Featured Business » .By BOB SAMPSON
sports@norwichbulletin.com
Posted Mar 03, 2010 @ 10:06 PM
Last update Mar 03, 2010 @ 10:07 PM
This is the time of year when fisheries and wildlife managers hammer out marine fisheries regulatory changes that will be necessary for the coming season. High on the list of concerns for marine sport fishermen has been, and continues to be, summer flounder.
For nearly the first time since the fluke-length limit was set at 141⁄2 inches back in the late ’70s, regulations are being relaxed, rather than tightened.
Size limits, catch limits, seasonal closures, if they are followed and enforced, work, and 2010 is proof.
Increases in minimum lengths and seasonal reductions have not kept our recreational fluke catch within the required limitations of our state’s annual quota in the past.
Why now?
The outlandishly high minimum length limits that were in place for 2009, combined with shortened seasons and catch limits are the reason.
Their combined effect was to make limiting nearly impossible for the majority of fluke fishermen in this state. The result was, for a change, Connecticut came in 13 percent below its 2009 quota.
For this reason, at the fluke regulatory meetings in Washington this year, Connecticut was granted a 35 percent increase in its 2010 fluke harvest limit by the Atlantic States Marine Fisheries Council (ASMFC).
Good news on the “fluke front” for a change. It’s the first time in a decade or more that Connecticut anglers weren’t required to meet a 20 percent to 30 percent or higher reduction in our annual summer flounder quota.
Bear in mind, in addition to the adverse influence last season’s stringent regulations had on the recreational catches, 2009 was an odd-ball year weather-wise, from start to finish. Many potential days on the water for small-boat owners were lost to bad weather, which often consisted of heavy rains along with or followed by high winds.
Possible changes
As is the case every winter after catch data is analyzed, state biologists developed options to meet the requirements determined by the Summer Flounder Fisheries Management Plan, to which all Atlantic Coast states must adhere. These options are then presented at hearings for input from the recreational fishing public.
This year’s fluke hearing will be held at 7 p.m., Wednesday at the Department of Environmental Protection Marine Headquarters, 333 Ferry Road, Old Lyme.
Dave Simpson, head of the Marine Fisheries Division, explained the eight options the DEP came up with this year are based on the knowledge that 2009 was a difficult fluke fishing year in Connecticut. The different bag limits and season dates include a range of choices designed to provide increased fishing opportunities during the times of year when most recreational anglers will be on the water.
Simpson noted that reducing the length limit was not the best factor to change, because length-limit changes do not have as great an influence on the mathematics as season- and catch-limit changes.
In my opinion, if the regulations are relaxed too much and Connecticut fluke fishermen catch more than what will amount to roughly a 104,000 summer flounder quota this summer, “fluke meisters” will be facing more reductions, possibly serious ones in 2011. Constant changing of length limits is confusing to anglers, especially those in this part of the state who cross boundaries of three states during a fishing trip.
Simpson noted that providing Connecticut doesn’t over fish its fluke-catch quota in the future, the season may eventually be increased to include Memorial Day and Labor Day. If things go very well, reductions in length limits may be a possibility.
Realistically, such significant changes will not happen because of one year that might be an anomaly of the weather, combined with regulations.
Favorite option
Of the options that will be presented next week, I like Option 3, that provides a 19 1⁄2 inch minimum length, three fish per day, with a June 15 through Sept. 11 season, 35 days of fluking that includes Labor Day, which is a great time to drift for fluke. The opportunity to fish beyond this holiday, when most Connecticut residents have their boats in the water, gives our saltwater-license-buying anglers an increased opportunity to catch a few fluke.
Remember, the bag limit is not quite as significant because last year, with 191⁄2 to 201⁄2 minimum length requirements in effect in the tri-state area, few anglers in any state limited out on a regular basis, so increasing the season is a benefit to more Connecticut recreational fishermen.
Be assured Connecticut’s biologists do listen to and take into consideration the comments that are made at public hearings, through e-mails and letters. So please make your views known in person at the March 10 public hearing, online at dep.marine.fisheries@ct.gov, or mail to Marine Fisheries Division, P.O. Box 719, Old Lyme CT 06371.
Bob Sampson’s outdoors column appears every Thursday in The Norwich Bulletin.
sports@norwichbulletin.com
Posted Mar 03, 2010 @ 10:06 PM
Last update Mar 03, 2010 @ 10:07 PM
This is the time of year when fisheries and wildlife managers hammer out marine fisheries regulatory changes that will be necessary for the coming season. High on the list of concerns for marine sport fishermen has been, and continues to be, summer flounder.
For nearly the first time since the fluke-length limit was set at 141⁄2 inches back in the late ’70s, regulations are being relaxed, rather than tightened.
Size limits, catch limits, seasonal closures, if they are followed and enforced, work, and 2010 is proof.
Increases in minimum lengths and seasonal reductions have not kept our recreational fluke catch within the required limitations of our state’s annual quota in the past.
Why now?
The outlandishly high minimum length limits that were in place for 2009, combined with shortened seasons and catch limits are the reason.
Their combined effect was to make limiting nearly impossible for the majority of fluke fishermen in this state. The result was, for a change, Connecticut came in 13 percent below its 2009 quota.
For this reason, at the fluke regulatory meetings in Washington this year, Connecticut was granted a 35 percent increase in its 2010 fluke harvest limit by the Atlantic States Marine Fisheries Council (ASMFC).
Good news on the “fluke front” for a change. It’s the first time in a decade or more that Connecticut anglers weren’t required to meet a 20 percent to 30 percent or higher reduction in our annual summer flounder quota.
Bear in mind, in addition to the adverse influence last season’s stringent regulations had on the recreational catches, 2009 was an odd-ball year weather-wise, from start to finish. Many potential days on the water for small-boat owners were lost to bad weather, which often consisted of heavy rains along with or followed by high winds.
Possible changes
As is the case every winter after catch data is analyzed, state biologists developed options to meet the requirements determined by the Summer Flounder Fisheries Management Plan, to which all Atlantic Coast states must adhere. These options are then presented at hearings for input from the recreational fishing public.
This year’s fluke hearing will be held at 7 p.m., Wednesday at the Department of Environmental Protection Marine Headquarters, 333 Ferry Road, Old Lyme.
Dave Simpson, head of the Marine Fisheries Division, explained the eight options the DEP came up with this year are based on the knowledge that 2009 was a difficult fluke fishing year in Connecticut. The different bag limits and season dates include a range of choices designed to provide increased fishing opportunities during the times of year when most recreational anglers will be on the water.
Simpson noted that reducing the length limit was not the best factor to change, because length-limit changes do not have as great an influence on the mathematics as season- and catch-limit changes.
In my opinion, if the regulations are relaxed too much and Connecticut fluke fishermen catch more than what will amount to roughly a 104,000 summer flounder quota this summer, “fluke meisters” will be facing more reductions, possibly serious ones in 2011. Constant changing of length limits is confusing to anglers, especially those in this part of the state who cross boundaries of three states during a fishing trip.
Simpson noted that providing Connecticut doesn’t over fish its fluke-catch quota in the future, the season may eventually be increased to include Memorial Day and Labor Day. If things go very well, reductions in length limits may be a possibility.
Realistically, such significant changes will not happen because of one year that might be an anomaly of the weather, combined with regulations.
Favorite option
Of the options that will be presented next week, I like Option 3, that provides a 19 1⁄2 inch minimum length, three fish per day, with a June 15 through Sept. 11 season, 35 days of fluking that includes Labor Day, which is a great time to drift for fluke. The opportunity to fish beyond this holiday, when most Connecticut residents have their boats in the water, gives our saltwater-license-buying anglers an increased opportunity to catch a few fluke.
Remember, the bag limit is not quite as significant because last year, with 191⁄2 to 201⁄2 minimum length requirements in effect in the tri-state area, few anglers in any state limited out on a regular basis, so increasing the season is a benefit to more Connecticut recreational fishermen.
Be assured Connecticut’s biologists do listen to and take into consideration the comments that are made at public hearings, through e-mails and letters. So please make your views known in person at the March 10 public hearing, online at dep.marine.fisheries@ct.gov, or mail to Marine Fisheries Division, P.O. Box 719, Old Lyme CT 06371.
Bob Sampson’s outdoors column appears every Thursday in The Norwich Bulletin.