Caught My Fluke Limit, But Are Commercial Draggers Hurting the Fishing?
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- čas přidán 5. 09. 2024
- I caught a limit of Summer Flounder (Fluke) by fishing under the birds, bait, and bluefish. Supports my new book, Fishing the Edge - Techniques and Tales from Surf, Boat, and Kayak: amzn.to/3TQtFvq.
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As a scuba diver / fisherman, this subject hits close to home. I have dove @120’ and when you come to where a dragger came through it’s like walking in a forest and then coming to the edge of a desert with NO LIFE, not even an empty shell.
John , 1960's and 70's fluke , winter flounder were plentiful , even salmon in the sound .
What killed these bottom dwellers were all the draggers off south shore . Why is it we never learn from our mistakes
The problem is all the fish that come up after dragging and their limit go back dead. I have friends who have worked these boats and that's what they have told me. Damage is definitely being done but it seems the recreational and for hire fisherman always pay the price of the other guy.
Not really happy about the draggers cause everything they pull in dies regardless of size. I believe its effected the Fluke fishing for the recreational fisherman and damaged the Fluke stocks.
Absolutely. As an off shore deck hand I can tell you the damage is devastating.
You’re better at this than I am, so I’m gonna put it to you this way, my experience of many years of fluke fishing. When I go out for offshore, I’ve noticed on many occasions draggers that have left a 2 mile long, slick of dead fluke they were under the size limit they just dump them off, with that being said, they are ruining the flu population because they can fish at times that we can’t so they dragging up all the food during the migration from Oshua to insure before the season even opens for you. This is not fair that should be stopped immediately.
@@myronchamberlain7734 that is not the point they kill fish and just waste them and throw them away. If they’re not the size limit they’re allowed to keep that is slaughtering millions of fluke do you understand now
One fact that should always be kept in mind is that in NJ, NY and CT paid and effective lobbyists are always pushing for their commercial fishing clients. Sport anglers are mostly unorganized and fight amongst themselves.
Sport anglers are their own worst enemy. I will say however that on the CT Fisheries public hearing meetings I've attended, the policies seem to have been decided and ASMFC makes policy. States have little control except to screw it up further like the insane Black Sea Bass closure except for party boats in a few days.
In NC , bad data ,bad laws ,and big preference to the commercial guys has really hurt us recreational fishermen. We didn't even have a spring season at all. A lot of guys getting tired of it. If they don't change , I suspect the so called "laws" will be ignored by many. This year ,I'm taking my dollars to SC, where the rec fisherman gets a fair shake.
Totally agree.
Its happening here in sc to . Commercial gets all
I’ve reached my limit with a Dragger’s. Now they’re actually driving their nets all the way up into Niantic bay.
I'm on the Thames river side and I'm over it. fishing is awful around us now.
Draggers are absolutely to blame for the decline of Fluke in Long Island sound. Terrible
I fish out of moriches and this season has been terrible. Ive scoured the bay from east to west all the usual channels and sand bars special holes you name it have no fish on them. Not saying you can't catch them but it definetly seems like there is less fish around. Also everytime I'm out starting in March early April there are big commercial boats right off shore out the inlet. I want to believe it's because the temperatures aren't where they need to be just yet but look at the comments everyone's saying it maybe it's time to advocate and get some answers.
The small draggers don’t do a lot of damage but the multiple big ones that go back and forth from Ft Pond to Montauk all day long have certainly impacted the fishing here. Who knows how much they keep.. there is no DEC enforcement. Over 25 years of fishing on East End I’ve never seen the DEC board a dragger .
They do trust me
we used to fish Long Island for fluke on opening day for years. they always opened a week before CT back then. One opener we slammed the fluke ! Great trip ! we went back a few days later to same spot and caught nothing. we seen a older gentleman who we seen on the opener and asked him if he was having any luck. he said "the f*****g draggers were here yesterday.. enough said. I hate to take away anyone's way of living, commercial fishing is hard work. But with today's technology they are doing a number of fish stocks IMO. Too much waste with draggers.
I live in Virginia where they allow commercial bunker fishing. Massive ships clear out the bay and it makes a clear difference when they’re not out there.
Hey John big fan buddy I think the draggers get paid and so do we with less fish in the area and bigger size for us to keep I hate them tell you the truth 😉 keep up the great work your friend Mike from nj 👍
John, I believe everyone has a right to make a living, however I also believe commercial ventures should not be able to fish inside the 3 mile line. That's my 2 Pennies in the topic !
everyone has the right to earn a living unless/until they are damaging the resource. The resource belongs to all of us.
@@jjm4643 fractionally it does, yes.
Proffesional fisherman disturb the bottom and leave a waistland without bait for those fish that you are targeting. Same here in Holland
Been fishing Hempstead harbor pretty much everyday for a few weeks and haven’t caught a single fluke. In the Same spots and tides as last year I would be catching at least 5-8 a day so something is definitely up
'Are commercial draggers hurting fishing'???? That's THE most rhetorical question ever asked.
Back in the mid to late 80s the fluke got pounded by the offshore draggers in the winters fluking was terrible in the fire Island area for years back then thunk that's what's happening now a lot less fish making it inshore from the winter grounds what makes it worse these draggers are mostly from Southern states Carolinas and such. That area john is fishing 10 years ago the fluking was incredible it was so good back then those little draggers were working that area backed then didn't matter that's how good the fishing was brings tears to my eyes almost how badly the fishing there has fallen off the fish are not making it inshore any more just my take on it
I hate the commercial draggers they destroy the bottom killing millions of fish every year. However, i also dont like people who go out and catch a limit every time they fish and keep fish they dont need. Catch them responsibly🙏 you dont need 3 keeper fluke every time you fish
yup, destroying the bottom is the thing that most people don't talk about.
The fluke fishing all around port Jefferson has been terrible this year. I've gone out all day with no keepers. So something causing the decline.
Trawlers in the sound is why NC has a two week flounder season. Trawlers need to be a mile offshore....period.
So true, unbelievable that they're able to work inside in NC
Using the engine as a rudder. One of the first things I learned as a boater. And you're right, it's rare that you see people do it.
Someone has to do something
I have seen, in southern New Jersey, a huge decrease in fish from when I was a kid in the early 60s. The last 30 years of flounder fishing has been up and down (AKA good years and bad). I think the recent regs in NJ are making a difference but time will tell. Overfishing is definitely an issue but I believe it goes right with over populated areas like the northeast. The demand for fish is hurting the fishing for sure.
What’s up Rob hopefully you’re retired from Campbells and don’t have to worry about that mess of a place anymore. 😂 I’ve been fishing out of Wildwood every summer early June and it’s usually slow or nothing. This year we all caught multiple fluke but all shorts. Had one nice keeper in about 60 ft of water off the cape may reef but got off at the net. The trips I take to Obx every summer is like night and day the amount of fish I catch there compared to NJ. Plus the variety of what you can catch from the shore in NC is really amazing.
@@timolean5846 in OC NJ May and early June are the best flounder fishing in back bay. Shallow water under 20 ft usually. Water temps in the 60s. After that they move. Missed out on some of this this year but still have over 10 keepers with a ton of throw backs. All on minnows but one on gulp. And yes I am retired and it's fantastic.
@@robtopham6095 yeah we mostly fished the back bays with killies and gulp. Water was 67 at cape May reef probably should had chummed and targeted sea bass. Don’t get to go too often it’s usually just a handful of times a year in NJ. But in comparison Obx seems easier and more consistent. I’ve always thought that north shore that skinner fishes as one of the best fisheries on the east coast. Northern jersey seems to be a little better than south or maybe it’s just imo?
@@timolean5846 Agreed OBX , Long Island sound and north jersey's fisheries are better BUT I was out yesterday's high tire and today's high tide and caught 17",19" yesterday and 20" today. If you put your time in you will find them. Not limiting like Jon but who does!
@@timolean5846 North NJ is superior to the south NJ for most of the season. Deeper waters near the coast and the bigger fish hold inside inlets past labor day. South NJ is more shallow sandy waters with tons of wetlands.
With today's regulations, I don't think draggers are decimating the flounder population thru catching. I think the draggers are destroying the bottom structure. Once the structure is damaged there's nowhere for the bait to hide, without bait the flounder won't come around
I have observed a noticeable drop in fluke. It might just by my area (Point Lookout NY) but I have really been struggling over the past 2 years. Not 1 keeper from shore.
Funny you post this video today I caught a 4.5lb fluke on Monday and she was COVERED in scars that appeared to be from a dragger.
Think your experience of "what it used to be" summaries almost all of CT waters for fishing
YUP.
Commercial bycatch definitely puts negative pressure on any fishery. Areas where nets and dredges can't operate will always be a healthier place to fish. Every regulation placed on recreational fishermen is imposed for a reason but it's not from problems caused by recreational fishermen.
Exactly! Rec guys act like nothing they do has an effect just because someone else might be having more of an effect. All around the fisheries are just terribly managed with reactive regulations instead of proactive conservation.
I think they should be a certain amount of miles out
@John...don't know when's the last time you went to a fish market but I went last week and the things they're allowed to sell are insane. I saw porgies barely 6"....I'll leave it there.
Stop n shop in CT today I saw lots of fluke filets that obviously came from 12” fish
I fish the inner coastal of NC. We are the only state in the SE that allows inshore dragging, and are restricted to a 2 week season. I don’t think there is any other conclusion that can be made about the damage of the commercial dragging. I can throw a cast net without bringing juvenile flounder, I could imagine how many are killed when a net is drug over their habitat. It’s no different than deforestation and wondering where the animals went after their habitat is removed.
I used to work at Captree back in the day. Boat after boat drifting like vacuums...
Worse than those dragger's
There is one way to see if the draggers have an impact, Block off several miles of water straight out to the open sea for several years. If the fishing stays the same then it's not the draggers, But, I'm guessing it's the draggers.
Yeah I fish the harbor, near Jersey City.. the first couple weeks I caught multiple 20-22 inchers. This month: dead! So bad my last 3 trips I decided to start blue crabbing. Lmao did very well too last Sunday. Hope it picks up. I’m not paying for party boat fluke trips.
draggers should have to stay out of the bays. I fish Raritan bay often and the draggers are dropping nets as they go through the channels. it just isn't right!
Thanks John for a great video! I not a fan of the draggers. We as fishermen, sportsmen and I'm glad to see better conservation laws but draggers usually target one species and all the rest go back dead. I was on a charter out of Portsmouth for Cod and all the under size fish go back but they don't drain their bladders so they flop on the surface till they die or eaten by the gulls. Things need to change!
Classic trip John. I could use more stern cam though! Its like the cow bell skit on Saturday Night Live. I got a fever.....and the only perscription....is more stern cam!
As John said, there's only a handful of draggers in the Sound only keeping 210 pounds a day. Rarely will they even catch that. There's so many more recreational and party/charter boats catching way more fish. A good day on any party boat will catch way more fluke than any dragger and there's a lot more of them. Also, fluke size limits on draggers minimizes waste. If you try to eat local from farms do the same for your seafood. Support your local commercial fishermen, they're just trying to make a living while providing high quality protein to the public
Recreational fishermen don’t destroy the entire environment by fishing like the draggers do.
@@jcfishingwrld Recreational fishermen and commercial fishermen kill fish. That's destroying the majority of the enviroment. Unless you're an expert on benthic organisms and species that inhabit it you can't say that draggers are destroying the entire environment while not even understanding it. I love to fish and I kill a lot of fish. It's understanding that everyone is doing some damage to the environment and believing that management and regulations are for the best of the fisheries. I don't want to argue in the youtube comments sections but blaming commercial fishermen for kill fish while remaining ignorant to recreational anglers also killing fish is unfair. The commercial fishing industry on Long Island is one of the oldest industries and is also diminishing because of beliefs like these. Support local businesses; support local commercial fishermen.
Appreciate the improved location audio. Thanks for another interesting video.
I don’t see the draggers in our bay ever but great bay isn’t that big however I see them a lot when I’m out in the ocean right off Long Beach Island. I love your new boat John. Really nice set up. I have a 19 foot Maycraft and I love it but when I bought it I had a evinrude e tec put on it now I really wish I had gone with a Yamaha! Great video as usual!
I ordered one of those hook removers the other day, simple yet effective!!! I like it lol
To answer the title question, yes.
I’ve been fishing around great south bay fire island area of Long Island and got nothing so far this year and I’m not the only one. Never used to be like this.
John- as a shore fisherman in RI, I've caught exactly one legal flounder in the last five years. I've had days were I catch and throw back a dozen or more in the 13-16" range, and what kills me is that I throw those 16" fish back, then stop into my local fish market where I can buy the same fish on ice. From a dragger. Because the commercial size limit is 15. Makes no sense.
Can't blame the commercial fishermen for doing what they can legally do, but that 2-stroke diesel drone would drive me nuts (listening with headphones...).
The draggers should have crazy restrictions also...... Man Delaware is 16" and 4 per person all year
I have fished off NJ for decades. This is the WORST season I have ever seen. Last year was hard weeding through small fish for an occasional keeper. This year there aren't even a lot of small fish to weed out! Granted, the weather has been an issue with a persistent southerly wind driving cold water inshore, draggers ,'mowing the lawn " almost daily though have destroyed the bottom and the fishing.
I belive the draggers and the gill-netters take the majority of the fish stock. I have seen the gill-netters take a whole stock of bluefish off the Jersey coast
As a beach fisherman when the draggers went by the fishing stopped.
John, with all those book sales surely now you could get your seat recovered😂
I just located the replacement I think!
@@JohnSkinnerFishing i like that your boat is a beater with a good engine that’s my type of vessel except I can’t even afford the good engine part 🤪
Definitely not a fan of commercial dredgers operating in the Sound or any of the bays for that matter. Hard enough to catch fluke without have them vacuum cleaning up everything.
Always bugged me how some people had a license to harvest for their own monetary gain, what actually belongs to all of us.
Well said, agree 100%
John, please show how are you tie the rig and how many inches from the buckle do you put the second hook then show how long of a leader of the second hook it would be very educational. Thank you.
We were fishing Vineyard sound last week early in the morning. No fluke but caught sea bass and blue fish. We had to move. A dragger was coming down on us. We were in 100 ft. Of water. We normally do well there. Not anymore. Sadly.
We had similar conditions. Calm and little tide. Used the pedal drives on our yaks to get a better drift and score a few.
Congrats on the book sales John!
There is zero enforcement for the commercial draggers. The limits mean nothing and their bycatch is just as dead as the stuff they land.
Why can't they fish rod and reel like everyone else
Your silly
last year there was a dragger that left 2 miles of dead porgy's from by-catch. I took pictures and videos and reported to DEEP, who told me "well, it's very unfortunate he did that, but we didn't see it so...." and that was it.... no fine, no punishment, no nothing. it's awful.
@@thevernonposse because I get paid by the pound 😂
Such a idiotic statement
Ny needs a congressman in its pockets instead of the commercial fishermen.......I've seen flounder in fishing markets only 8 inches long ..they take or kill everything
All those bait fish that first fish puked up, alot of bait fish in the water, I know what you mean about the draggers we had a similar problem around the isle of man where I live and they created several no dredge trawling zones of several square miles around the island and the scallops and plenty of other marine life has started to thrive, I know those guys have to make a living but think seems to work by giving area's chance to recover.
I fish Port Jefferson Long Island
After the mf dragger goes through it’s like the dead zone
I don't think they should be anywhere near recreational twenty or thirty miles away
One more thing commercial dragon should be limited to 10 to 12 miles off the beaches I’m not even close to the fishing areas for the local rod and reel guy
Can you please make a video on how you make your rigs?
Big offshore draggers is whats really hurting. The amount of bycatch that comes back dead is shocking as well. Not only that but the fish that come up dead from these nets definitely aren't good for sale. You'd think these commercial guys try to come up with better ways to catch fish, preserve the population, and keep them fresh. But these guys gotta make a living as well. Tough situation
Link for dehookers???
Jones Inlet in bay not worth going out. I am sure some people do ok. Not taking cover of boat.
Hi John, long time listener, first time caller… what’s easier to catch, fluke or harder to catch? I’ve always wanted to hear your thoughts on this. Thanks in advance.
Regards,
-Matt Bobsong
6:06 if the commercial staggers are not the ultimate cause in the drop of fluke, adding to a drop in specific areas is still not justifiable.
Lol John I remember many years ago you were in a video just like this one saying you went 3 and a half hours with no fish....lol
Have you ever tried fish bites they seem to be more effective where I am on the south shore
I've never caught a fluke/flounder and we do get them around my area but nothing like the size I've seen on your channels in the usa 🇺🇸
I guess those draggers don't believe in mufflers !
John, if you see fluke spitting up sand eels why aren't you putting gulp sand eels on the hook?
Do you ever use a drift sock
I bought 3 of those rods. But I didn’t know there was a bay version lol now I got to go look.
Can’t believe dragging is still legal. Definitely having a effect. But they always restrict the rod and reel guy instead
NC still allows commercial flounder draggers and went over by 25,000 lbs. now we have no recreational season. I guess I’ll be heading up north soon for the flatties
At what point do laws become unjust and get broken. How is it fair that commercial fishing wipes out your recreational season
Crazy that you’re saying that up there cause it looks like one of the best fluke fisheries in the country. I’ve never caught a keeper in south jersey unless it was on a charter always shorts. A lot of people argue that with commercial fisherman and draggers you at least know how much they’re harvesting vs videos of some Mexican striper fishing overnight in jersey keeping 20 fish. Than saying he doesn’t speak English.
We had a saying when spotting a dragger "bring all tubes to bare" Yeah they have to make a living too but ask yourself this "when have you ever seen a fluke in a fish store" (I have never) Where is their catch going??
Commercial fishing shit needs to shut down
That first blue are all those sand eels and was still trying to eat?
Hey John, do you troll with the wind or with the current when they are opposed to each other? Thanks!! Great work as usual
With the current for two reasons. One, the difference in speed and direction of the current and boat is what determines how vertical you can jig. Two, the bait is getting swept with the current. It is unnatural for bait to travel up current.
Bycatch and shorts dead, fed to the sharks
I don't begrudge commercial fishing, but they should have to do it like they do in Iceland with the cod fishery: bunch of guys jigging...no nets. Level the playing field a little and less by catch
Further west in the sound we have actually seen an improvement in the fluke fishing over the past 3 years. Between 2017 and 2020 keepers seemed few and far between with lots of shorts. However 2021-present has seen a substantial improvement in the ratio of keepers. Admittedly there is now a somewhat concerning low number of shorts leading to much less action.
Couldnt find your link for dehooker
Sounds like the draggers need more regulations. I really dont care for big brother etc. but they should have to check frequently to help ensure the small fish can have a chance to live after being released.
Too much pressure on fluke from everywhere.
I was in R.I last week and a dragger was less than 2 miles off the beach. When it's foggy out they get less than a mile from the beach. Anyone know how far off they are supposed to be?..
Draggers destroy fisheries. I don't care what anybody says.
John have you tried the Gulp Sand Eel?
I rig the same way you do with a sand Eel up top. They are deadly
Sickening
Everyone agrees its the draggers.... Same story with the Atlantic highlands
Commercial Draggers: Imagine if your a land farmer and you just go out to open land and get free fruits and vegetables? All you pay for is tractor (boat) and license. What happened after the gold rush?
Tell me you know nothing about dragging without telling me you know nothing....
@@richardcornell9964 tell me how dragging is good for the fisheries.
What kind of boat is this? Nice vid John.
I don’t understand the point of having size limits for the draggers. What good are they doing by “releasing” dead fish that don’t add to their creel?
How do you adjust the tension knob on the accurist and what’s the purpose of it thanks John
I don't touch it.
Draggers are ruining fishing for the recreational angler. Have been for decades and it's only getting worse. I don't know what the solution is though.