Studies have shown that in recent years, most predatory game fish on the East Coast are consuming far more flounders than before.

The early portions of the season, right after the spring spawn, are the most crucial time for flounder offspring. If predators like striped bass and bluefish enter the rivers early, the flounder spawn will almost collapse due to the lack of surviving young flounders. In recent years, predation has driven down most numbers of surviving flounders by more than 50 percent.

Besides all the factors conspiring against winter and summer flounders, there is a bright light at the end of the tunnel. Some advocacy groups across the Mid-Atlantic, comprised mainly of fishing clubs and organizations, are leading the charge to prevent a collapse of the flounder fishery.

These groups' main goal is to preserve a sustainable fishery for future generations. By teaching the public and the powers that be, several publicly funded groups are standing up for the powerless flounder.

Tom Fote, a representative of the Jersey Coast Anglers Association (JCAA), has worked countless hours to save the flounder fishing seasons.

The JCAA is comprised of multiple local fishing clubs and organizations that fight for the right to fish for all species in New Jersey. These clubs hold various fishing tournaments and events, with most of the proceeds going directly to helping the ailing flounder fishery.

In an interview, Fote stated that most of the problems with flounder numbers have to do with a lack of future generations.

"We know that most of the 2- and 3-year-old flounders (and fluke) are just not there. Nobody knows why they are missing, but we know it will be hard to have a fishery without them."

Later, Fote explained how hard it is for local anglers to have confidence in the same system that increases the limits each year. "It'll be hard to take home any fish when the limits go beyond what they should be."

Other advocates are trying to educate everyone about the problems before the fishery collapses. Unlike striped bass, flounders will not rebound on their own.

Many others clubs share the same views as the JCAA. In 2007, a group known as Save the Summer Flounder Fishery Fund (SSFFF) was organized to fund independent research into flounder numbers.

The arrival of these flatfish usually indicates the beginning of another picture-perfect fishing season on the East Coast.

Two of this club's main goals are to raise funds to pay for research and to help lower the stiff limit regulations set forth by the NMFS.

Most fishing groups are not satisfied with the NMFS's classifying the flounder fishery as overfished and stating that the regulations for flounder and fluke need to be tightened in hopes of stopping the decline.

The NMFS regulations mean that most fishing services will lose money and business, while all recreational anglers will lose the right to keep decent-sized fish.

Both the JCAA and the SSFFF are run by private individuals who want to save their fisheries more than anyone. They know the effort must be made to avoid any mandatory shutdown of the fishery, much like the closures for cod and striped bass years ago. If the winter flounder fishery is shut down for even one season, most fishing services in the Mid-Atlantic will have no income until the summer.

Not only is this unacceptable, but New Jersey and Maryland will lose millions of dollars in revenue.

Regardless, the Mid-Atlantic States that have flounder fisheries are still providing excellent fishing. Along the Mid-Atlantic Seaboard, the remaining flounder spots are alive and flourishing, as many anglers know.