Summer Flounder Recreational Fishery Management

The summer flounder stock has responded dramatically in the last decade to the rebuilding program adopted by the Mid-Atlantic Fishery Management Council and implemented by the federal government and states. However, the recreational fishery for summer flounder has presented challenges since the Council first implemented recreational harvest limits and recreational fishing measures (i.e., minimum size limits, possession limits, and closed fishing seasons) under Amendment 2 to the fishery management plan, which was implemented in 1993. Specifically, the implementation of recreational fishing measures that are effective at constraining landings to the recreational harvest limit and are responsive to the diverse user groups in this fishery have proved difficult and have often proved ineffective at constraining landings. In addition, the prosecution of this fishery in both state and federal waters, by shore and boat-based anglers as well as for-hire vessels, coupled with the spatial and temporally variability in the stock, have presented novel challenges in the development of regulations that provide for a satisfactory angling experience for all engaged in this fishery.