The House is about to pass a bill reducing the limit of “flounder” to 15 per person and 30 per boat. DNR presented evidence that the Inshore species (Southerns) are slightly declining, but evidence suggests that the 2 offshore/nearshore species (Summer and Gulf) are increasing. I tried to amend the bill to differentiate between the species, but DNR believed it would be too difficult to determine between the species. My argument is that we require anglers to know the difference between a gag and a scamp, a silk and a lane…and hunters to know the difference between the duck species IN FLIGHT! There is definitely a difference in these 3 species. One is declining, (supposidly) and 2 are increasing. If we’re going to use science to cut limits, we should be equally amenable to using science to increase limits. Tell your representatives that you want to distinguish between the more abundant and less abundant species of flounder.
It must be so frustrating to have your job,you deal with idiots all day…
I normally hate new limits, but these seem pretty forgiving for any non-commercial fishermen. We appreciate all your hard work!
Threeoaks, I agree. This and the sheepshead size limit are both logical and within reason to me. And that’s coming from someone who fishes primarily for redfish, flounder, and sheepshead.
The snapper/grouper/seabass closures on the otherhand…not so much.
I also agree that’s a very reasonable limit. I’ve got no problem with that. Not many people can catch that many anyway without a gig stick. It’s a lot easier to catch 30 sea bass than 30 flounder.
Capt. Larry Teuton
Cracker Built Custom Boats
“Ships are the nearest things to dreams that hands have ever made.” -Robert N. Rose
Guys,
We all agree that this is a reasonable limit for recreational Southern flounder. The point is, that our government is willing to continually reduce our limits and access to fisheries, however, when the science says otherwise (a gain in population), the government doesn’t listen.
ps, this will substantially effect the 1500 people that have land-sell permits.
Stephen Goldfinch
“Sleep When You’re Dead!”
ps, this will substantially effect the 1500 people that have land-sell permits.
Ahhh, the real bottom line, nothing to do with what’s increasing and declining … 
PS, what’s the difference between ‘Southern inshore’ and Southern near-shore’?
quote:
Originally posted by Reelly Oldps, this will substantially effect the 1500 people that have land-sell permits.
Ahhh, the real bottom line, nothing to do with what’s increasing and declining …
PS, what’s the difference between ‘Southern inshore’ and Southern near-shore’?
Don’t read into this what’s not really there. DNR tells us that the Southern Flounder are slightly decreasing in population. They tell us that Summer and Gulf are increasing. Bottom line. Testimony was given last week in front of House AG Subcommittee.
Stephen Goldfinch
“Sleep When You’re Dead!”
yet the shrimp boats go unchecked and kill hundreds of thousands with no recourse…
.
NMFS = No More Fishing Season
“Back home we got a taxidermy man. He gonna have a heart attack when he see what I brung him”
quote:
Originally posted by sellsfishyet the shrimp boats go unchecked and kill hundreds of thousands with no recourse…
.
So true.NMFS = No More Fishing Season
“Back home we got a taxidermy man. He gonna have a heart attack when he see what I brung him”
quote:
Originally posted by sellsfishyet the shrimp boats go unchecked and kill hundreds of thousands with no recourse…
not that many are killed any more, between the turtle excluders and the BRD’S. The amount of fish caught has been drastically reduced. I will agree that some are killed, but just not those numbers.
.NMFS = No More Fishing Season
“Back home we got a taxidermy man. He gonna have a heart attack when he see what I brung him”
quote:
Originally posted by sellsfishyet the shrimp boats go unchecked and kill hundreds of thousands with no recourse…
.
NMFS = No More Fishing Season
“Back home we got a taxidermy man. He gonna have a heart attack when he see what I brung him”
YES!!! You’re correct. This is one of the biggest challenges the flounder population faces and we continually ignore it and blame declines on fishermen. We need shrimpers, but we must figure out a solution to this by-catch problem.
Stephen Goldfinch
“Sleep When You’re Dead!”
The shrimpers have to add Teds and BRD’s to reduce by catch, this coupled with the much smaller fleet should help the flounder. There does not seem to be a problem with the flounder draggers north of us reaching their trip, and monthly quotas.
Have to agree with Yellabird. If a stock is decreasing they quickly pull the plug and reduce access. They should be willing to go both ways.
quote:
Originally posted by yellabirdThe House is about to pass a bill reducing the limit of “flounder” to 15 per person and 30 per boat. DNR presented evidence that the Inshore species (Southerns) are slightly declining, but evidence suggests that the 2 offshore/nearshore species (Summer and Gulf) are increasing. I tried to amend the bill to differentiate between the species, but DNR believed it would be too difficult to determine between the species. My argument is that we require anglers to know the difference between a gag and a scamp, a silk and a lane…and hunters to know the difference between the duck species IN FLIGHT! There is definitely a difference in these 3 species. One is declining, (supposidly) and 2 are increasing. If we’re going to use science to cut limits, we should be equally amenable to using science to increase limits. Tell your representatives that you want to distinguish between the more abundant and less abundant species of flounder.
Stephen Goldfinch
“Sleep When You’re Dead!”
Hell if it’s anything like the Black Bass bill,it too will get stuck in committee…
was off the stono inlet thursday AM and counted something like 20 shrimp boats within a few miles of each other and well inside there regulated min distance from shore just scraping everything off the bottom. sells has got a good point
If you think the shrimp boats here scour the bottom, go to the gulf. They are the ones responsible for the ARS debacle.
If you think the shrimp boats here scour the bottom, go to the gulf. They are the ones responsible for the ARS debacle.
quote:what is their "minimum distance"?
Originally posted by surfwranglerwas off the stono inlet thursday AM and counted something like 20 shrimp boats within a few miles of each other and well inside there regulated min distance from shore just scraping everything off the bottom. sells has got a good point
I think every fisherman should have to work on a shrimp boat or watch a video of the by catch! Will make you sick! It happens hundreds of times a day every day of the season, Its not only flounder tho!