AOTY 2017: New Species Suggestions

Most people on here are creatures of habit, so maybe Chris.

Same old, same old.  Is that the direction we want to go?

If that's the case, then so be it.  I'll roll with whatever's the most popular additions among the community.  I might be openly critical of it, but hey, it ain't my tourney  .

You are absolutely right about AOTY being formulaic (for those who make an earnest multi-year attempt).

I like the idea of adding more fish and changing the competition....Unless everyone just wants me to smash them again next year. 

Same old, same old.

That's my middle name.

I like it but if we add any fresh fish, lets also add a salt fish

This came up so that if we added flatfish as a saltwater fish, then we should add a FW fish to keep the balance.

Well, flatfish are not restricted to saltwater. You could target starry flounder in Bays or brackish waters too.

I like it but if we add any fresh fish, lets also add a salt fish

This came up so that if we added flatfish as a saltwater fish, then we should add a FW fish to keep the balance.

Well, flatfish are not restricted to saltwater. You could target starry flounder in Bays or brackish waters too.

Good point

I like it but if we add any fresh fish, lets also add a salt fish

This came up so that if we added flatfish as a saltwater fish, then we should add a FW fish to keep the balance.

Well, flatfish are not restricted to saltwater. You could target starry flounder in Bays or brackish waters too.

True.  Supposedly, the large starries should show up in the bays/estuaries in winter to spawn.  And I've heard of starries being caught all the way up to Rio Vista on the Sac.

Would folks be comfortable with only adding flatfish to 2017 AOTY, and not complementing it with a freshwater species?

I like it but if we add any fresh fish, lets also add a salt fish

This came up so that if we added flatfish as a saltwater fish, then we should add a FW fish to keep the balance.

Well, flatfish are not restricted to saltwater. You could target starry flounder in Bays or brackish waters too.

Good point

I find this old MFN article to be true about starries in bays and brackish water.

http://www.monkeyfacenews.com/my-blog/2009/10/whatever-happened-to-the-starry-flounder.html

I like it but if we add any fresh fish, lets also add a salt fish

This came up so that if we added flatfish as a saltwater fish, then we should add a FW fish to keep the balance.

Well, flatfish are not restricted to saltwater. You could target starry flounder in Bays or brackish waters too.

Good point

I find this old MFN article to be true about starries in bays and brackish water.

http://www.monkeyfacenews.com/my-blog/2009/10/whatever-happened-to-the-starry-flounder.html

Cool article Ben, thanks.  It supports the addition of a purely FW species.  Methinks the majority of potential flatfish entries will be from the ocean, especially given the plethora of species available in the salt that never venture into brackish water.

Kepp Verms in the Rockfish group.
Keep Crappie in the Panfish group.
Keep SMBs and Spots lumped.
Add flatfish.
Although I haven't eaten one, I hear carp goes well with Crackers!
No carp, 21 is a lucky hand!

 

Would folks be comfortable with only adding flatfish to 2017 AOTY, and not complementing it with a freshwater species?

Sounds good to me, but I still like the sound of "catch 22".

Do we really need to have 10 freshwater and 10 saltwater species? Salmon, stripers, and sturgeon can be caught in both. Which is sort of the same for flatfish.
Other reasons to include flatfish: upcoming regs will allow anglers to target certain types year-round at greater depths. So it increases opportunities (accessibility) to pursue them...compared to verms which will obviously be bound to the RCG seasons.

I remember that MFN article about starry flounder. And I agree they are not as abundant as the 80's. But my personal observation is that they're on the rebound.

I like it but if we add any fresh fish, lets also add a salt fish

This came up so that if we added flatfish as a saltwater fish, then we should add a FW fish to keep the balance.

Well, flatfish are not restricted to saltwater. You could target starry flounder in Bays or brackish waters too.

True.  Supposedly, the large starries should show up in the bays/estuaries in winter to spawn.  And I've heard of starries being caught all the way up to Rio Vista on the Sac.

Would folks be comfortable with only adding flatfish to 2017 AOTY, and not complementing it with a freshwater species?

About 15 yrs ago I caught a small flatfish about 100 yards up Maple Creek at Big Lagoon. No idea on the species but it was only about 8-10" long. 

I like the idea of adding flatfish, leaving the panfish and rockfish category as is.