Wednesday's joint meeting of the Atlantic States Marine Fisheries Commission (ASMFC) Summer Flounder, Scup and Black Sea Bass Boards with the Mid-Atlantic Fishery Management Council in Baltimore put off a decision on fluke regulations until the next meeting as the addendum is being changed to reflect various concerns. Paul Haertel, of the JCAA, noted that the draft didn't include the provision that allowed N.J. to allow  a lower size limit in Delaware Bay so South Jersey party boats fishing there would be at less of a disadvantage in drawing customers due to the 16-inch minimum for the Delaware region. There was also no provision for continuing the shore-based 16-inch minimums first authorized in a small, easily-monitored  area of Connecticut and also for the last two years at Island Beach State Park. Congressman Frank Pallone (NJ-06) spoke at the meeting about his efforts to convince NOAA Fisheries to postpone any decision on reducing summer flounder quotas until it conducts a new benchmark summer flounder assessment. Pallone argued that  proposed reductions would harm many coastal communities including those along the Jersey Shore who rely on the recreational and commercial fishing industries. "Many fishermen are frustrated and lack confidence in the data that guides stock assessments," said Pallone. "In the recreational sector, many believe that they have sacrificed for years to increase stocks, and have yet to see any benefits, despite the increase in biomass from the '90s. There continues to be legitimate concerns that the random sampling heavily relied upon by the NOAA and the estimates produced are inaccurate." This week Congressman Pallone and Senator Cory Booker sent a letter to the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) Fisheries about its proposal to reduce the Acceptable Biological Catch (ABC) recreational and commercial quotas for summer flounder in 2017 and 2018. The New Jersey lawmakers requested that NOAA Fisheries postpone any decision on reducing summer flounder quotes until it conducts a new benchmark summer flounder assessment. Last year, Pallone decried NOAA's final rule on 2016 summer flounder catch limits. Under the rule, the summer flounder acceptable catch limit was reduced 30 percent, from 23 million pounds to 16 million pounds.  NOAA Fisheries now contends the July 2016 summer flounder assessment update indicated that overfishing continued through 2015 and that the biomass continued to decline . They are proposing a 30 percent reduction from those previously implemented for the 2017 fishing season and a 16 percent reduction from the current 2018 allocations. This could result in a 19-inch minimum with a bag of only three or four fluke during a shortened season. The sea bass regulations were also pushed back to the next meeting when final catch statistics will be available. The car pool organized by Reef Rescue and the N.J. Outdoor Alliance to the Mid-Atlantic Council meeting in Baltimore on Monday payed off as New Jersey's Special Management Zone proposal was approved. That will allow the DEP to keep commercial gear off our artificial reefs in federal waters. A "compromise" proposal by commercial interests was barely defeated by a 10-9 vote, before N.J. members Tom Baum and Adam Nowalski rounded up the votes for passage by 11 to 7. Local fishing has been hard hit by wind and cold, but blackfishing is generally good when conditions are decent. The Ocean Explorer from Belmar had a new seasonal leader of over 13 pounds boated Wednesday. Capt. Stan Zagleski said Wednesday was picky, with a high hook of four blackfish on his Elaine B II from Bahrs in Highlands. Congratulations to Matt Calabria of Hazlet. The Tackle Box in that town reported that Calabria caught a trophy 14.5-pound blackfish, but released it to produce a new generation of supersized tog. At Brielle, the Jamaica continues to produce limits of jumbo sea bass plus porgies and some bluefish and cod on far offshore wrecks by reservation. They'll be sailing almost daily during the Christmas season. Call 732 528-5014 for the schedule and reservations. Jamaica II is also loading up with sea bass and porgies plus some cod to 14 pounds on their extended open boat trips. The last 18-hour, 1 a.m. trips are on Dec. 22 and 31. After that the winter schedule provides Wednesday and Sunday trips at 5 a.m. -- and Saturdays at 3 a.m. Party boats seeking striped bass gave up after having a hard time finding them, or encountering bass that wouldn't hit. Yet, Jay Amberg looked offshore at Sea Girt Thursday morning and saw birds diving on big fish breaking a quarter-mile off  -- without a boat in sight. Surfcasters have been finding a few very small stripers at times. Fly rod pro Bill Massey of Wall caught six at dawn Wednesday in Manasquan. At Seaside Park, Grumpy's Tackle reports the only action is with those small bass on small plugs and teasers. Betty & Nick's says those bass have been to the north, as there's been no bait in Island Beach State Park. Crazy Alberto Knie and I joined Dave Rizzo, formerly of Ventnor, for a Wednesday night trip from his home on Marco Island, Fl. to the bridge to Naples. Light tackle casting with small jigs produced good action with jack crevalle and ladyfish from Rizzo's 15-foot Scout during a beautiful warm and calm full moon night. I also released a snook estimated at 27 to 28 inches, and had a tarpon on for seconds before the small jig pulled. We saw a couple of big tarpon under the bridge lights, but they ignored our offerings of live ladyfish. Pesca Panama has an unusual single angler opening to join a party during the prime winter week of Jan. 22-27. That group will be concentrating on the inshore sport for roosterfish, cubera snappers, etc. Mike Augat is offering a $5,000 discount for that spot. Call him at 716 868-4432 -- or e-mail www.pescapanama.com.