WRC TO OPEN FLOUNDER SEASON IN DEFIANCE OF MFC DECISION

[@waywardsloth]

Allowing commercial fishermen to make rules and regulations for fishing is like allowing a congressman to regulate the stock market while owning stock options.

[@briannickel6810]

Or make trades according to upcoming policy legislation (See Nancy and Paul Pelosi)

[@FishingwithBrewski]

It's sickens me when I see how much the politicians out perform the best traders on Wall Street. Totally legal, nothing to see here.....

[@justinbiondi]

Sort of. Commercial fisherman SHOULD have the most interest in maintaining a healthy and growing fishery. But they don't

[@FishingwithBrewski]

@@justinbiondi it all comes down to individuals at the end of the day. The rain drop never blames itself for the flood.

[@gwa3185]

Thanks for this update and more importantly, please don't stop. We've circulated this video to all 165 members of our wildlife conservation and education organization and will continue to raise and reinforce your messages. Thanks for keeping us informed and providing facts and data to reinforce our points. Keep up the great work!!!

[@FishingwithBrewski]

Thank you, I will

[@davefish84]

Brother, this is wild!!! Thank you so much for keeping on task the way you have. I’m blown away by your effort and commitment!!! I wish I could be of more help! I was sidetracked by some financial challenges that required my immediate attention to take care of my family . I’m watching your videos and then fully and supportive everything you’re doing.. When things stabilize for me, I’ll be a lot more involved !!! in the meantime thank you for everything you’re doing. You’re the perfect man for this job and you have all my respect!!!

[@FishingwithBrewski]

Thanks buddy

[@twofistedadventures2695]

Looking at the map provided by NCWRC and Dmf. You are up above Shallote to keep a fish. We were three shorts deep, and got checked by DMF and told it was not season in that water. Finding the allowed place to keep is harder than catching the fish. What you get with greed and government regulations.

[@1968supermustang]

Time for recreational fisherman to have lobbyist as well.

[@FishingwithBrewski]

We have several already. The Wildlife Federation has 4 and I think CCA has at least two. We definitely need a PAC to be able to make contributions like the comm industry does. Feel free to get all your buddies together to form voting pools as well. Politicians care about 2 things. Money that they can use to get votes, and the votes themselves. Money might be a tall order, but we have a million votes to throw around this state if we get organized. That's 1 of every 11 people.

[@billglover7797]

Don't re-elect anyone......

[@michaelgouveia6453]

Thanks for the update. Feel better

[@FishingwithBrewski]

Thank you!

[@bassomatic1871]

One fish a day in a 4 day season is a skimpy bone to throw the recs. Nice to see the feud between the WRC and MFC.

[@bcp5296d]

Exactly. So dumb. But glad to see it

[@FishingwithBrewski]

It's all about the principle for me. I'm not pissed because of no season. I'm pissed because our govt has clearly chosen the profits of a few wealthy people over the best interests of the state and the rights of the people. Having been a Marine, this sort of thing gets me fired up beyond reason. I know people that died in the name of freedom and justice and I don't see that here. The oath reads "all enemies, foreign and DOMESTIC".

[@Dan-un4jy]

Internal feud .... Or .... is that the way they want you to see it?? We're talking politicians and government entities that get a paycheck from the same source. I trust venomous snakes more than both.

[@ecujlh0907]

At least it’s something. Thanks for keeping us tuned in and the video.

[@FishingwithBrewski]

I honestly never cared much for flounder in the first place but I care an awful lot about a government that doesn't represent it's people. It's a lot more about the principle here than the actual rules themselves.

[@MadLudwig]

For DE to NY they're allowed to catch flounder ALL SUMMER LONG. A 4 day fishing season is ridiculous. It's also a safety issue, since it pushes anglers to potentially fish in bad weather or miss out.

[@FishingwithBrewski]

Those are summer flounder. Cinpletely separate species.

[@kevinbriggs2611]

Thanks so much for your wonderful channel!!!!!! Hope you get feeling better soon!

[@FishingwithBrewski]

Thank you!

[@ghostinthemachine5821]

This isn't about fishing, it's about public property rights. And I'm pro NCWRC. This is political unfortunately.

[@WildlifeChatter24]

Your doing great ! Hope you feel better soon .

[@FishingwithBrewski]

I hope so too. Thanks.

[@HuntAndStunt]

Wahooo, 4 days 🙄. No gigging but at least I can still get a commercial license and run a gillnet and fuck up the entire environment around where I’m fishing. So glad NC fisheries has their shit together unlike those other weird states to the north and south of us who just can’t seem to figure it out 🤦🏻‍♂️

[@TheBigghunter01]

The gillnets aren’t even the biggest issue, at least they filter by size. Trawling inshore is a huge problem with all the bycatch.

[@FishingwithBrewski]

Even if only means a few days of fishing it's the principle that matters for me. I'm a lot more pissed off that my govt is selling out it's people to line the pockets of a handful of wealthy donors than I am about a short season.

[@legacyfarmsranchesnc]

Thank you and great information!

[@FishingwithBrewski]

Glad it was helpful!

[@MyCarolinaOutdoors]

Awesome video thanks for the info

[@FishingwithBrewski]

Call your reps and stay after them, and we'll get this state turned around. I make videos every Thursday covering different aspects of the fisheries so that by the time we start pushing bills early next year, we should have enough people informed and willing to show up and argue for some positive changes.

[@scottdavis7485]

It would be a great help if you could post where we could find those inland and whatever designations, so we make sure we're not breaking the law if we want to go fish for some flat-boys. I have looked for that info in the past, but have been unsuccessful up to this point. Thanks.

[@FishingwithBrewski]

@@scottdavis7485 I'll put it in the description. www.arcgis.com/apps/Media/index.html?appid=2c1087bc8355438ba0e01e06f3a74fce

[@paulmoss7940]

Well, its something. Thank you WRC. Hope you feel better.

[@FishingwithBrewski]

Thank you kindly

[@johnnieyoung6497]

I hate to be that guy but I've said it before. CATCH ME IF YOU CAN. I'll keep and eat what I want.

[@FishingwithBrewski]

As long as everyone else doesn't decide to do the same thing, I think we'll be ok.

[@andrewanderson2388]

wow! 4 whole days. outstanding🙁

[@FishingwithBrewski]

The amount of days is small but it's good to know that not every part of our government is selling us out.

[@zachperna2735]

Its happening in Florida as well. Our gag grouper season went from 6 months too 15 days......its a shame

[@FishingwithBrewski]

How long is the commercial season though?

[@zachperna2735]

@@FishingwithBrewski honestly I don't know 😕

[@johnboody]

Ty brother. Get well .

[@FishingwithBrewski]

Thank you.

[@danc9440]

Great update sir! Thanks for posting up. Hope you feel better.

[@FishingwithBrewski]

Much appreciated

[@cbharris1127]

The WRC would make one hell of a witness in the CCA lawsuit.

[@FishingwithBrewski]

I think just the fact that they're openly opposed to this has raised an awful lot of eyebrows already. Think it's too late for any more witnesses to join. It's supposed to be back in court around April, I think.

[@davesteier-xf5lh]

They get paid to make the mess, and get paid to clean it up.

[@FishingwithBrewski]

At this point, if we could fix the mess, I wouldn't care what it takes to get that done. Something has to change.

[@davesteier-xf5lh]

How much money you got? I’m sure they can think up a new department that fits in between the two they have now.

[@FishingwithBrewski]

@davesteier-xf5lh 😄. The two that we do have can't stop fighting. "One mission, one commission".

[@auggyboy284]

Hope you feel better Brewski

[@FishingwithBrewski]

Thanks buddy.

[@scottnra]

Glad I live and fish from VA waters... That's ridiculous. Anyone who can should drive to VA or SC and boat out of those ports and go catch what you want based on those other laws and take your spending with you out of state.

[@FishingwithBrewski]

I'd rather fix my own house before I go take advantage of someone else's, but I can see your point. We actually share the speckled trout stock with VA. We've caught several VA tagged fish down here so what happens here doesn't just hurt us. It's hurts VA as well.

[@99SoftailCustom]

I'm glad to see this. I was wondering what ever happened to the 2 organizations discussing it.

[@FishingwithBrewski]

Make no mistake, there is little or no communication between these groups. It's one of the most ridiculous aspects of all of this.

[@jefferycongdon3178]

As of 8/13/2024, Not opened for the 2024 season is still posted on the Fish Rules sight. NCDMF

[@FishingwithBrewski]

That's correct, but it's a little convoluted. DMF has no season officially. WRC is a completely separate agency, and they have jurisdiction over inland waters and hook and line in joint waters. So the 4 day season is 100% legal for hook and line fishing in inland and joint waters. At the same time, there is no season for coastal or joint waters gigging which is DMF. DMF is allowing a commercial season though.

[@42captjoey]

OK so I'm still waiting for someone to explain to me what inland waters and joint fishing waters are. Does This is Cover the intercoastal waterway?

[@FishingwithBrewski]

@42captjoey you can use this link. ICW is all going to be coastal. It will be nearly impossible for someone to catch a flounder and stay legal. I think a lot of people are missing the point here, though. This isn't really about getting to go catch flounder. It's about one govt agency openly denouncing the actions of another. This is a strong signal that changes are coming to fisheries management.

[@dennisclapp2302]

Four freaking days & that's it ... Nah , my season is fixing to be salt & pepper with house of autry seafood breader .... It's all about the money & let's screw the recreational fisherman that spends his money on a fishing license.... If flounder was in a bad decline that they claim it is , they would ban flounder fishing for both sides recreational & commercial for 3 years to let the fish stocks rebuild but nah let's keep pulling them out for the money .... Time to outlaw

[@FishingwithBrewski]

The stocks being in trouble are actually one of the few things that comm, CCA, and recs agree on.

[@specredslayer5440]

If you fish in New Bern/Wilmington area the season will be open Sept 1-2 and 7-8.

[@FishingwithBrewski]

You have to check the maps for inland, joint, and coastal waters. In New River, there's very little area that's inland waters, and we don't have joint waters. You're pretty much looking at French creek as the only viable spot to fish legally, and you'd be illegal as soon as you left the creek. www.arcgis.com/apps/Media/index.html?appid=2c1087bc8355438ba0e01e06f3a74fce

[@maureenlomuscio5662]

Government is terrible

[@FishingwithBrewski]

It certainly is, but it's also necessary.

[@chrisweaver9391]

Of these two agencies, which one is populated by CCA members?

[@FishingwithBrewski]

The only prominent CCA member I'm aware of on either board is on the MFC.

[@dirkswart8950]

Nothing like being in a good old boys state where they can't agree

[@gd3design63]

WRC used the word 'Equitable'. Now, MFC will have to comply.

[@FishingwithBrewski]

MFC seems to be ignoring them from what I can tell so far.

[@carywebster3307]

Inland fishing waters dont hold flounder and joint fishing waters are practically none. I'm going to the mall and watch people walk by........

[@FishingwithBrewski]

Yea, it's not a good season, but it's not about having a season. It's about actually having a govt institution that's trying to stick up for us.

[@michaelkohan2149]

Thanks!

[@FishingwithBrewski]

Thank you!

[@SaltHoundHC]

There's some primo spots on Lejeune that fall in the good to go areas of that map, guess I'll need to find a reason to be up there.... In the meantime, feel better bro!!

[@FishingwithBrewski]

You should go watch the southern flounder symposium that the DMF made for us. They did a study of flounder in New River and used acoustic tags to map movements and behaviors. While it's intended purpose is to better understand the flounder to protect them, you might find some of the data interesting. lol.

[@Dan-un4jy]

All that pressure on, mostly, the worst 5% of the all the NC waters typically fished for flounder is only going to create chaos, unjust citations, and undue fishing pressure on those areas. The DMF is going to throw that back in your face shortly after that season closes. Good luck finding a close boat ramp that isn't packed to the gills on those days. BOYCOTT NC RECREATIONAL FISHING!

[@FishingwithBrewski]

The other side would love for us to all just stop fishing.

[@timblack33]

Hopefully we send Cooper’s worthless self packing come November. Good info.

[@FishingwithBrewski]

Cooper can't be reelected again actually. He's done no matter what. So far, it seems like Robinson is backing the commercial side with Stein coming forward for the recs. One of them will be the next Governor of NC.

[@timblack33]

@@FishingwithBrewskiI have no clue why I said hopefully, considering he’s timed out from term limits. That brings up a good point about the candidates though, be nice to get both of their stances on video.

[@brucerudd69]

Strep sucks. Thanks for the update.

[@doitdoitright5916]

How much longer does Governor Cooperhead 🐍 have left in his term?

[@FishingwithBrewski]

He's done in NC at the end of the year. Robinson or Stein will replace him. So far, it seems like Robinson has been promising the commercial sector a lot of things, and Stein has come out on the side of rec anglers.

[@bradmclaurin3025]

Tell me how commercial fishermen are benefiting from this!!? Most of them are going out of business because of this! This is CCA and groups just like them . They would have catch and release if they could and then they try to throw blame on commercial fisherman and all the while they are calling the shots at marine fisheries. Don't be fooled.

[@FishingwithBrewski]

That's just not true man. Go look at the past MFC meetings and watch how the votes play out. CCA doesn't get what they want. We're the most commercial friendly state in the country.

[@mikeydiggs4797]

Who is the legislature?

[@FishingwithBrewski]

Your legislators can be found by going to www.ncleg.gov/findyourlegislators and entering your address. Only call your NC house and NC senate reps with regard to fisheries issues since the federal reps don't deal with state fishing regulations.

[@deanwellmer3668]

So grateful for 1 fish for 4 days. And they mention resource IMPACT. Freakin joke.

[@FishingwithBrewski]

The short season causes a derby mentality. The ICW near my house looks like an airport landing strip every day of the flounder season in past years. So the impact is bigger than you might think.

[@carywebster3307]

4 fricken days? What a joke

[@FishingwithBrewski]

It's not about getting a season or not. It's about an actual Govt agency stepping up and saying that the decision on flounder is BS.

[@michaelboyes1947]

Inland and joint waters only, not near-coastal where the flounder are. Total b.s. We were out last week and boated 8 in 2 hours. There are plenty of flounder for recreation fishermen. Stop the commercial clowns from raping the species.

[@FishingwithBrewski]

@michaelboyes1947 Unfortunately, I think they/we beat them down so hard that both seasons need to just close until we see some recovery. I've been seeing an absolute ton of flounder as well, but I can count on one hand the number of flounder I've caught that we're over 23" in the last 6-7 years. The reason I bring that up is that female flounder aren't mature until around that size. 22" is about a 2 year old fish, and they live for 9 years. So basically, all the flounder that we kill during the season have never even had a chance to spawn one time. 🙄 Seems like a good idea to me to let every fish get at least one chance to spawn. Maximize the next year's crop.

[@michaelboyes1947]

@@FishingwithBrewski So get the commercial trawlers out of the Pamlico Sound, and let them breed. Why screw the hook&line people? We don't make a dent in what the commercial guys grab/

[@FishingwithBrewski]

@@michaelboyes1947 couldn't agree more.

[@bobee8552]

I would like to see the calculations which developed $250 million in evaporated revenue. No way in hell, a tackle shop stops selling tackle or a local fishery guide doesn't shift to target a different species

[@alexharbison4411]

Revenue comes from many places as it relates to fishing. mostly motels, restaurants, boat sales and boat equipment, guides, license, rods, reels and even tackle.

[@FishingwithBrewski]

I thought exactly the same thing and some of the pressure most certainly turned to trout but many people have also gone to other states or just stopped going. Lots of people only gig so that shut them down completely. At one of the recent MFC meetings on mullet, a tackle shop owner from OBX said the flounder restrictions caused a 70% loss in revenue in the 3rd quarter.

[@gd3design63]

@@FishingwithBrewski Also good to point out that when the pressure turns to other fish, we see negative affects on those fisheries, too. (anyone paying attention to upcoming trout regulations?)

[@dougaskew5056]

They really need to be going after the trawlers that are here in discriminately pulling everything out of our waters in discriminately. I have already heard about commercial boys losing their license because they’ve been caught and selling their license off because they weren’t doing the right thing and got caught by the man.