Options for regulating the state's fluke fishery are drawing increasing controversy as the date approaches for the state Marine Fisheries Council to set the new rules.
It is expected that the council will meet March 6 to make a decision, and will be pressured by private and charter boatmen, back bay anglers, South and North Jersey interests and surf fishermen.

Paul Haertel, a member of the Berkeley Striper Club, said his organization favors two ideas that are not among those already approved by the Atlantic States Marine Fisheries Commission.
The club feels it is time that the council recognized surf fishermen are not second-class citizens who must fish only for bluefish and striped bass.
"The only real chance surf casters have of catching legal-sized fluke is during the fall run when mullet and other forage species are migrating along the beach," he pointed out.
"Last year the early September closure of our fluke fishery hit tackle stores, marinas, charter and party boats as well as other Shore area businesses really hard," he continued.

"The vast majority of private boat fluke fishermen virtually disappeared from the sea. Most of the fishermen I know were incensed over this early closure," he added.
Haertel, who is a career law enforcement agent, knows how people think and act when government treats them unfairly. "Many are now saying that they are not going to comply with the laws that they believe are unjust," he said. "It is absolutely imperative that we be allowed to fish for fluke at least through September."

The ASMFC has already approved four options, which Haertel said the Berkeley club members have weighed and found lacking.
The first is a season opening June 28 and running through Sept. 8 with a 17 1/2-inch minimum size and a two-fish limit. The club feels this is too short a season and too small a possession limit.
The second is a season running from July 4 through Sept. 2 with an eight-fish possession limit and a 17 1/2-inch minimum size. The club feels the opening is too late and the closure too early.
The third is a season running from May 24 through Sept. 8 with an eight-fish possession limit and an 18-inch minimum size. The club feels this is too early a closure and too early an opening.
The fourth is a season opening May 17 and ending Oct. 17 with an eight-fish possession limit and an 18 1/2-inch minimum size. The 1 1/2-inch increase from the 2007 minimum of 17 inches is hard for many professional and private boaters to accept.
The Berkeley members feel that two additional proposals should be considered. "This would allow the party and charter boats to spice their catch with a nice fluke, allow surf casters to take home a fish for the table, and allow some (anglers) to retain a trophy catch," Haertel explained. He pointed out, however, that spring fishing for striped bass is excellent, and lasts into July, and there are weakfish, blackfish, bluefish and sea bass available, so the impact would not be as great overall as it would be if the September fluke fishery is lost again.
Robert "Dusty" Rhodes, former vice chairman of the Mid-Atlantic Fishery Management Council, appreciates the argument for lower minimum sizes, but insists that opportunity is most important.
"I heard the arguments on the council and I hear them today," he said. "I thought the regulations were a mistake. They should have taken the longer season." Rhodes said time on the water is more important than a half-inch or an inch-and-a-half saved in minimum size.

"The shorter season runs the risk of putting more pressure on other fish, induces cheating and ultimately the recreational sector incurs even more harsh regulations," he said.

Paul my Members & I want to thank you and tell you it's appreciated for all the up dates on the fluke issues for 2008.
Guppie