Sandym Loc: Holly Ridge NC

From what I read online of the coastal fishing regulations there appears to be no flounder fishing at all this year. Is this correct ?!!

troyfrd1 Loc: Hampstead,NC

A spring season has been set for March 1 – April 15, 2023 for only summer and gulf flounder in the ocean. Anglers can keep one summer or gulf flounder during this season. Southern flounder caught during this timeframe will be subtracted from the state’s fall flounder quota.

troyfrd1 Loc: Hampstead,NC

season.

As of now, best available information is that recs get one fish and a season falling within the Aug 16 to Sept 30 window. Current data shows this should keep us within the quota.

It is possible that after crunching the numbers, staff determines that a reduced season will be necessary to stay within the quota.

Final proclamation should be out in late June or by early July. It will only be then that we know if we are getting 2, 3, 4 or 6 weeks.

Gordon Loc: Charleston South Carolina

Good report Troy.

troyfrd1 Loc: Hampstead,NC

I know it’s crazy with these rules and it’s no more than these big boat pulling nets who get to keep all they pull in and paying our guys who make the rules to fix it to help them. To me it’s the same as when I cast my rod out there I should be able to keep what I want

FourchonLa. Loc: Fourchon Louisiana, South Louisiana

Fight the hell out of them. Get behind your CCA. Email your representatives and don’t let up. We did 30 years ago fighting gill netters and trawlers. The results are below.

One and one half limits of flounder.


One limit of specs. 25


Three limits of redfish.

troyfrd1 Loc: Hampstead,NC

Wow here it 95.00 per fish and 500.00 court cost they can take your boat and all the equipment goes with it plus they can follow you home and check your freezer

FourchonLa. Loc: Fourchon Louisiana, South Louisiana

Troy, they’re in the commercial fisherman’s pocket. Make them pay at ballot. We pretty much had a wholesale change in the legislature before they came around and instituted conservation legislation. The CCA was the main driver. Here’s yours below.

https://ccanc.org/

Jeremy Loc: America

It’s great if communication can help the Recreational fisherman. Big money and the P word that we all know drives the bus. Fishing everywhere is supported by the Recreational Business and Tackle Retailers. All the people that fish to take a few fish home pay to keep the fish and the numbers up but Commercial and other groups get to take the majority. I can go buy fish that I already paid for at grocery stores or for cash to those that are allowed to gill net. Odds of catching the fish ourselves is less and less.

If there was someone here that could help and would it would be awesome but big bucks and P’s drive the fishing industry here.

FourchonLa. Loc: Fourchon Louisiana, South Louisiana

Have you looked into your local CCA?

http://www.ccaoregon.org/Portland

http://www.ccaoregon.org/

kandydisbar Loc: West Orange, NJ

Great info, Four. Looked them up but there does not seem to be a NJ State chapter to join.

troyfrd1 Loc: Hampstead,NC

The NC Fisheries Association (NCFA) is pulling out all stops to get the Marine Fisheries Commission (MFC) to roll back gill net restrictions on the Tar-Pamlico and Neuse rivers in the next Estuarine Striped Bass FMP. However, they offer no scientific reason for the change, instead using their all too familiar playbook of criticizing the process, vilifying CCA, and trying to enflame the public with unsubstantiated claims about loss of access by the consumer to fresh local seafood. Well, why not? It worked with the recent Shrimp FMP.

We need to remember why the closure was established in the first place - to restrict bycatch of striped bass in gill nets in order to protect several strong year classes until it is determined whether NC can save the native populations of striped bass in the rivers of the Central Southern Management Area. Or, will these systems need to be managed through a "put and take" strategy. Opening these areas now will change the equation that managers and assessment staff will use to make that determination and require the use of the questionable and un-validated "Observer Program" data to provide estimates of striped bass discards and mortality.

The NCFA offers no statistical data to support the claim that restrictions on gill net harvest on these rivers is adversely affecting the consumer. In fact, there is no evidence that commercial harvest of important consumer finfish species has declined since the gill net closures were implemented.

The public can submit comments on the Draft Estuarine Striped Bass Fishery Management Plan Amendment 2 through an easy online questionnaire, however the deadline to submit your comments is this Friday, April 1st!

Click here to submit your comments online.

We encourage everyone to use the online survey to let your voice be heard, it is very easy to navigate, and we offer some guidance below on the survey questions for you to consider. If you support keeping the gill nets out of the Pamlico and Neuse rivers above the ferry lines then please tell the commission! If you support extending the lines out even further, then tell them that too.

Question 10, Which commercial management measure would you prefer? The preferred answer would be 2A, require commercial trips landing striped bass to continue as a bycatch fishery.

Question 11, If a single fishery goes over the TAL, which accountability measures should be enacted? The preferred answer would be to continue to require the single fishery that exceeds the TAL to make the paybacks.

Questions 12 and 13 allow for multiple answers. The overall theme should be to support size limits that allow the fishery to grow larger fish. Specifically on Question 13, answer 4C for the ASMA and 4E in the RRMA to allow the escapement of larger fish.

Question 15 allows for your additional comments. Some suggestions include, looking beyond just water flow and at why we have too few big fish anymore. Significant impacts from invasive blue catfish. Greater impacts from gill nets in other fisheries, especially shad and flounder. Excessive warm weather discards. Support for supplemental stocking particularly in poor recruitment years. Continue cooperative management on proper water flow. When the stock has recovered, do not repeat the mistakes of the past and raise the TAL too high, too quickly.

Question 19 is very misleading. In our opinion it should really be two separate questions. Supporting keeping the gill net closures does not necessarily mean supporting the current tie down rules. There should be an option for supporting EXTENDING the closure line all the way out to the mouths of the rivers. Your personal comments regarding the gill net restrictions can be added under Question 20, Comments.

Thank you for your support.

FourchonLa. Loc: Fourchon Louisiana, South Louisiana

The Fox guarding the henhouse. Your NCFA was founded by the commercial fishers to benefit the commercial fishers. Good luck.

https://ncfish.org/

USAF Major Loc: Sea Bright, NJ

Same here in NJ. The commercial guys hire professional lobbyists whereas just a few recreational anglers bother to contact their elected representatives in the state capitol.

troyfrd1 Loc: Hampstead,NC

So true