Last week's Atlantic States Marine Fisheries Commission (ASMFC) Public Hearing at Galloway Township Library was packed with a standing room crown of about 140 fishermen who listened to all the background information and then rejected all of the options that would decimate the fluke fishery. Instead, they insisted on status quo regulations pending the new baseline stock assessment scheduled for this year. The N.J. Marine Fisheries Council took action before the public hearing by adopting status quo for this year. Unfortunately, the state will not be able to hold that position unless the ASMFC adopts it as an option because NOAA Fisheries could shut the commercial and recreational fluke fisheries if we're not in compliance. As noted in last week's column, many N.J. congressmen have asked the director of that agency to permit status quo while awaiting the baseline stock assessment which many expect will indicate the summer flounder fishery is actually in much better condition than present statistics show. All recreational organizations are united in calling for status quo, and are conducting a social media campaign with aid of The Fisherman magazine. The Garden State Outdoor Sports Show opened Thursday at the N.J. Convention & Expo Center in Edison. Hours are 1-10 p.m. Friday; 10 a.m. - 8 p.m. Saturday; and 10 a.m. - 5 p.m. Sunday. Admission is $15 at the door, but as noted in my blog this week you can buy tickets online cheaper and also get a year's subscription to Field & Stream or Outdoor Life. Visit gsoss.com. for tickets plus information about attractions and seminars. Fellow outdoor writer Don Ecker of Fort Lee, passed away  on Jan. 2 at Englewood Hospital at 83 from heart failure. A Harvard graduate, Ecker was a successful businessman in N.Y.C., but also wrote an outdoors column for The Record from 1974 to 201. He was one of the founding members of the Hudson River Fisherman's Association, and also established the East Jersey Chapter of Trout Unlimited. Ecker was an active member of the Metropolitan Outdoor Press Association, and joined us on many trips before the ravages of Parkinson's Disease prevented him from doing so. He's survived by his wife of 55 years, Barbara, plus sons Mark and David. Blackfish continue to provide good sport for anglers when conditions are decent. That wasn't the case Thursday on the Ocean Explorer from Belmar due to a big ground swell and a gusty southwest wind. Yet, a couple of 7-to-8-pounders were boated along with some other keepers.