Call for Comment – 2011 Proposed Summer Flounder Regulations

2/10/2011 | Posted by Ckennedy
Tags: Recreational, Coastal, Summer Flounder


Below are the recreational summer flounder options that the ASMFC Summer Flounder Technical Committee has approved for Maryland to use to liberalize our harvest in 2011. The options contain size and season changes. Please review the proposed options and submit your written comment to: fisheriespubliccomment@dnr.state.md.us by February 28. Each option provides a different conservation opportunity (1 provides more opportunity, 3 provides less).

In 2010 we had uniform size limits throughout Maryland. Previously, the Chesapeake Bay and the coast had different size limits. This made it difficult to evaluate effective regulations for reaching our target. We also believe that split regulations in previous years artificially increased the summer flounder estimate.

In 2010, our regulations were successful at keeping the harvest estimate below our target. During 2010, Maryland fishermen harvested an estimated 38,221 fish, while our target was 75,000 fish. In 2011, Maryland's target increased to 101,000 fish due to an increase in the coastal quota. This results in Maryland being able to expand our 2011 regulations.

Proposed 2011 Measures:
Option Min Size Bag Limit Open Season Conservation Opportunity
1 18.5" 3 Apr 17 - Nov 22 1
2 18.5" 3 All Year 2
3 18" 3 Apr 17 - Nov 22 3