I have been here now about 23 months from the Midwest. I must admit, the Ontario wilderness as well as Lake Erie spoiled me on walleye. But, for the effort I have made here on flounder, and what it takes just to get my boat out on the water in a lot of heat......................................I am not impressed with Chesapeake Bay fishing. Yesterday, we fished an area around Coleman Bridge as well as the Amoco Oil rig. Caught 6 or 7 flounders......mostly in the 16 to 18 inch zone. Threw them all back...I ALWAYS play by the rules. Last week, I got a 22 incher; but even then, still threw a lot of other fish back back. I am asking myself: Is this much effort worth it?

I watched, over the years, what Lake Erie walleye fishing meant to the economy around areas like Port Clinton, Ohio.......it was not uncommon to see 150 boats in a 3 square mile area, with EVERYONE limiting out on walleye. What did it mean to the economy? Everything: Little mom and pop bars turning their establishments into a place to serve breakfast to the fishermen. Bait shops everywhere.....and making a big-time living. Wal-Mart at Port Clinton specializing in walleye and perch lures/rigs. The boat sales business...HUGE. The restauraunt and hotel business....REAL big! I think the BAY could be and should be a MUCH bigger deal........this 19 inch size limit, in my opinion is really hurting everyone. Here in Willaimsburg, I would love to know WHERE the Seafare Restauraunt gets their flounder from.....can't be Virginia. The flounder they serve are about 15 to 16 inches long, my fihsing buddy (who eats there all the time) tells me. I watched a reservoir in Indiana (Monroe), once famous for it's huge bluegills, get "mismanaged" and "overprotected" and guess what: the 'gills stunted in size as they became overcrowded. Hope that is not the road this 19 inch flounder limit is leading us down. Hope the folks setting the 19 inch limit know what they are doing.

My point: The fishing business/industry COULD/SHOULD be SO much bigger here. I have seen what GREAT fishing can do to an economy. Somebody is missing it here. Oh, I have plenty to learn on the fishing end...part of the problem is obviously my skill, at this time. But, I would fish 2-3 times/week, even in 90 degree heat IF the fishing was even a little better.

Oh, I won't quit; I'll be out there next week, but only one time.

3 Pointer

The commercial guys have smaller size limits than the recreational fishermen. I don't know exactly what it is, but I think it's 13 or 14 inches, can't remember. There will always be controversy over regs with fish like flounder and rockfish.

Northern MN transplant here my friend. Would almost do anything for some fresh walleye.

Been fishing the bay since 2004. Started to have a bit more success after I found this site. Lots of good tips if you ask in a thread, not to mention all the past threads you can hit with the search function.

As with your haunts back home, the more you fish the area the more you learn from it the better your production will be and your concern level will go down.

Good luck and keep at and remember, any day fishing is better than sitting in the office.

Not sure what its like up North, but my guess is there isn't a big commercial market for walley, at least not like there is for flounder. I don't be grudge anyone making a living, but it seems to me like all the law makers always give the recreational guys the shaft which doesn't make sense to me, from a an economy sense between license fees, boat gas, taxes on fishing gear etc it would seem like they would profit more from a healthy recreational market than the commercial side of things and we take waaaaaaaaaay less fish even if everyone is limiting out.

I am also concerned about dwarfism of the fish population, especially when I heard from someone (not sure if its true, but if it is its a big deal) that pretty much all the flounder you catch over 19 are females. Anyway better stop before I really get going. We feel your pain though, I can remember the good ole days when I thought 16.5" was a lot for a flounder, I think most people would be limiting out these days if taht were still the reg.

This year the fishing seems a bit slower. Last year around this time i was pulling in in tons of flounder, croaker, baby sea bass and a variety of other fish from the HRBT, this year it seems that theres not as many fish. Also in Lynnhaven inlet, last year the red drum were nuts, this year they seem smaller, and fewer. Last weekend i was in Rudee, and saw tens of thousands of peanut bunker swimming around, i threw a 3 1/2ft cast net and came up with probably 200-300. The school was about 15ft wide and about 30ft long. They were just cruising along, none were spooking and jumping out of the water. I only saw a few fish busting on them, couldnt tell what kind of fish though. Did see a flounder around 12" sky out of the water busting on them but this was another large school up along the wall near the actual inlet.

As you have heard "all politics is local". There is a lot of that here. Who knows how the Menhaden industry or the crabbers get to the polticians, but the result is that the recreational fishing plays second fiddle. Unfortunately, simply restricting the recreational limits does not necessarily help a species recover when there are pound nets that round up ungodly amounts of fish and the Menhaden boats remove all the bait and filtration from the bay. From an economic standpoint alot more people could benefit locally if the the commercial catch was more restricted, but lobbyists have bought the politicians. The same applies to many other sectors of American society which is the greatest shortcoming of our otherwise awesome country.

Fished all day and caught 20+ flounder with the biggest being 17 inches. Seems to be allitle unfair to have to throw a 17 inch flounder back when commercial fisherman are allowed to harvest a 17 inch flounder. So if I want to eat flounder I have to go to a resturant and order a flounder dinner and be served a portion that is equal to a 12 inch flounder if I'm lucky. This is really screwed up.

Wow Three Point, you brought up a bunch of issues here. By the way, I go walleye fishing every spring out of Port Clinton. Great place! First, the overall theory for catching big flounder is no different that catching a big walleye. Rule #1 is fish where the big fish are. Obviously you are fishing where the small fish are. There are certain types of structure and bottom that concentrate big fish. Second, find what the big fish like to eat and use that as bait. Around these parts live bait is tops for big flounder. Live spot is #1, live bunker a good alternative, as are live croakers and pigfish. I've done real well lately with a 7" Gulp! jerk shad on a red jig. Cut baits are also very good, Fresh cut bluefish, croaker or shark strips are all excellent as well. some people use flounder belly. I think that should be illegal, and it is if the flounder is undersized. Third, size matters. Big fish, big bait. You really need all three, location, bait type and bait size working for you to consistantly catch big fish. Good luck!

As usual, George (Marlin Maniac) offers sound advice. We've been doing right well just north of the Back River Reef at a location known locally as Dead Man's Hill using minnows and cut croaker. See my earlier posts.

Recreational fishing has a huge impact on the economy yet groups like the Defenders of Wildlife and the Audobon Society are able to close downt he Outer Banks without negotiating - all for a few birds that could be managed with beach driving - yet they say that closing the beaches will not have an effect on the economy of the outer banks.

I will stop here before my blood pressure goes out of sight and I grind my molars down to my gums.

Tight Lines to all
Professor

Three point, I applaud the fact that you say that you Allways play by the rules but, I take offense to your comment about the chesapeake bay! Our fishery here is probably one of the best of any in the world! The variety and abundance of fish here is amazing! Fishing here is a 12 month sport. Remember that we are Anglers and sportsmen. The 19 in. limit is tough but, it is also a challenge! Many anglers on this website manage to catch keepers on a regular basis. I am one of those anglers. I give the credit mainly to the other anglers on this website who share thier techniques and locations freely and my willingness to try something different. A true angler must have patience and imagination. I Don't Care what the commercial guys do! I respect thier efforts! Commercial fishing is not an easy life. Those guys have to work hard! The issue here is about the Angler. We might not like the rules but, we are forced to play by them. My point is this... Make your voice heard when the rules are being decided. after that, try and rise to the challenge that they allways present us with. Please don't blame the Bay.

Next they will be protesting sports injuries and want professional football banned.

The Chesapeake is one of the outstanding fisheries anywhere. That said, you DO have to put a lot of effort in it, just as you had to put a lot into catching walleye in the lakes. If I went up that way and expected to catch trophy walleye without any experience or the guidance of local talent, I might be disappointed- in fact, I would expect it. You are travelling the right path, though. You are drawing from the experience of the folks here on VBSF. You have targeted a species (flounder) rather than just going fishing 'for whatever bites'. Flounder can be tough and the size limits make it especially difficult to end up with meat in the box. Continue to try different areas and techniques and pay special attention to those conditions and locations that result in that elusive 'keeper'. Try catching other species- maybe trolling for spanish macks would give you a break from your frustration with flounder. Spades are accessible through the summer, cobia, blues, croaker, speck (trout) and the fall run of bigger spot and definitely rockfish season. That doesn't even get you started (yes guys, I know I left out a bunch). Then you have the offshore stuff...... I have lived in a lot of different areas and have travelled extensively, fishing at every opportunity and nowhere have I seen the equal of our saltwater fishery here. At every hookup, there is always a thrill trying to figure out what is on the end of the line! This is all part of what makes fishing here a passion for me. Until I learned that you have to both target a species to have success on a regular basis and put in time to get good at it (the old adage, practice makes perfect) I was often frustrated with my fishing efforts. I usually caught SOMETHING, but have always been competitive and wanted the doormat or the slob or the yellowbelly or horse or .... well, you get the idea. You have a great resource on this website. If you want to jumpstart the learning curve, charter a local boat. For flounder, Craig Paige on the Paige II is great. Watch the citation report and his name and boat are on it almost every week. Try not to feel negative- the opportunities are definately out there. Flounder regs are a sore subject and are a result of federal limits for the east coast. You can search topics posted to find out more about this, I won't stir the pot again. Keep putting in the time and effort and you will be rewarded. Soon your problems will be the best technique to fillet a flounder and how you want to cook them THIS time!

Go Browns...Go Flounder