By Gary Dickerson
(from Jersey Coast Anglers Association June 1995 Newsletter)
Most of us are familiar with catch and release and how it enhances the conservation of our various species of sport fish. We now have a new form of catch and release. Let us call it catch and must release. As more regulations enter into our sport, our fishing techniques must change to comply with them.
Fluke fishermen are now compelled to release all fluke under 14" in length. Statistics indicate that about 65% of the fluke we catch are less than 14". Management officials state we kill 25% of the fish we release. Surely we can question the validity of 25% mortality or we can make changes in our methods of fishing. Let us make some fundamental changes in our fishing techniques and invalidate management’s arbitrary guesstimate of 25%.
The first step is easy and extremely important Do NOT use any hooks smaller than 5/ 0 for fluke. You will not miss any large keeper size fluke with this hook but more important you will not gut hook a short Fluke that has to be released. Many articles have been written by fluke fishing experts recommending the use of a 2.0 size hook. Yes this hook is more effective in catching fluke but the down side is their ability to kill fish that must be released.
Fluke are a very hardy species. How we handle the fish prior to release has a definite impact. If we can grab the hook and shake the fish off the chance of survival is excellent. If we must handle the fish we should use a wet towel or wet our hand before holding the fish to remove the hook. After the hook is removed we should set the fish back in the water. Fluke maybe flat but they are not Frisbees.
Young of the year surveys indicated that the 1994 year class of fluke was good. This means there will be many mandatory releases this season. Our ability to release these fish unharmed is easy if we practice the described techniques. If we do not make changes to reduce our release mortality we may find future management plans reducing our take home catch. Management may establish an eight fish mortality limit instead of an eight fish possession limit. In other words an eight fish mortality limit per day could become a four fish possession limit.
A review of our regulations indicate many other species that have both size and bag limits. We can make the necessary changes to insure the survival of the fish we must release and we have to do it now.
Gary Dickerson is a Past President of JCAA, A member of Manasquan Fishing Club, and Chairman of the JCAA Fluke Committee.