Home | Tournaments | Calendar | Weather | Merchandise | Sponsors |
|
Florida East Coast Spearfishing Let's talk here about spearing on Florida's Atlantic coast. Reports and other issues about this region belong here. |
|
Thread Tools | Rate Thread | Display Modes |
06-24-2017, 09:59 AM | #1 |
Registered User
Join Date: Oct 2006
Location: Melbourne, FL
Age: 59
Posts: 423
|
Missing Flounder
Flounder used to be my favorite dish however for last couple of years I have seen dramatic decline in flounder population. As a matter of fact, I did not get single flounder in over 6 months! I would like to get some input from fellow divers in our area, (PC) do you think flounder population had declined? I have asked couple of experienced commercial divers and their response was: "they will be back". The problem is, I have asked 2 years ago when I first noticed decline in landings... And no flounder to be seen.
|
06-24-2017, 10:43 AM | #2 | |
Forum Administrator
Join Date: May 2005
Location: Florida USA
Posts: 16,466
|
Re: Missing Flounder
Quote:
|
|
06-25-2017, 01:37 PM | #3 |
Registered User
Join Date: May 2011
Location: Jax beach/Lauderdale
Posts: 493
|
Re: Missing Flounder
While you guys are having your worst years, we (Jax) are having its best years in my knowledge of diving Jax for the past 7-8years. I noticed the increase in flounder the same time you guys were complaing about the decline, about two years ago sounds right. I don't think it's a stock issue. Maybe a migration issue? Possible the Okeechobee spill has pushed them more north?
Edit: it seems as if we had this conversation about a year ago. The run has been good this year so far... Last edited by Reef Reaper; 06-25-2017 at 04:57 PM. Reason: Déjà vu |
06-25-2017, 08:59 PM | #4 |
Registered User
|
Re: Missing Flounder
Flounder everywhere out of Jax. We appreciate you guys scaring them North.
|
06-25-2017, 09:20 PM | #5 |
The Ocean is Calling
Join Date: Mar 2011
Location: Jupiter, FL
Posts: 349
|
Re: Missing Flounder
I shot one beauty (10lb) down south here in Jupiter last year, but that was the only one i saw all year.
|
06-25-2017, 09:30 PM | #6 |
Registered User
Join Date: Aug 2004
Location: Jacksonville, FL
Age: 44
Posts: 2,531
|
Re: Missing Flounder
I'm out of Jax but I don't find them too often.. I think I go farther than the big numbers typically are. My mom loves the damn things.. I hate cleaning them
I use this technique https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=mZZAjF7z8dY
__________________
Spearfishing is underwater grocery shopping |
06-25-2017, 09:34 PM | #7 |
Registered User
|
Re: Missing Flounder
I think all the Red Snapper are eating them.
|
06-26-2017, 06:57 AM | #8 |
Registered User
Join Date: Aug 2013
Posts: 83
|
Re: Missing Flounder
I dont want to blame the commercial guys for over harvesting but this is what i saw. Opening day of grouper we hit a couple of near shore wrecks out of canaveral. Both times a commercial guy shows up and his diver jumps in. I was upset they were crashing the wreck while I was on it but they felt justified because they had to earn a living. Besides they were going for flounder and we were after grouper. Both times the diver comes up with a stringer of flounder weighing 50 or 60 lbs. The diver said he cleaned out the bottom and time to move. And that was one day. Needless to say when I went down there wasnt a flat fish to be found.
I'm tired of commercial guys raping the bottom and taking fish that belong to everyone. |
06-26-2017, 07:28 AM | #9 |
Registered User
Join Date: Aug 2004
Location: Jacksonville, FL
Age: 44
Posts: 2,531
|
Re: Missing Flounder
Commercial guys are part of 'everyone' too though.
__________________
Spearfishing is underwater grocery shopping |
06-26-2017, 07:51 AM | #10 | |
Registered User
Join Date: Oct 2006
Location: Melbourne, FL
Age: 59
Posts: 423
|
Re: Missing Flounder
Quote:
|
|
06-26-2017, 07:59 AM | #11 |
Registered User
Join Date: Aug 2013
Posts: 83
|
Re: Missing Flounder
yes, this May 1st
|
06-26-2017, 08:09 AM | #12 |
Registered User
Join Date: Aug 2013
Posts: 83
|
Re: Missing Flounder
yes they are part of everyone but they can take more than rec divers for the price of a license that doesnt pay for the true value of what they are taking. We all buy licenses that entitle us to harvest. But we dont all get the same return on investment.
FWC and the state have always been slow to increase size and reduce harvest limits. The clams in the indian river are a perfect example. For years clammers from up north raper the river while our legislators sat on their thumbs. Someone probably got rich while the rest of us lost a resource that may never return. The damage was done over a few years but will take generations to repair. If the resource gets more restricted the value of it will increase. Commercial guys will get more for their catch while taking fewer animals. Its basic supply and demand economics. Too bad most are too short sighted and figure they need to take as much as possible and make the money now and when the resource is depleted move onto the next species. |
06-26-2017, 09:23 AM | #13 |
Registered User
Join Date: Aug 2004
Location: Jacksonville, FL
Age: 44
Posts: 2,531
|
Re: Missing Flounder
The price of the license doesn't mean anything though.. they're providing a product. What they paid for the right to harvest said product has no bearing on this discussion.
Your supply and demand argument does have merit though. When I started commercial spearfishing, it was unlimited grouper at 3.50$ per pound, when I left it was 1000lb trip limit at 6.00$ per pound.. and all in less than a 10 year period. But.. if the prices keep going up then wild caught fish will price itself out of the market vs farm raised garbage. This includes flounder. As far as short-sightedness goes.. they're just people trying to pay their bills. An extra 100lbs of fish is the difference between just paying the bills and getting ahead a little bit.. or buying their kid a nice Christmas. I don't begrudge them trying to maximize their harvest.. it's their job after all.
__________________
Spearfishing is underwater grocery shopping |
06-26-2017, 12:36 PM | #14 |
Underwater Assassin
Join Date: Feb 2008
Location: Indialantic, FL
Posts: 324
|
Re: Missing Flounder
Hard to believe that you were out on May 1st to get your 1 rec allowed grouper. We cancelled our commercial trip due to safety concerns in a 28fter. Most others did as well. Seas were 6 ft at very short periods and to my knowledge there was only one commercial diver out hitting the port wrecks that day
|
06-26-2017, 12:59 PM | #15 |
Registered User
Join Date: Aug 2013
Posts: 83
|
Re: Missing Flounder
You are right. It was May 1, 2016. I didn't pay careful attention to the question.
|
Bookmarks |
Thread Tools | |
Display Modes | Rate This Thread |
|
|