Flounder Season closure in NC

[Johnsfolly]

I do foresee possible closures for other coastal species. Some may be for the best some may not help if other issues are not addressed. For example I just heard of some watermen talking about how blue catfish are following the striped bass up the spawning creeks and gorging on the spawn. Said that it looked like a feeding frenzy. 

https://www.starnewsonline.com/story/news/local/2024/06/30/nc-recreational-fishermen-go-political-in-fight-over-flounder-closure/74156563007/

[BilletHead]

1 hour ago, Johnsfolly said:

I do foresee possible closures for other coastal species. Some may be for the best some may not help if other issues are not addressed. For example I just heard of some watermen talking about how blue catfish are following the striped bass up the spawning creeks and gorging on the spawn. Said that it looked like a feeding frenzy. 

https://www.starnewsonline.com/story/news/local/2024/06/30/nc-recreational-fishermen-go-political-in-fight-over-flounder-closure/74156563007/

          Thanks for the report, John. Things are really getting out of balance in places. Those Blue Cat are hunter predators too. I have witnessed them below Truman dam looking over the lookout where you park to take tours or get a peek inside the dam. Those big ones would get in a group and work the shad towards the concrete corners and then attack and have a feast. I know they do that on gamefish. It's I suppose the way it is intended here but introduced into waters where they really don't belong can be really bad on the native species. 

[Johnsfolly]

56 minutes ago, BilletHead said:

          Thanks for the report, John. Things are really getting out of balance in places. Those Blue Cat are hunter predators too. I have witnessed them below Truman dam looking over the lookout where you park to take tours or get a peek inside the dam. Those big ones would get in a group and work the shad towards the concrete corners and then attack and have a feast. I know they do that on gamefish. It's I suppose the way it is intended here but introduced into waters where they really don't belong can be really bad on the native species. 

Pretty sure that they are eating most fish and crabs in the bay and tributaries out this way. May have been hell on the tens of thousands of American and hickory shad they have stocked out here to creat stronger runs in a few years. 

We will have to do a couple of catfishing trips and keep all of the blues. Won't do much other than a feel good deal on our parts. At least we like eating blue cats. 😉

[Daryk Campbell Sr]

I follow a YouTube waterman crabber.   He was trying to figure out a way to benefit from catching blue catfish in Maryland.   He had a decent homeade system started, but I don't believe there was enough monetary interest.  The blue cats' population seem to be exploding with no natural predators.   They are being blamed for lots of issues up there. 

[Johnsfolly]

16 hours ago, Daryk Campbell Sr said:

He was trying to figure out a way to benefit from catching blue catfish in Maryland.   He had a decent homeade system started, but I don't believe there was enough monetary interest. 

Daryk I have heard that there is also a lack of processing facilities locally to handle the catfish. Right now the fish would be either sent to LA or MS for processing or even internationally which does nothing more than increase the price to where folks are not likely to pay.

[snagged in outlet 3]

On 7/1/2024 at 12:02 PM, Johnsfolly said:

We will have to do a couple of catfishing trips and keep all of the blues. Won't do much other than a feel good deal on our parts. At least we like eating blue cats. 😉

Sounds like fun though.   I used to go carp fishing just for the opportunity close by to catch some fish.  

[Quillback]

Blue cats are great eating.  

[tjm]

6 hours ago, Johnsfolly said:

Daryk I have heard that there is also a lack of processing facilities locally to handle the catfish. Right now the fish would be either sent to LA or MS for processing or even internationally which does nothing more than increase the price to where folks are not likely to pay.

No local caught  fish are processed/sold locally, or just no catfish?

[Johnsfolly]

4 hours ago, tjm said:

No local caught  fish are processed/sold locally, or just no catfish?

They process a lot of striped bass and other local fish just not catfish. Not sure myself what would be different.

[tjm]

Desire. If the locals just want to blame the catfish for all fisheries declines, they have nothing to gain by killing them or by processing what someone else kills; simpler just say "we can't".