True. They don't take into consideration when we go to the coast for one week of the year that the average family spends anywhere from $5000 to $10,000 for a beach house rental not to mention groceries, bait&tackle, eating out or anything else it costs us to spend one week at the coast. All of this directly supports the local coastal economy. Yet the NCDMR continues to screw us more year to year in these meetings and their decisions on the flounder fishing with size limit increases and per day possession limit decreases. Oh yea it's coming. It's only a matter of time before the flounder will be illigal for possession in NC for recreational fishermen period. A 12 month closed season for the rod and reel guys coming down the pipe.

NC posted the dates for the 2022 flounder season on June 7th of last year. The spring season for 2023 was cancelled after it was revealed that the commercial flounder haul was less than desirable. Their numbers were down. As a result the NC Recreational Saltwater Angler will possibly be left dangling their rods when it comes to their right to possess this resource so highly valued by thousands of NC Recreational Saltwater Anglers. It appears we may possibly be in for a no go on the fall flounder season this year. If this comes to fruition it will be another step towards what I think will finally be made known to all NC Recreational Saltwater Fishermen. The truth of the matter, IMO, is the people who are making these decisions on our behalf, lol. believe that the NC Flounder is presently "too valuable of a commodity" to allow a NC person, while surf fishing a NC beach, to take even one NC flounder home for a fresh fish dinner. This is obviously the thought processes and the end goal by the powers that be going forward, regardless of if there is to be a fall flounder season this year or not. It's only a matter of time before it will be made "illegal" lol, for a NC Recreational Fisherman to possess even one NC Flounder in the state of NC, regardless of the time of year. Catch and Release. No questions asked. Period. This fish is too valuable for recreational consumption. Release the flounder so the Commercial nets, Giggers, and Inshore Trawlers can catch it, sale it, then ship it to the Northeastern US for out of state consumption by someone in NJ. Please do not ever let this happen. What a travesty this scenario would be. Don't break this old man's heart.