Below Attached is a letter I sent to each of the councilmen on the New Jersey Marine Fisheries Council. It reflects the feelings of the vast majority of members of the Berkeley Striper Club. If possible please urge your readers to write to the council asking for a fluke season that last through September. Their address is P.O. Box 400, Trenton, N.J. 08625-0400.

I spoke to Tom Fote who stated it is probably too late to have any other proposals approved but I am hoping that the council will submit the two I have suggested to the ASMFC for approval.
I understand that the council will make their decision on this year's fluke regulations at their March 6th meeting.

Paul Haertel

Paul.
I thank you for this E-mail, Hopefully we'll get some of my members to get their letter out as soon as possible.

I as well agree with every thing you wrote, it seems to be Tom Fote is putting as much effort in to this issue, We need anglers to support this issue real bad and soon or else we'll be where we were last year.

I am glad you got this to me after I Posted the way I felt about the fluke regulations..
Guppie

Paul Haertel, Delegate
Berkeley Striper Club Writes:
February 11, 2008

New Jersey Marine Fisheries Council
Councilman Gilbert Ewing


Councilman Ewing,

Guppie & Guppies Members
I am writing to you on behalf of the Berkeley Striper Club, which is based in Seaside Park and has approximately 200 members.
At our January meeting our club voted unanimously that we would prefer to fish for fluke in September rather than in June.
Therefore, we were disappointed again this year as only one of the 4 proposals allow the fluke season to extend into the fall.
Therefore, our club voted to support the proposal for an 18 ½” size limit with and 8 fish bag limit with a season beginning on 5/17 and ending on 10/17.
While we agree with most others that the most important part of the fluke season is July and August, it is imperative that we be able to fish for fluke at least through September. Traditionally, August and September are the months when we have the opportunity to catch a real doormat.
Being able to fish for fluke in September is crucial because in addition to having a legitimate chance of catching a doormat, there is little else to fish for in our inshore waters during that time of the year. The striper runs in recent falls have been relatively poor and they seem to migrate to New Jersey later and later each fall. Even during the peak of the mullet run in September, there have only been isolated reports of good catches. Fishing for weakfish during September has been really inconsistent and the weakfish that are available are much smaller than the ones we are able to catch in the spring.
While seabass fishing in September has been good, it is hard to fish for them and not catch fluke at the same time. It will be a shame if all of them have to be released.
Imagine catching a record sized fluke then only to have to let it go. There are some blackfish around during September but with a limit of only one a day, they are not worth targeting. While bluefish are usually abundant then, most fishermen who prefer fishing for other species will not allow themselves to be relegated to fishing for bluefish.

Further, it is our belief that surfcasters are often treated like second-class citizens when it comes to fisheries regulations.
The only real chance surfcasters have of catching legal sized fluke is during the fall run when mullet and other forage species are migrating along the beach.

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.
The vast majority of private boat fluke fishermen virtually disappeared from the sea. Please don’t let this happen again this fall. Most of the fishermen I know were incensed over this early closure. Many are now saying they are not going to comply with laws they believe are unjust. It is absolutely imperative that we be allowed to fish for fluke at least through September.
Our club does not favor any early season opening in May or June at the cost of losing our right to fish for fluke in September. In recent years our spring striper runs have been phenomenal and have lasted into July. Huge weakfish including some over 15 lbs. have been caught well into June.

Seabass fishing has been stellar in the spring as well. One can even keep four blackfish until the end of May although we are aware that blackfish regulations may change as well.
These species can hold our attention until we are able to begin fluke fishing in July.
All this having been said, we are aware that the situation is somewhat different in the extreme southern part of New Jersey and those fishing there might prefer an earlier season. We are also aware that some of the party boats and amateur fishermen might prefer a smaller size limit. However, of the four options that have currently been approved only two of them seem to be viable.
Below are the four proposals that have been approved.
1.) 17 ½” size limit, June 28 –Sept. 8, two fish limit.
There will be very little support for this as the season is too short and the bag limit is too small. Not many fishermen will go on charter or party boats with only a 2 fish limit.
While larger fish might be a little harder to come by, with a bag limit of 8, fishermen will at least have a chance to fill their coolers with a nice catch every once in a while.
2.) 17 ½” size limit, July 4th – Sept. 2, 8 fish bag limit.
Fishermen will be screaming because the season begins far too late and ends way too early.
3.) 18” size limit, May 24th – Sept. 8th, 8 fish bag limit.
This will be the favored option by many but the season ends too early.
4.) 18 ½” size limit, May 17th – Oct. 17th, 8 fish bag limit
This will be favored by many of the private boat fishermen, a number of charter and party boats as well as surfcasters.

Below are two proposals that we respectfully request be given consideration for approval. A compromise between options 3 and 4 will appease the vast majority of fishermen. Please ask the ASMFC to approve the following options.
5.) 18 Ό” size limit, May 24th – Sept. 30th, 8 fish bag limit
This would be the best way to compromise between options 3 and 4
6.) Reduce options 3, 4, or 5 by a few days and extend the season into the fall with
a 1 or 2 fish bag limit perhaps from Sept. 2nd to Sept. 30th
This will allow the party and charter boats to spice their catch with a nice fluke, allow surfcasters to take home a fish for the table and allow some to retain a trophy catch.
Sincerely,


Paul Haertel, Delegate
Berkeley Striper Club

E-mail – anglerpmh@aol.com