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.
OBXFishingFool wrote:
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.
NC posted the dates for the 2022 flounder season o... (
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All so very true. For sure whoever make the rules the Commercial Fishermen have them in their pockets deeply.
Totally does not make sense to punish the recreational fishermen vs the commercial. In Bama this year Commercial Red Snapper harvest was down by half. So, the powers to be did the fair thing. They kept the recreational season the same, but reduced the recreational catch to match percentages with what the commecial boys caught. I believe the only reason it was down was the $^!**% weather we had and the commercial boys could'nt fish as much as last year. Alabama has the largest manmade atrificial reef system in the US, and it is loaded with all varieties of snappers and reef fishes. Not just Red Snapper. Good luck with your dilemma. Write your congressman.
Bibmark
Bigmark wrote:
Totally does not make sense to punish the recreational fishermen vs the commercial. In Bama this year Commercial Red Snapper harvest was down by half. So, the powers to be did the fair thing. They kept the recreational season the same, but reduced the recreational catch to match percentages with what the commecial boys caught. I believe the only reason it was down was the $^!**% weather we had and the commercial boys could'nt fish as much as last year. Alabama has the largest manmade atrificial reef system in the US, and it is loaded with all varieties of snappers and reef fishes. Not just Red Snapper. Good luck with your dilemma. Write your congressman.
Bibmark
Totally does not make sense to punish the recreati... (
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Typical government response to almost everything…. swing the pendulum 180 degrees
The NJ flounder season is very liberal so if you want flounder go north. I agree with everything you said. Someone is getting a payoff you can be certain and the commercial guys are “reeling in” the dough. Sad.
OBXFishingFool wrote:
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.
NC posted the dates for the 2022 flounder season o... (
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Thatis their way of saying "Up yours" to recreational fishermen who give the most financial support to the fishery.
I wonder if Virginia and South Carolina have the same mindset
Sandym wrote:
I wonder if Virginia and South Carolina have the same mindset
This is straight from the SC DNR website…. SC typically has “looser” regulations than NC and surrounding states.
My buddy and I have delayed our trip a couple days, now we are looking to go this Tuesday to Charleston SC, the seas should be manageable by then, today they are getting hammered with 14’ waves… no thanks… anyway we are looking at hitting the Charleston 60 and venturing out to Y-73 and Comanche Reefs. One of my buddies friends may go with us, he guides part time and I will ask him what the latest regulations are. Tight Lines!
But you can go to a fish market and get a 10 Inch one. Need too reduce the commercial quotas. Never will happen. We are the sufferers.
Most of the fish sold here in NC end up over seas, then sold back to us in the frozen food isle.
Let's restrict the commercial side.
I remember years ago when fishing on party boats in New York we would find schools of fluke one day,captains would share the locations with other recreational captains. The commercial boats would come in at night and wipe them out! Next year recreational fishing was 2 fish limit and 18" keeper and no restrictions to the commercial side
Sandym wrote:
I wonder if Virginia and South Carolina have the same mindset
The state of SC as a commercial fishing industry contributed exactly "zero" flounder to the overall wholesale market in the US. Virginia is not much better. NC is by far the biggest liability for the flounders opportunity to reproduce and grow their numbers for the sustainability aspect of the resource in NC.
Jim Kay wrote:
Thatis their way of saying "Up yours" to recreational fishermen who give the most financial support to the fishery.
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.
Pappy54 wrote:
Let's restrict the commercial side.
I remember years ago when fishing on party boats in New York we would find schools of fluke one day,captains would share the locations with other recreational captains. The commercial boats would come in at night and wipe them out! Next year recreational fishing was 2 fish limit and 18" keeper and no restrictions to the commercial side
The NCDMR has mismanaged the overall flounder regulations for years. It's inconceivable to me that they continue to screw the recreational fishermen and do next to nothing to limit the commercial industry's quota. Allowing us to keep only one freaking flounder per day should be viewed as a red flag to all of us. A "shot across the bow," so to speak, by the NCDMR telling us loud and clearly that their intentions are to cut us rod and reel guys and gals out of the overall yearly flounder quota all together.
If we catch 8 legal size flounder in one day we are required to release 7 of them so that 5 of them can swim away only to be caught in some commercial fishermans gill nets. That's the NCDMRs plan for sustainability of the species? Yes. It is. Exactly their plan. Release em so they can sale em.
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