Below is a press release from CCA South Carolina. If you haven’t been following, or been in attendance at the SCDNR presentations, Flounder have been in a 10 year decline, per statistical sampling using trammel nets. In response, NC has closed their flounder fishery last year and is in discussions about this year. SC has been slowly reducing creel limits, but this will only affect gigging, as taking a limit of flounder by hook and line is almost unheard of. In my experience and in informal polls of other experienced fishermen, the average catch is 1 or 2 legal flounder per trip. So, going from a creel limit of 10 to 5 will have no effect among hook and line anglers. All flounder of legal size are female (did you know that?) and the best and simplest way to protect the brood stock is to add an upper slot. Please contact your state Representative and Senator and tell them you are in support of H.3957, in particular the upper slot. We need to make a change that will ensure healthy stocks in the future, and the side benefit is a lot of doormat flounder to catch (and release).
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: March 18, 2021 CONTACT: Scott Whitaker 803-865-4164
Flounder legislation passes House, heads to Senate for further consideration
Columbia, S.C. – With a vote of 106 to 3, the South Carolina House of Representatives has advanced legislation that would adjust the state’s flounder regulations with an emphasis on increasing the spawning stock of the popular species. H. 3957 was introduced in late February by a bi-partisan group of legislators based on concerns from anglers, constituents, and data from the first ever regional stock assessment indicating that the fishery continues its downward spiral. The legislation comes after 18 months of meetings and discussion among fisheries managers, the angling community, and state decisions makers.
As a gigger, very seldom, as mostly bow fish at Clarks Hill. As much as I hate it, I agree serious Regs should be implemented.
Coworker went with flounder gigging charter out of Hilton Head and slaughtered them. Can’t even imagine how many a charter for gigging would kill in one year. Night after night!
Congrats David. I know how hard you’ve worked on this. It’s a good first step for sure!
Still, not sure I’ve ever caught an 18 inch and an over 20 in the same day. #releaseover20 for flounder will have more effect for anglers in my opinion.
Thanks for all you do for the fishing community.
As much as I hate to say it, gigging needs to be stopped.
The charters are destroying the population more than anything. I love gigging; I really love it, but I’ve stopped due to the serious decline I started to see myself 5-6 years ago.
Again, its not the average angler that’s causing the issue, but it will be the average angler that has to pay the price.
“Another poon dream splintered on the rocks of reality.” --Peepod 07-25-2017
There are many varibles that lead towards the decline of the flounder population. I doubt you will see much change from this piece of one sided legislation to make a difference. I like to flounder gig, in the past 3 years, I went 5 times. With two of us in the boat, we averaged around 5 flounder and out limit on slot reds. For the most part, recreational gigging is not the issue. If they want to make a serious attempt at turning the problem around, they need to make serious changes across the board. A flounder season for all fisherman would have a better effect. If you could capture real numbers, you would see that more flounder are harvested on rod and real than by gigging.
I get that. Institute a season on flounder, say 6 months a year and cut that number in half as well as the amount caught on rods and you would harvest less fish than you would by just changing the limit.
The missing piece of the puzzle here is what has support of the legislators, and what does not. From what I have heard, there is zero support for a closed season. There is also strong support of gigging. Why I like the upper slot, is that it protects the breeder females for a good portion of their lives. The more fish we can get above the slot the more fish we should have, for hook and line anglers and for giggers. No one has reliable data on how much giggers contribute to the haul. Lots of opinions, little data. Not instituting an upper slot, and reducing the creel from 10 to 5 will impact hook and line anglers almost nothing. IF, and only if, giggers are contributing the majority of the haul, then it might move the needle. The senators need to know if you agree with me that we need an upper slot. Please message them.
I’m all for true science and helping our fishery, but stop all gigging?! As many on here are pointing out about charters and 150 trips a year… That’s a lot of fish harvested, too many… I can see a well trafficked area being depleted, quick. Let’s stop charters and/or put a season on gigging. Let’s not cut off our nose in spite of our face. I’ve got grands coming up and I don’t want them to miss out on a gigging trip once or twice a year.
As to upper slot limits, I can see that for rod and reel, but measuring a fish under water is a bit tricky. So what happens when we gig an over slot? It’s not going to have a chance on the release. Just pointing out another point of view.
Thank you Optiker, I never realized all flounder of legal size are female. Didn’t know the males stayed small. Maybe go back to a lower size limit so some males are taken? Some of you might hate me for this, but I love a good 10-12" flounder scaled and pan fried whole. I like that better than a flounder filleted.
Going to 5 fish limit per person, what will boat limit be? I do feel 20 per boat in Today’s crowed waterways are too many. I’d be happy to see the boat limit 5. I totally agree this will not affect most any angler. My personal life time best on rod was 9, with 4 keepers.
I’m all for true science and helping our fishery, but stop all gigging?! As many on here are pointing out about charters and 150 trips a year… That’s a lot of fish harvested, too many… I can see a well trafficked area being depleted, quick. Let’s stop charters and/or put a season on gigging. Let’s not cut off our nose in spite of our face. I’ve got grands coming up and I don’t want them to miss out on a gigging trip once or twice a year.
As to upper slot limits, I can see that for rod and reel, but measuring a fish under water is a bit tricky. So what happens when we gig an over slot? It’s not going to have a chance on the release. Just pointing out another point of view.
Thank you Optiker, I never realized all flounder of legal size are female. Didn’t know the males stayed small. Maybe go back to a lower size limit so some males are taken? Some of you might hate me for this, but I love a good 10-12" flounder scaled and pan fried whole. I like that better than a flounder filleted.
Going to 5 fish limit per person, what will boat limit be? I do feel 20 per boat in Today’s crowed waterways are too many. I’d be happy to see the boat limit 5. I totally agree this will not affect most any angler. My personal life time best on rod was 9, with 4 keepers. [/quote=Originally posted by
Hey, gotta tell y’all this trick you may already know. Buddy from Bft went with me last time I went. He had previously told me that you can put a dip net down right in front of the flounder, then gently touch it’s tail with gig. Boom, right in the net.
Sooo, while out there I said, prove what you said is true. Low and behold, right in the net. No holes and swam away healthy!
Now that was cool, to me!! Need one of those nets that has the flat front for best results.
Fred, looks like 10 fish per boat. As far as guessing, know width of gig, then put in water just above target. Works well for me if thinking may be short.
NN
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I’m good on the short, I was just concerned about if an over the slot limit is placed. I’m thinking if the size limit was reduced, since I just learned all the males are under legal limit, maybe that would help with reducing female flounder take and lead to better fish stock? Thinking it over it seems kind of foolish for Us all to just focus on females.
Optiker got me searching. Seldom does a male grow larger than 10" and rarely makes it to 12". ( I really did not know this) Let’s lower the size limit back to 10" and lower creel limits as stated to 5. People get their limit quicker and more females survive. ??? Wasn’t the decline noticed after the increase in size limit creel?
I must really suck at catching flounder. 1-2 average? I’m looking at 1-2 a year! lol! On a serious note, if it’s good for the fishery, I support it! Looking forward to getting back out there.
No one hates you Peapad. I see what you have done. Not all blame should be given to giggers, and I agree. Anglers and Giggers remind me of back in the day sheep farmers vs Cattle farmers.
Yes I have seen shrimp boat bycatch. I’d say what people are actually gigging can not equal the death caused by commercial shrimping. Lot’s of angles to look at before we do a knee jerk. I don’t think anyone wants our Flounder fishery to be like Grouper, BSB, or ARS.
Peapod you make a good point. I’ve heard from a prominent captain (name excluded) who has noted a correlation with good flounder years to the date that the shrimp season has opened. Later opening…more flounder. Makes sense to me. Pollution likely contributes, as well as sea temperature warming. Warmer water during spawn makes all males (I think).
My question is, what is the best way to protect the females, despite what the causes are or may be? Upper slot!
Re: measuring fish while gigging. I’ve been gigging once ever (thanks 23), it was fun, and IMO its easy to measure the length accurately by lining up your 4" gig. The fish are just sitting there. I’m not anti-gigging, I’m pro-sustainability.
Pro-sustainability…get rid of shrimp boats off of our coast.
So much damage for so little shrimp…you’d see a boom in all kinds of stuff.
Shrimp farms. Crawfish farms. All kinds of good sustainable options imo
Thanks Dave for all of your efforts. I just feel as I, the recreational angler, is getting punished again while the commercials get a pass and a blind eye turned again to them. Again
