1 / 5  Bag limit  Season  May 28 – August 28  Days Open 93   Liberalization  81%


Option 3 with the dual size limit of 17.5 / 18 inches 1 / 5 fish reads as follows:

1-fish greater than or equal to 17.5-inches plus 5-fish greater than or equal to 18-inches


NJ 2011 Summer Flounder Recreational Management Options

[wb]

IMO #1 seems like a loser compared to the other 3.

#4 season too short, not even 'til Labor Day. Altho w/ 1 @ 17" I would have had zero skunks last year....

I'd vote #2 or #3, better yet combine the season of 2 with the bag limit of 3.

Hopefully with the price of fuel we'll be able to get out at all.

Catch 'em up!!!

[Reckless]

I would go for #2 simply cause it is the longest. I don't need 8 fish though.

[Fishin Dude]

 #2 with 142 days gets my nod as well. (All of those shorts and deep hooked shorts from last year survived and became smart enough to have eluded the commercial drag nets, so there should larger fish this year  ) <'((((><

[bugmannj]

#2 would get my vote also but i would like to see the slot and maybe 5 instead of 8

[gymrat987654321]

#3

[IrishAyes]

Number 2 for me.  Option number 2 that is. 

I can't see one fish a half inch shorter (as in option number 3) is worth a thirty four day shorter season. That's more than a month less of fishing.

[Kenny]

    Would rather have the longer season...

[Noworries2009]

  Would rather have the longer season...

You and I think alike on this one. Many days are always lost to weather. Especially during hurricane season. Bag limits are rarely the problem in making up the options as most average 2 fish per trip with 18" limit . Looks good when you say 8 fish but rarely will it happen.I 'd love October too if we could drop the bag limit to get it but we'd overfish the quota. The surf and inlets give up some nice fish at that time. Give us Sept. this year and maybe next year Oct  

[Reckless]

Someone explain to me why the longest season #2 has 8 fish limit? Shouldn't it be less with the longer season? Or is their math different than everyone else. 

[IrishAyes]

The regulators have determined that the average catch for the typical fisherman per trip it 1-2 keepers. Therefore, they could make the limit twenty at eighteen inches and it would not make a difference in the catch figure, you would still only catch 1-2 keeper fish.

[Reckless]

 So I guess the 8 is just in case you get lucky. I guess they do not have much confidence in our fishing ability. 

[Noworries2009]

The regulators have determined that the average catch for the typical fisherman per trip it 1-2 keepers. Therefore, they could make the limit twenty at eighteen inches and it would not make a difference in the catch figure, you would still only catch 1-2 keeper fish.

I keep a log and last season......... YOU are right.  17 trips 35 keepers and only 2 limits of 6 fish.

[Pops Soul]

At 4-5 dollars per gallon for fuel the 17.5 fish may entice the vote. I like the longer season myself. No matter how you toss the salad they are expensive fillets....

[Noworries2009]

Where I fish I see a lot of 17.5" fish. If we drop it they'll all get caught then no 18"ers. Leave it at 18" and let us all fish in Sept when the 17.5 in summer  are big enough. Or something like that !!!!  Threw back lots of keeper size fluke on the beach in Sept/Oct after the season closed the last few years.

[ChrisL]

I like the late season. 
As Noworries said, it would give the landlocked fishermen and chance. 

[Tacklebox Joe]

I like the late season. 
As Noworries said, it would give the landlocked fishermen and chance. 

[Noworries2009]

I like the late season. 
As Noworries said, it would give the landlocked fishermen and chance. 

My log only tracks the kayak and a few party boat trips and a single charter. I didn't count the inlet/surf where I added another 6 hard earned keepers.In the surf/inlet  I had lots of nice fluke last fall that were released  and in 09 too !!!! Lots of the guys did too !!!!

[Tacklebox Joe]

 

John, caught more keepers after the season than during season ...so did other guys I know.

[Luna Sea 5]

2 for me.. longer the season the better