See New Jersey’s fluke season options ahead of the March vote
New Jersey has six options for the summer flounder or fluke season, which could open the floor for some public debate when it comes time for the state’s Marine Fisheries Council to vote in a few weeks.
This year’s fluke season regulations took one step closer to being set when the Atlantic States Marine Fisheries Commission approved New Jersey’s options for 2024. The next step is for New Jersey’s Marine Fisheries Council to vote for one of them on March 7, the next time it meets.
New Jersey has until March 20 to submit its final choice to the ASMFC for final adoption.
Coastwide, fluke anglers have been dealt a 28% reduction in their quotas, which means a tighter season. In New Jersey the council had to come up with a regulation that will cut the catch down from last year’s quota of 3.6 million pounds last year to 2.6 million pounds this year.
States are allowed to devise their own seasons so long as they meet the 28% reduction. NJ’s council came up with six options, some of which were very creative.
Of the proposed regulations, option three gives anglers the longest season but returns the bigger size limit at 18 inches. Option two is the most conservative of the proposed regulations. Options four and five present either a split season or a split sector.
The proposals may rouse some debate as fluke anglers in the southern portion of the state will most likely advocate for an early May start when the fluke are stacked in the back bays, while the party boats need the season to last deep into September. Surf anglers may also be enticed by the 17 inch size limit option from the Shore.
Option 1: Three fish at a 171⁄2 inch minimum size limit and a season from May 24 to Sept. 4.
Option 2: One fish between 17-18 inches, and two fish at 18 inches or greater with a season from June 4 to Aug. 31.
Option 3: Three fish at an 18 inch minimum size limit with a season from May 4 to Sept. 25.
Option 4: Split season. The first half is one fish at 17-18 inches, one fish at 18 inches from May 10 to June 30. Then three fish at 18 inches from July 1 to Sept. 15.
Option 5: Spit sector. From the boats, three fish at an 18 inch minimum size limit. From shore two fish at a 17 inch minimum size limit. Season from May 16 to June 23.
Option 6: One fish at 17 inch minimum size limit and a two fish at 18 inch minimum size with a season from May 26 to Sept. 13.
The special management zones at Island Beach State Park where at where surf anglers can keep two fish at 16 inches remains as does the 17 inch size limit in
Delaware Bay.
Blackfish
A 10-pound blackfish was landed on the Ocean Explorer on Sunday, one of just a few double-digit tog to be hauled in this winter. The boat was out both days last weekend and Monday before being shut down for a couple days due to the weather.
Gale force winds are in the forecast but it might not cost the blackfish faithful the entire weekend if the wind switches to the west in time to lay the ocean swells down.
The strong winds were forecast to start Thursday night out of the southwest and whip up the coastal water to seven foot wave heights at the extreme end. However, as the winds turn from west on Friday the swell should be flattened to just a couple feet.
When Jersey Shore native Dan Radel is not reporting the news, you can find him in a college classroom where he is a history professor. Reach him @danielradelapp; dradel@gannettnj.com.