Striper Talk Striped Bass Fishing, Surfcasting, Boating - View Single Post - RI Fluke

macojoe · 03-27-2005, 10:00 AM

I maintain a commercial Fluke lic here in Ma. Not that I want to make a ton of cash but because as recreational you get screwed!!
The limte for rec fluke fisherman is 7 fish at 16 1/2" But the commercial guys get to keep 14" fish!
Dragers are allowed 300 pounds a day and Rod and reel guys 200 pounds a day.

Dragers can keep 100 pound of Fluke as bi-catch during the squid season and they have a winter fishery for them also.
They are allowed to tear up all of Vinyard sound with there nets in the middle of the summer and do so from Lucas shoal to Gay head!!
Years ago they use to stay off shore to get the fish but since they fished that area out they have now come in shore!!

Now following what I and many others see as a slow year last year for the Fluke they want to increase that catch to 350 to 500 pounds a day! And want to start the season as early as May 15 instead of June 15.

They would also increase the Hook & Liners to 300 from 200 pounds.

All this with out giving the rec fisherman any thing!! they will still be at 7 fish 16 1/2" while the dragers are still able to tear up eveything on the bottom and the hook guys are all able to get a increase in pounds at the shorter 14" fish.

All I can say is that the rec guys need to go to the meetings!!!!! They need to speak up!!!! the comercial guys are organized and will get what they want if no one speaks up!!!!

They are had Public hearings on 3/21 & 3/22 I went to the plymouth meeting the 21st and I can tell you this, Not one person spoke up for the rec. fisherman!!

They are having a meeting on the 29th this monday for the Bass to drop from 30 fish to 20 fish and to make it 3 days instead of 4 day open season and they will also make opening day 10 fish limt.
All this to extend are season and to stop the glut of the market??
But they are going to allow the other states to sell fish here in this state April to Nov.
How is that going to keep the price up?? Mass fisherman will have to compete with out of state fisherman for the price!! And then the market will still be gluted ! Just not by Ma fisherman alone!!

I am going to stop fishing and start rasing Bull frogs for french resturants!!

03-27-2005, 10:00 AM	#4
macojoe Seal Control iTrader: (1) Join Date: Nov 2002 Location: Caver, Ma. Posts: 3,875	I maintain a commercial Fluke lic here in Ma. Not that I want to make a ton of cash but because as recreational you get screwed!! The limte for rec fluke fisherman is 7 fish at 16 1/2" But the commercial guys get to keep 14" fish! Dragers are allowed 300 pounds a day and Rod and reel guys 200 pounds a day. Dragers can keep 100 pound of Fluke as bi-catch during the squid season and they have a winter fishery for them also. They are allowed to tear up all of Vinyard sound with there nets in the middle of the summer and do so from Lucas shoal to Gay head!! Years ago they use to stay off shore to get the fish but since they fished that area out they have now come in shore!! Now following what I and many others see as a slow year last year for the Fluke they want to increase that catch to 350 to 500 pounds a day! And want to start the season as early as May 15 instead of June 15. They would also increase the Hook & Liners to 300 from 200 pounds. All this with out giving the rec fisherman any thing!! they will still be at 7 fish 16 1/2" while the dragers are still able to tear up eveything on the bottom and the hook guys are all able to get a increase in pounds at the shorter 14" fish. All I can say is that the rec guys need to go to the meetings!!!!! They need to speak up!!!! the comercial guys are organized and will get what they want if no one speaks up!!!! They are had Public hearings on 3/21 & 3/22 I went to the plymouth meeting the 21st and I can tell you this, Not one person spoke up for the rec. fisherman!! They are having a meeting on the 29th this monday for the Bass to drop from 30 fish to 20 fish and to make it 3 days instead of 4 day open season and they will also make opening day 10 fish limt. All this to extend are season and to stop the glut of the market?? But they are going to allow the other states to sell fish here in this state April to Nov. How is that going to keep the price up?? Mass fisherman will have to compete with out of state fisherman for the price!! And then the market will still be gluted ! Just not by Ma fisherman alone!! I am going to stop fishing and start rasing Bull frogs for french resturants!!
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