AOTY 2017: Add Flatfish?

First off: THANK YOU to everyone who has contributed to our various AOTY Species Addition threads and polls!

The AOTY committee is having a spirited discussion on adding a "flatfish" category to 2017's AOTY.  The category would include all the non-halibut flatfish species, such as flounders, soles, turbots, and sand dabs.  This category was actually part of AOTY in years past, but was generally unpopular with few entries.  The proposed 2017 groundfish regulations will see a significant change in this fishery, including a year-round, all-depth, no-limit fishery for both petrale sole and starry flounder.  The regulations will essentially open up a brand new fishery for petrale sole that was never available to CA anglers due to their depth preferences (typically beyond the RCG depth restrictions), and starry flounder will now be available for anglers when rockfish season is closed.  These flatfish are available all along the NorCal coast, are great for the table (okay, maybe not arrowtooth flounder  ), and are a "different" fishery for those who enjoy the extra "nudge" that AOTY may provide to target a new fishery.  Please note that we are not proposing to remove any of the current AOTY species in this poll.

Also note that this poll does not include a freshwater fish addition.  The species list as it stands (8 freshwater, 8 saltwater, and 4 anadromous) looks good on paper.  But in reality, two of the eight saltwater species (white seabass and Pacific halibut) are seldom entered into AOTY.  Meanwhile, all eight freshwater species are regularly entered.  If you would like a freshwater addition, feel free to post it to this thread and the committee can discuss it.

Thanks in advance for your vote!

Quick question Chris but please remember I am not currently enrolled in AOTY but look forward to it when I start getting more time.

Would experienced anglers think that these flatfish would be caught as a by catch of PAC halibut fishing or vice/versa? Do they inhabit similar bottom conditions/ depths? As in could a person be potentially targeting two AOTy categories at once. It seems like if so that would also be a good motivational helper to get people to fish for new species and techniques in what is most likely a not heavily targeted PAC but category. It would be similar to the rockfish/ling or striper/bass/bass opportunities.

I approve this message haha...

Yeah, Scooter I think they are commonly caught in the same areas as pacbutts and ca halibut. Which could potentially motivate more people to spend time chasing butts. But they can also be targeted specifically too...especially sanddabs. While dabs taste great, they don't get as big as most soles or starry flounder though. Starry flounder also migrate into SF bay & estuaries to spawn. So perhaps it could help revive the sturgeon category too...

Sure add the bastards. Lol. I have only caught one decent sized Starry Flounder in my life and that was in the late 80s in the turning basin on the Petaluma river. It was about a 5 lbs if my memory is correct. I had never seen one before and did not know what it was until another fisherman identified it.

Quick question Chris but please remember I am not currently enrolled in AOTY but look forward to it when I start getting more time.

Would experienced anglers think that these flatfish would be caught as a by catch of PAC halibut fishing or vice/versa? Do they inhabit similar bottom conditions/ depths? As in could a person be potentially targeting two AOTy categories at once. It seems like if so that would also be a good motivational helper to get people to fish for new species and techniques in what is most likely a not heavily targeted PAC but category. It would be similar to the rockfish/ling or striper/bass/bass opportunities.

I can’t speak for the Pac halibut anglers, but word on the street is that many flatfish species are commonly caught when fishing for halibut.  The last Pacific halibut reports I heard this year included a LOT of petrale sole bycatch.  A lot of those petrales exceeded the 20 inch mark.  Sand dabs are also typically thick on the Pac halibut grounds.  So yeah, the opening of the petrale sole fishery would certainly increase the odds of an angler catching more than one AOTY species when fishing a deep-water sand environment.  It would also provide additional opportunities for CA halibut anglers who may catch starry flounder in shallow sandy environments.

We couldn't keep the petrale off on the Pac halibut closer this year. Not quite 20 inchers but lots of them. It will be nice to be able to keep them next year.

I'm in favor.

Starry flounder also migrate into SF bay & estuaries to spawn. So perhaps it could help revive the sturgeon category too...

havent caught a by catch starry the last few years of sturgeon fishing, used to get a few every other trip or so, but remember that unless you are east of the carquinez bridge, starry are a no keep, cameron

Yes. A tasty addition.

bump to top - get your votes in, we'll be doing new rules at beginning of dec.