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| (06/08 NCDMF) SOUTHERN FLOUNDER Stock Status - Depleted - Based on the 2004 stock assessment, the southern flounder stock is overfished and overfishing is occurring. Average Commercial Landings and Value 1998-2007 2,794,042lbs./$ 4,960,273 2007 Commercial Landings and Value – 2,078,020 lbs./$ 4,958,657 Average Recreational Landings 1998-2007– 262,919 lbs., 2007 – 360,202 lbs. Average Number of Award Citations (5 lbs.) 1998-2007* – 395, 2007* –312 Average Recreational Commercial Gear License (RCGL) Landings 2002-2007* – 69,683 lbs., 2007* – 41,542 lbs. Status of Fisheries Management Plan (FMP) - A FMP for southern flounder was developed by the North Carolina Division of Marine Fisheries in February 2005. The federal FMP for summer flounder also affects the harvest of this species. Research and Data Needs – fisheries-independent adult abundance index, at-sea observer coverage of the estuarine gill net fishery, bycatch mortality estimates from all fisheries, verification of escapement of older flounder from the fishery, participation and harvest estimates for the recreational gig fishery, and reproductive ecology Current Regulations – commercial: 14-inch total length (TL) minimum size limit in internal and ocean waters, closed season in internal waters from December 1-31; no trip limits in internal waters and a 100 lb. trip limit in ocean waters unless the individual has a License to Land Flounder from the Atlantic Ocean. There were various gear regulations to minimize undersized southern flounder bycatch implemented in the fall of 2005. recreational: 15 ½ -inch TL minimum size limit/8 fish creel limit for eastern estuarine waters and ocean waters north of Brown’s Inlet with no closed season; 14-inch TL minimum size limit/8 fish limit in western estuarine waters and ocean waters south of Brown’s Inlet with no closed season Harvest Season—January to November (closed season in December) with peak catches from September to November Size and Age at Maturity – 13-inches TL/1 year (females), 10-inches TL/1 year (males) Historical and Current Maximum Age – 9 years/ 8 years Juvenile Abundance Indices Average 1998-2007** –1.4, 2007** – 1.5 (not validated) Habits and Habitats – Southern flounder are estuarine dependent members of the left-eyed flounder family that include summer flounder and Gulf flounder. Southern flounder migrate offshore and south during winter and early spring and inshore and north during late spring, summer, and fall. Southern flounder spawn in near shore continental shelf waters from November through March. Young fish enter inlets and settle on muddy bottoms in lower-salinity areas of estuaries. Unlike summer flounder, most adult southern flounder return to North Carolina's estuaries after spawning.*Includes southern, summer and Gulf flounders, but the majority are southern flounder. For more information, please contact Chris Batsavage at chris.batsavage@ncmail.net (phone 800-682-2632 or 252-726-7021). |
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