Southern Spotted Flounder - Nearing Extinction?

[longfisher]

By this time of year, the Texas flounder fishery is most often booming. But after years of increasing losses, the fishery is in very sad shape, indeed.

Recent fishing reports from those who are essentially expert flounder fishermen (and women) have been dismal. This may be the worst year of floundering in our history.

So, I was interested to learn if flounder stocks in other states are similarly decreasing...or is this just a Texas problem?

LongFisher

[Captain Michael Buffington]

Could it be global warming? It's a natural cycle you stupid fool.

Mike

[lowtide]

By this time of year, the Texas flounder fishery is most often booming. But after years of increasing losses, the fishery is in very sad shape, indeed.

Recent fishing reports from those who are essentially expert flounder fishermen (and women) have been dismal. This may be the worst year of floundering in our history.

So, I was interested to learn if flounder stocks in other states are similarly decreasing...or is this just a Texas problem?

LongFisher

Flounder fishing up here in NJ has sucked the past couple of years. They keep raising the size limits and decreasing the limits and shortening the season. This year you basically caught 25 shorts to every keeper { if you were lucky } . But the netters out front can keep 12 inchers - go figure................. NJ blows !!!!!!! I pulled my skiff almost 2 months ago out of disgust.

[longfisher]

Flounder fishing up here in NJ has sucked the past couple of years. They keep raising the size limits and decreasing the limits and shortening the season. This year you basically caught 25 shorts to every keeper { if you were lucky } . But the netters out front can keep 12 inchers - go figure................. NJ blows !!!!!!! I pulled my skiff almost 2 months ago out of disgust.

I'm not sure how you use that term, LT, but here that would mean shrimp trawlers, both bay and near shore. Here they do tremendous damage to the flounder populations. They literally clean the bottom of the fish with every trawl.

In Texas and Louisiana we have a terrible problem with shrimpers keeping illegal catches of finfish. The flounder are easy victims.

LF