Many charter and party boat operators are finding that the current 16" minimum recreational size limit on fluke is too high; fluke this large cannot be found and fares are staying away because of the poor likelihood of catching a keeper. They have requested an emergency action by DEC to lower the recreational size limit on fluke. Mr. Mason of DEC said that, if new data provided by the fishermen on recent fluke catches show what is hoped, the DEC can initiate the process with ASMFC. The fluke minimum size limit is under emergency regulations which have not been finalized, so a final rule could be adopted which differs from the current emergency rule. The issue is having a definitive analysis supporting that you have made the 40% fishing mortality reduction, and getting the ASMFC to rule on it. Mr. Colvin noted that, if the size limit was reduced for all recreational fishermen in New York, a season closure might be required to offset the impact of changing the size limit on achieving the fishing mortality reduction target. DEC will review the information on fluke catches provided by the charter/party boat industry and then decide whether it is likely to satisfy ASMFC in a request to reduce the recreational minimum size limit on fluke.