Author: kensdock

Just a couple of years ago a limit back bay summer flounder catch was common.

A 43 % summer flounder harvest reduction in 2016 has been recommend by ASMFC scientist. However, some fishing groups are lobbying to delay the harvest reduction.

Before following the greedy over the cliff, take a look at the past results of delaying scientific harvest reductions.

In the early 2000’s a large reduction in the weakfish quota was urged by ASMFC biologists. They warned of a total collapse of the entire weakfish stock, if the cuts were not implemented. Tom Fote New Jersey’s ASMFC representative , the RFA and others fought the quota reduction and won. Everybody was happy, commercial and sport fisherman continued to feast on the weakfish. However, the good times were short-lived. As predicted by the biologist , by 2009 the weakfish stock was beyond depleted. It was so bad, an endangered species listing was suggested by the USFWS, as a management tool. This was the result of complete incompetence by the ASMFC weakfish board. They continue to make poor management choices today.  They approved the commercial sale of weakfish to continue. In complete disregard of the depleted population and common sense .

If you take a look at ASMFC’s striped bass management decisions , you will find the same incompetence. In pretty much in the same order.

Summer Flounder, I have documented data that shows a steep decline in my summer flounder catch rate over the last three years. Everyone I have spoken with has experienced the same.

Delaying the scientific summer flounder harvest reduction of 43%, will result in a short-term economic gain for a few, at the expense of the future of the fishery.

In addition, the recreational summer flounder keeper size limit should be reduced to under 17.5″. This will take the pressure off breeding size summer flounder. 98% of summer flounder over 18″ are female. The current size limit is 18″ in NJ.  Removing the females of any species, results in a lower population.

In complete disregard of common sense. The ASMFC allows the commercial sale of weakfish to continue.

I noticed it was just about high tide, as I glanced out of my living room window. I was pretty sure, I had enough gas in the boat  for at least  a short fishing trip. Knowing, if I used time to get gas, I would miss the best part of the tide.  I spent about 1 hour and 20 minutes bouncing from spot to spot. When I was tying the lines up, I had two nice back bay  keeper summer flounder onboard. The boat traffic was about as bad as it gets. The water clarity was about a 6. the water temperature was 74 degrees.

I also caught my annual funny looking summer flounder .

Ed Tiese admires his 26.5″ summer weakfish before releasing the fish. 7-14-2015

It was beautiful summer evening to be out on the water, blue, calm and comfortable, We headed out about 7:00 pm to catch the last 30 minutes of the incoming tide, for Summer flounder. As the tide slowed and the sunset, we turned to weakfish. I pushed the throttle to the limit, to get to the spot before dark.  The  conditions we found  in the area were borderline at best.  However, it wasn’t long before Ed tied into  a big weakfish. The water temperature was 70 degrees. The water clarity was a 6. The fishing pressure was zero.  Nobody in sight, mid- summer,  bluebird  evening ?  Very unusual.

The action started with a 23″ summer flounder followed by a 21″, 17.5, 17, 17.75 and numerous  small flounder. I also lost a big summer flounder, that is haunting me.  The water clarity was about a 6 in the spot I caught the fish, and a 2 in some areas. This was do to  a few thunderstorms that rolled through last  night. The water temperature was 73 degrees.   Overall, it was a beautiful day to be saltwater fishing the sounds of Cape May County, NJ.  It takes more effort to catch keeper summer flounder in the back bay waters this time of year, but it beats  a 20 mile ride to the old grounds.

We had just finished baiting and setting the rods, when the clicker on the reel started to scream. It was June 9th. I can’t remember the year off-hand, but every detail of the battle with the big mako is burned into my memory . The mount of that Mako, welcomes you at the entrance of my driveway. The story of that fishing trip !
It was a real effort to carry all the tide runner weakfish off the south jetty of the USCG base. It was the first week in June 1992.
It was predawn, at a spot we call the stakes, the fish hit and made an uncontrollable run. It was June 1. The mount of the 15.8 pound weakfish hangs on the left side of my mantel.
We limited out on summer flounder in the back bay for a 11 consecutive days, in June 2008.
I had just bought a new 24′ Grady  Offshore. The first trip we headed to slaughter beach Delaware for drum fish. The first fish caught on the boat was a 92 pound black drum, it was the first week in June 1997.
These are just a few reasons, I feel in love with fishing in June.
Historically June has been the most dependable fishing month in Cape May County , NJ.
However, with continuous hard south-west wind coupled with large swings in the water temperature, made for tough June fishing this year. There were a few” days when the conditions lined up and fish were caught. I did manage to catch my biggest tide-runner weakfish in decades this spring. Hopefully, the law of averages will bring blue bird days, for the rest of the season.