I am commercial, and I do not know why it is that way. Your Dad could be right, but some fish have the same size limit for commercial or recreational fishermen such as togs, winter flounder, or cod fish. For bluefish, there is no recreational size limit but 9 inch commercial limit so it could go the other way too (unless they change it again.) I had a commercial license before many of the size limits came into play yet there seems to be no reason why some fish track one way for recreational and different for commercial. Some size limits also appear to be stupid such as for cod fish, since who catches cod fish in Connecticut waters anymore. Get caught with a cod under 22 inches that you caught off Block Island in Connecticut waters and you are in trouble. My guess would be since draggers have little control of fish that get into the cod end of their nets that die (even little guys get piled up and die with reduced mesh sized nets to some extent) so why toss dead fluke over the side? Anything tossed over the side does not count toward a quota and does not get recorded in log books. If you kill it, then why not have it count toward your quota. There is a market for small fluke. Instead of guessing about the reason, if one really wants to know, just draft a letter and send it out to the DEP asking them why? It might take a couple of months before you get your reply, but the DEP will likely carefully consider the inquiry and respond to a reasonably written letter. Just be honest and sincere, no swearing or ranting, make your point, and see what they come up with. Probably they will provide a reason as to why, which will make sense and, of course, will be a response that no one will like. |