Northeast Fisheries Science Center Reference Document 08-15

Assessment of 19 Northeast 

Groundfish Stocks through 2007

Report of the 3rd Groundfish Assessment Review Meeting (GARM III), 

Northeast Fisheries Science Center, Woods Hole, Massachusetts, 

August 4-8, 2008 

by Northeast Fisheries Science Center

August 2008
J. Southern New England/Mid-Atlantic winter flounder 2-457

J. Southern New England/Mid-Atlantic winter flounder 

by Mark Terceiro

Additional details and supporting information can be found in the Appendix of the GARM-III 

Report (NEFSC 2008).

1.0 Background 

The current assessment of the Southern New England/Mid-Atlantic (SNE/MA) stock 

complex of winter flounder (Figure J1) is an update of the previous assessment completed in 

2005 at GARM2 (NEFSC 2005). The GARM2 assessment included catch through 2004, research 

survey abundance indices through 2005, and catch at age analyzed by Virtual Population 

Analysis (VPA) for 1981-2004. Current biological reference points are based on stockrecruitment modeling conducted by the 2002 Working Group on Re-estimation of Biological 

Reference points for New England Groundfish (NEFSC 2002), which indicated that FMSY = 0.32, 

SSBMSY = 30,100 mt, and MSY = 10,600 mt. The GARM2 assessment concluded that the stock 

complex was overfished and that overfishing was occurring. Spawning stock biomass (SSB) in 

2004 was estimated to be 3,938 mt, about 13% of SSBMSY = 30,100 mt. The fully recruited 

fishing mortality rate in 2004 was estimated to be F = 0.38, about 19% above FMSY = 0.32. The 

current assessment updates fishery catch estimates, research survey abundance indices, and 

analytical models through 2007/08. 

2.0 Fishery

After reaching an historical peak of 11,977 metric tons (mt) in 1966, then declining 

through the 1970s, total U.S. commercial landings again peaked at 11,176 mt in 1981, and then 

steadily declined to 2,128 mt in 1994. Commercial landings then increased to 4,556 mt in 2001 

before falling to a record low of 1,320 mt in 2005; commercial landings were 1,622 mt in 2007 

(Table J1, Figure J2). The primary gear in the fishery is the otter trawl which accounts for an 

average of 98% of landings since 1989. Scallop dredges, handlines, pound nets, fyke nets, and 

gill nets account for the remaining 2% of total landings. Recreational landings reached a peak in 

1984 of 5,510 mt but declined substantially thereafter (Table J2, Figure J2). Landings have been 

less than 1,000 mt since 1991, with record low estimated landings in 2007 of 116 mt. The 

principal mode of fishing is private/rental boats, with most recreational landings occurring 

during January to June. 

Length samples of winter flounder are available from both the commercial and 

recreational landings. In the commercial fishery, annual sampling intensity varied from 15 to 251 

mt landed per 100 lengths measured during 1981-2007 (Table J3). Port sampling has generally 

been adequate to develop the commercial fishery landings at age on a half-year, market category 

basis. In the recreational fishery, annual sampling intensity varied from 28 to 270 mt landed per 

100 lengths measured during 1981-2007 (Table J4). Ages were determined using NEFSC survey 

spring and fall age-length keys. 

Prior to 1994, NEFSC trawl survey length frequencies and commercial trawl fishery 

mesh selection data were used to estimate the magnitude and characterize the length frequency of 

the commercial fishery discard. For 1994-2007, NEFSC Fishery Observer trawl and scallop 

fishery discards to landings ratio estimates were applied to corresponding commercial fishery 
J. Southern New England/Mid-Atlantic winter flounder 2-458

landings to estimate discards in weight (Table J5, Figure J2). The NEFSC Fishery Observer 

length frequency samples (Table J6) were used to characterize the proportion discarded at length 

for 1994-2007. Commercial fishery discard length samples were applied on a semi- annual basis 

and ages were determined using NEFSC survey spring and fall age-length keys. A discard 

mortality rate of 50% (Howell et al., 1992) was applied to commercial fishery live discards. 

Recreational fishery discard losses peaked in 1984-1985 at 0.7 million fish. Discards 

have since declined and reached a low in 2007 of 11,000 fish (Table J7). Since 1997, irregular 

sampling of the recreational fisheries by state fisheries agencies has indicated that the discard is 

usually of fish below the minimum landing size of 12 inches (30 cm). For 2002-2007, discard 

length samples from the NYDEC sampling of the recreational party-boat fishery and from the 

CTDEP Volunteer Angling Survey (VAS) have been used to better characterize the recreational 

fishery discard. Ages were determined using NEFSC survey spring and fall age-length keys. A 

discard mortality rate of 15% was applied to recreational live discard estimates (B2 category 

from MRFSS data), as assumed in Howell et al. (1992). 

Total fishery catches are summarized in Table J7. 

3.0 Research vessel surveys 

Mean weight per tow and number per tow indices for the NEFSC spring, fall, and winter 

time series are presented in Table J8. Indices declined from the beginning of the time series in 

the 1960s to a low point in the early to mid-1970s, then increased to a peak by the early 1980s. 

Following several years of high indices, abundance once again declined to below the low levels 

of the 1970s. NEFSC survey indices reached near- or record low levels for the time series in the 

late 1980s-1990s. Indices from the three survey series generally increased during 1993-

1998/1999, but have since declined again (Figure J3). 

Several state survey indices were available to characterize the abundance of SNE/MA 

winter flounder. The Massachusetts Division of Marine Fisheries (MADMF) spring and fall 

survey, Rhode Island Division of Fish and Wildlife (RIDFW) spring and fall survey, Connecticut 

Department of Environmental Protection (CTDEP) Long Island Sound Trawl Survey, and the 

New Jersey Division of Fish, Game and Wildlife (NJDFW) ocean survey trends are summarized 

in Tables J9-J10 and Figure J3. The numerous state recruitment surveys (MADMF, RIDFW, 

CTDEP, New York Department of Environmental Conservation (NYDEC), NJDFW, Delaware 

Division of Fish and Wildlife (DEDFW)) are summarized in Table J11 and Figure J3. 

4.0 Assessment 

 

Input data and model formulation 

The 2008 GARM3 VPA was calibrated using the NOAA Fisheries Toolbox (NFT) 

ADAPT VPA version 2.8.0. Commercial and recreational fishery landings and discards 

estimates at age, the total fishery catch at age, and the total fishery mean weights at age used as 

input to the VPA are presented in Tables J12-J17. The following NEFSC and state agency trawl 

survey abundance indices at age were used in the ADAPT VPA calibration: NEFSC spring trawl 

ages 1-7+ (Figure J5), NEFSC fall trawl ages 1-5 (advanced to calibrate January 1 abundance of 

ages 2-6), NEFSC winter trawl ages 1-5, Massachusetts spring trawl ages 1-7+, Rhode Island fall 

seine age 0 (advanced to age-1), Rhode Island spring trawl ages 1-7+, Connecticut spring trawl 

ages 1-7+, New York trawl age 0 (advanced to age-1) and age-1, Massachusetts summer seine 
J. Southern New England/Mid-Atlantic winter flounder 2-459

index of age-0 (advanced to age-1), Delaware juvenile trawl age-0 (advanced to age-1), New 

Jersey Ocean trawl ages 1-7+, and New Jersey River trawl ages 1-7+ (Tables J18-J26). Survey 

indices were selected for inclusion in VPA calibration based on consideration of the partial 

variance in an initial VPA trial run including all indices, the precision of the survey series, 

residual error patterns from the various trail runs, and on the significance of the correlation 

among indices and with VPA abundance estimates from the initial trial run including all potential 

calibration indices. A conditional non-parametric bootstrap procedure (Efron 1982) was used to 

evaluate the precision of fishing mortality and SSB. A retrospective analysis was performed for 

terminal year fishing mortality (F), SSB and age-1 recruitment. 

Model selection process 

The GARM3 Assessment Methodology Review Panel (March 2008) reviewed the 2005 

GARM2 VPA with catch through 2004 and a version of the assessment implemented in ASAP 

v2.0.9. The two models provided similar results, and both exhibited a strong retrospective 

pattern through the late 1990s and into 2001. The Panel concluded that the data appeared 

sufficient for an age-structured model and that negligible error in the catch-at-age could be 

assumed. The Panel noted that the strong retrospective pattern appeared to be transitory as it was 

not as evident in terminal years 2002 and 2003. The Panel advised that model results should be 

checked for the retrospective pattern when the 2005-2006 catch data were added and that if 

pattern reappeared, then “consideration should be given to splitting the survey time series pre 

and post 1994.” Splitting the survey series used in calibration acts as a proxy for fishery and 

biological factors that could have changed in the mid-1990s, resulting in the observed 

retrospective pattern. 

The same set of survey calibration indices as used in the SAW 36 assessment (NEFSC 

2003) and the 2005 GARM2 assessment (NEFSC 2005) was retained in the 2008 GARM3 VPA 

BASE case. The BASE case continued to exhibit a strong retrospective pattern, although it was 

less severe in recent years than in the 2005 GARM2 assessment. Given the persistence of the 

retrospective pattern in the BASE configuration, all survey series were split “pre and post 1994” 

(i.e., split between 1993 and 1994, given the change in commercial discard estimation and 

commercial landings reporting methods between these years) as per the GARM3 Modeling Panel 

recommendation, except for the NEFSC Winter, NJDFW Ocean, and NJDFW River survey 

series, which began in 1992, 1993, and 1995, respectively. Under this SPLIT run configuration, 

the retrospective pattern was somewhat reduced. No significant problems in residual patterns 

developed as a result of splitting the survey series, and the pattern for the NEFSC Fall survey 

appeared to be somewhat improved (less of a trend/blocking from negative residuals in the 1980s 

to positive residuals in the 1990s-2000s, likely corresponding to the change in retrospective 

patterns; compare Appendix Figures 2 and 11; NEFSC 2008). There was not much change in 

the pattern of the CTDEP Spring residuals, which continue to show a trend/ blocking in both the 

BASE and SPLIT run configurations (compare Appendix Figures 6 and 15; NEFSC 2008). The 

precision of the SPLIT run terminal year estimates was comparable to the BASE run estimates. 

The BASE and SPLIT runs were again considered by the GARM3 Biological Reference 

Point Review Panel (June 2008) and the GARM3 Final Review Panel (August 2008), and those 

reviews recommended the SPLIT configuration as the preferred run configuration. Subsequent 

to the GARM3 Biological Reference Point Meeting, the assessment was updated with 2007 

fishery catch data and NEFSC 2008 spring survey indices. The BASE run retrospective analyses 
J. Southern New England/Mid-Atlantic winter flounder 2-460

continue to show a substantial pattern in both F and SSB during 1996-2001 terminal years, with 

a reduced pattern thereafter (Figures J6-J7). Under the SPLIT run configuration, the retrospective 

patterns are reduced, with a shift from underestimation of F during 1996-199 terminal years, and 

lack of a long-term pattern thereafter (Figures J8-J10). The Mohn’s rho statistic calculated for 

the BASE and SPLIT runs ([retrospective year – terminal year]/terminal year), either summed or 

averaged over the last seven retrospective years (peels), is comparable in absolute magnitude but 

opposite in sign for F. The absolute value of the Mohn’s rho for SSB is about 85% smaller for 

the SPLIT run; the value for recruitment at age 1 is about 30% smaller (Table J27). 

Catchability coefficients (qs) from the BASE and SPLIT runs are compared in Table J28. 

As noted above, times series were sufficiently long to be split at 1993/1994 for the NEFSC 

Spring, NEFSC Fall, MADMF Spring, RIDFW Spring, and CTDEP Spring full age-matrix 

series. The NEFSC Winter and NJDFW Ocean and River survey series were not split. The qs 

for the split series generally decreased before 1994, with average decreases (when compared to 

the BASE run qs) ranging from about 50% for the NEFSC Fall survey to 5% for the CTDEP 

Spring survey. The qs for the split series generally increased after 1993, with average increases 

ranging from about 213% for the NEFSC Fall survey to 17% for the CTDEP Spring survey. For 

the unsplit series in the SPLIT run, qs generally increased by 1% to 7% compared to the BASE 

values. 

For the NEFSC Spring, NEFSC Fall, NEFSC Winter and MADMF Spring survey series, 

estimates of survey trawl effective swept area were available to allow calculation of swept area 

absolute abundance indices (assuming 100% trawl efficiency). These swept area indices were 

then used as calibration indices in the BASE and SPLIT run configurations to investigate the 

implication of the changes in survey catchability (q) of these four survey series in the SPLIT runs 

(i.e., are the resulting swept area qs feasible given the biological and behavioral characteristics of 

the stock). In the BASE case (1981-2007), the swept area qs are always 0.60 or less; in the 

SPLIT case (1981-1993, 1994-2007), the magnitude and pattern of increases is as indicated in 

Table J28, and the largest q is for the NEFSC Fall age 4 index, at about 0.9 (Figure J11). These 

results indicate that the SPLIT run configuration provides a realistic model of the population 

dynamics of SNE/MA winter flounder. However, the causes for the increases in qs in the SPLIT 

configuration are unclear, and may alias multiple changes in the relationship between the 

research survey catch data, fishery catch data, and biological characteristics (e.g., M or growth) 

of the stock. 

 Based on the GARM3 Panel recommendations and subsequent work, the ADAPT VPA 

SPLIT run was carried forward as the basis for final estimates, biological reference point 

calculations, and status determination. Detailed results discussed below refer to the SPLIT run. 

Assessment Results 

The 2008 GARM3 SPLIT run adopted as the FINAL model indicated that during 1981-

1993, fishing mortality (fully recruited F, ages 4-5) varied between 0.4 (1982) and 1.4 (1988) 

and then declined to 0.7 by 1999. Fishing mortality has been in the range of 0.6-0.7 during 

2004-2007 (Figure J12). SSB declined from 14,714 mt in 1983 to a record low of 2,098 mt in 

2005, before increasing to 3,368 mt in 2007 (Table J29, Figure J12). Recruitment at age 1 

declined nearly continuously from 62.5 million age-1 fish in 1981 to 4.4 million in 2003. The 

2006 year class of 3.6 million (age 1 in 2007) is estimated to be the smallest on record; the 2007 

year class (age 1 in 2008) is estimated to be 8.8 million fish (Table J29, Figure J13). 
J. Southern New England/Mid-Atlantic winter flounder 2-461

The precision of the 2008 stock size at age, F at age in 2007, and SSB in 2007 from the 

GARM3 SPLIT run was evaluated using bootstrap techniques (Efron 1982). One thousand 

bootstrap iterations were realized in which errors (differences between predicted and observed 

survey values) were resampled. Bootstrap estimates of stock size at age indicate low bias 

(<10%) for ages 2-6; bias was estimated to be greater than 15% for ages 1 and 7+. Bootstrap 

standard errors provide stock size CVs ranging from 17% at age 3 to 121% at age 7+. 

Bootstrapped estimates of SSB indicate a CV of 11%, with relatively low bias (bootstrap mean 

estimate of SSB of 3,390 mt compared with NLLS estimate of 3,368 mt). There is an 80% 

probability that SSB in 2007 was between 2,936 mt and 3,825 mt (Table J29, Figure J14). The 

bootstrap estimates of standard error associated with fishing mortality rates at age indicate 

moderate precision. Coefficients of variation for F estimates ranged from 17% at age 3 to 30% 

at age 1. There is an 80% probability that fully recruited F for ages 4-5 in 2007 was between 

0.522 and 0.861 (Table J29, Figure J15). 

5.0 Biological reference points 

The Working Group on Re-Evaluation of Biological Reference Points for New England 

Groundfish (NEFSC 2002) estimated the biological reference points for SNE/MA winter 

flounder using yield and SSB per recruit analyses (Thompson and Bell 1934) and Beverton-Holt 

stock-recruitment models (Beverton and Holt 1957, Brodziak et al. 2001, Mace and Doonan 

1988) based on the SARC 28 assessment (NEFSC 1999). A Beverton-Holt function fit with a 

prior on unfished recruitment (R0) equal to the average of the five largest year classes (1981-

1985) in the VPA time series was selected as the best stock-recruitment model. The yield per 

recruit (YPR) and SSB per recruit (SSBR) analyses indicated that F40% = 0.21 and F0.1 = 0.25. 

The stock-recruitment model indicated that MSY = 10,600 mt, FMSY = 0.32, and BMSY = 30,100 

mt. 

Both the parametric Beverton-Holt stock-recruitment model and the non-parametric 

empirical approach (YPR and SSBR model combined with VPA recruitment estimates and longterm projections) were considered in the current assessment to estimate biological reference 

points for SNE/MA winter flounder, based on the GARM3 BASE and SPLIT VPA results. 

Stock-recruitment data were modeled for the 1981-2007 year classes (1981-2007 SSB; 1982-

2008 recruitment at age 1). In the non-parametric empirical approach, a long-term (100 year) 

stochastic projection using the cumulative distribution function of the year classes produced 

when SSB exceeded 5,700 mt was used to estimate MSY and SSBMSY. 

Fishery catch and NEFSC Spring survey mean weights at age do not exhibit any 

significant long-term trends (Figures J16-J17). The time series pattern in female maturity at age 

is stable (Figure J18). Table J30 presents the input values for the YPR, SSBR, and stockrecruitment analyses using average values for 2003-2007 from the GARM3 SPLIT run. As in 

the NEFSC (2002) analyses, maturity at age 2 was rounded to 0.00 due to the low and likely 

imprecise estimate of the maturity of those fish. 

 The GARM3 Biological Reference Point Review Panel concluded that the prior on 

unfished recruitment used to fit the parametric Beverton-Holt stock-recruitment model was 

inappropriate. The Beverton-Holt stock-recruitment model fit without the prior did not provide 

feasible results. The Panel recommended the non-parametric empirical approach (YPR and 

SSBR model combined with VPA recruitment estimates and long-term projections) be used to 

estimate biological reference points for SNE/MA winter flounder based on a) the GARM3 
J. Southern New England/Mid-Atlantic winter flounder 2-462

SPLIT VPA results, b) the estimate of F40% as a proxy for FMSY, and c) a long-term (100 year) 

stochastic projection using the cumulative distribution function of the year classes produced 

when SSB exceeded 5,700 mt (1981-1988 year classes; mean R = 35.239 million fish at age 1; 

Figure J19) of the SPLIT VPA series to estimate MSY and SSBMSY. Table J31 summarizes the 

BRPs for SNE/MA winter flounder. 

6.0 Projections 

 Projections of future stock status to the rebuilding deadline of 2014 were conducted with 

a stochastic model for recruitment based on the GARM3 SPLIT VPA results and corresponding 

non-parametric BRPs (Tables J29 & J31). Mean weights and partial recruitment patterns 

estimated for the most recent 5 years in the assessment (2003-2007) were used in projections to 

reflect current conditions in the stock and fishery (Table J30). Female maturity at age was based 

on the MADMF Spring survey 1982-2007 time series (Table J30). Projections assumed total 

catch in 2008 = total catch in 2007 = 1,857 mt, resulting in a forecast F in 2008 = 0.481. For 

projections to the rebuilding deadline of 2014, the GARM Final Review Panel (August 2008) 

recommended a two-stanza recruitment model (Model 15 in the AGEPRO projection software) 

for SSB levels above and below 5,700 mt of SSB. Recruitment below 5,700 mt averages 11 

million age-1 fish; recruitment above 5,700 mt averages 35 million age-1 fish. 

 Projections at F in 2009-2014 = F40% = 0.248 indicate a <1% chance that the stock will 

rebuild to SSBMSY = 38,761 mt by 2014 (Table J32; Figure J20). Projections further indicate that 

fishing at F = 0.000 during 2009-2014 will provide only a 1% chance to rebuild the stock to 

SSBMSY = 38,761 by 2014 (Table J32; Figure J20). 

7.0 Summary 

 The Southern New England/Mid-Atlantic (SNE/MA) winter flounder stock complex is 

overfished and overfishing is occurring (Figure J21; SPLIT run used as FINAL model). Fishing 

mortality (F) in 2007 was estimated to be 0.649, over twice the FMSY proxy = F40% = 0.248 

(Table J32). There is an 80% chance that the F in 2007 was between 0.522 and 0.861. SSB in 

2007 was estimated to be 3,368 mt, about 9% of SSBMSY = 38,761 mt (Table J32). There is an 

80% probability that SSB in 2007 was between 2,936 mt and 3,825 mt. The 2006 year class of 

3.6 million (age 1 in 2007) is estimated to be the smallest on record; the 2007 year class (age 1 in 

2008) is estimated to be 8.8 million fish. 

 The 2008 GARM3 BASE run estimates of 2007 F = 0.438 and 2007 SSB = 4,565 mt (and 

associated 80% confidence intervals) are provided in Figure J21 to illustrate the change in these 

quantities due to the adjustment provided by the SPLIT run configuration that was adopted as the 

FINAL model for status determination. The BASE run results also indicate that the SNE/MA 

winter flounder stock complex is overfished and overfishing is occurring. An adjustment to the 

BASE model results using the average Mohn’s rho retrospective change in F and SSB shifts the 

BASE results toward the FINAL model results. 

 

8.0 Panel Discussion/Comments

Conclusions 

The Base VPA for this stock exhibited such a large retrospective pattern that the Panel 

concluded it required an adjustment. The VPA with the survey time series split in 1993/1994 

appeared to reduce the retrospective pattern and was consistent with the GARM III ‘models’ 
J. Southern New England/Mid-Atlantic winter flounder 2-463

review. This adjustment was undertaken consistent with the GARM III ‘models’ review. Though 

the underlying causes for the retrospective pattern remain unknown, the Panel accepted the VPA 

with the survey time series split as Final and the best available estimate of stock status and a 

sufficient basis for management advice. 

The Panel expressed concern about the uncertainties with the Final run. In particular, the 

declining rate of sampling of the recreational fishery and the persistent retrospective pattern that 

was not completely resolved by using the split in the survey time series. 

The Panel noted that current biomass is extremely low and could remain so until 

recruitment improves. For this reason, it recommended that the stock and rebuilding plan 

projections be undertaken consistent with the GARM III ‘BRP’ review but including sampling 

from the VPA time series of recruitment guided by the 5,700 mt SSB breakpoint used in BRP 

determination. 

Research Recommendations

The Panel had no specific research recommendations for this stock.

9.0 References 

Beverton RJH, Holt SJ. 1957. On the dynamics of exploited fish populations. Chapman and 

Hall, London. Facsimile reprint 1993. 

Brodziak JTK, Overholtz WJ, Rago P. 2001. Does spawning stock affect recruitment of New 

England groundfish? Can J Fish Aquat Sci. 58(2): 306-318. 

Efron B. 1982. The jackknife, the bootstrap and other resampling plans. Phila Soc for Ind and 

Appl Math. 38. 

Howell P, Howe A, Gibson M, Ayvasian S. 1992. Fishery management plan for inshore stocks 

of winter flounder. Atlantic States Marine Fisheries Commission. Fish Mgmt Rep 21. 

May 1992. 

Mace PM, Doonan IJ. 1988. A generalized bioeconomic simulation model for fish population 

dynamics. NZ Fish Ass Res Doc. 88/4. 

NEFSC. 1999. Report of the 28th Northeast Regional Stock Assessment Workshop (28th 

SAW): Stock Assessment Review Committee (SARC) consensus summary of 

assessments. NEFSC Ref Doc. 99-08; 304 p. 

NEFSC. 2002. Final report of the Working Group on re-evaluation of biological reference points 

for New England groundfish. NEFSC Ref Doc. 02-04; 123 p. 

NEFSC. 2003. Report of the 36th Northeast Regional Stock Assessment Workshop (36th 

SAW): Stock Assessment Review Committee (SARC) consensus summary of 

assessments. NEFSC Ref Doc. 03-06. 453 p. 

NEFSC. 2005. Assessment of 19 Northeast groundfish stocks through 2004. 2005 Groundfish 

Assessment Review Meeting (GARM) Woods Hole, MA. 2005. August 15-19.NEFSC 

Ref Doc. 05-13; 508 p. 

Thompson WF, Bell FH. 1934. Biological statistics of the Pacific halibut fishery. 2. Effect of 

changes in intensity upon total yield and yield per recruit of gear. Rep Int Fish (Pacific 

halibut) Comm. 8; 49 p. 
J. Southern New England/Mid-Atlantic winter flounder 2-464

10.0 Tables and Figures 

Table J1. Winter flounder commercial landings (metric tons) for Southern New England/Mid-Atlantic stock 

complex area (U.S. statistical reporting areas 521, 526, divisions 53, 61-63) as reported by NEFSC weighout, dealer, 

state bulletin and general canvas data. 

Year Metric tons 

1964 7,474 

1965 8,678 

1966 11,977 

1967 9,478 

1968 7,070 

1969 8,107 

1970 8,603 

1971 7,367 

1972 5,190 

1973 5,573 

1974 4,259 

1975 3,982 

1976 3,265 

1977 4,413 

1978 6,327 

1979 6,543 

1980 10,627 

1981 11,176 

1982 9,438 

1983 8,659 

1984 8,882 

1985 7,052 

1986 4,929 

1987 5,172 

1988 4,312 

1989 3,670 

1990 4,232 

1991 4,823 

1992 3,816 

1993 3,010 

1994 2,128 

1995 2,593 

1996 2,783 

1997 3,548 

1998 3,137 

1999 3,349 
J. Southern New England/Mid-Atlantic winter flounder 2-465

Table J1 continued. 

Year Metric tons 

2000 3,704 

2001 4,556 

2002 3,084 

2003 2,308 

2004 1,636 

2005 1,320 

2006 1,720 

2007 1,622 
J. Southern New England/Mid-Atlantic winter flounder 2-466

Table J2. Estimated number (000's) and weight (mt) of winter flounder caught, landed, and discarded in the 

recreational fishery, Southern New England/Mid-Atlantic stock complex. 

 

Year Catch Landed Landed Released 15% Release 

15% 

Release 

A+B1+B2 A+B1 A+B1 B2 Mortality Mortality 

(N; >000) (N; 

>000) (mt) (N; >000) 

(N; 

>000) (mt) 

 

1981 11259 8253 3154 3007 451 91 

1982 10379 8216 3493 2163 324 63 

1983 10994 8295 3485 2699 405 127 

1984 17410 12441 5510 4968 745 148 

1985 17871 13086 5075 4785 718 230 

1986 9338 7001 2949 2337 351 66 

1987 9200 6857 3169 2342 351 61 

1988 10166 7354 3510 2811 422 69 

1989 6097 3799 1792 2297 345 49 

1990 3845 2487 1063 1359 204 31 

1991 4347 2808 1184 1539 231 51 

1992 1358 809 387 550 83 15 

1993 3184 1879 813 1305 155 31 

1994 2067 1203 594 864 80 29 

1995 2140 1348 650 792 119 32 

1996 2655 1607 714 1049 157 30 

1997 1921 1220 627 701 105 31 

1998 1008 584 290 425 64 13 

1999 1071 658 320 412 62 14 

2000 2128 1401 870 727 109 32 

2001 1421 892 549 528 79 14 

2002 707 408 223 299 45 12 

2003 761 572 323 189 28 11 

2004 442 344 214 98 15 8 

2005 484 215 124 269 40 14 

2006 591 273 136 318 48 16 

2007 289 215 116 74 11 5 
J. Southern New England/Mid-Atlantic winter flounder 2-467

Table J3. The total number of commercial lengths sampled by market category for Southern New England/MidAtlantic winter flounder. The landings (metric tons) and metric tons per 100 lengths are also shown. 

 

 Market Category 

Year Unclass Large Medium Small Total Landings Metric tons 

per 100 

 (mt) lengths 

 

1981 1,904 918 0 1,638 4,460 11,176 251 

1982 784 2,932 978 3,348 8,042 9,438 117 

1983 927 2,044 1,044 1,921 5,936 8,659 146 

1984 551 1,338 637 1,439 3,965 8,882 224 

1985 716 1,396 1,663 2,632 6,407 7,052 110 

1986 799 1,091 1,024 2,206 5,120 4,929 96 

1987 99 1,978 670 2,524 5,271 5,172 98 

1988 269 1,250 958 1,731 4,208 4,312 102 

1989 106 975 1,220 1,224 3,525 3,670 104 

1990 102 1,333 1,180 1,473 4,088 4,232 104 

1991 0 917 921 1,220 3,058 4,823 158 

1992 402 1,159 1,259 1,343 4,163 3,816 92 

1993 62 642 401 1,249 2,354 3,010 128 

1994 327 600 644 912 2,483 2,128 86 

1995 589 758 225 1,295 2,867 2,593 90 

1996 580 764 324 1,027 2,695 2,783 103 

1997 201 1,140 1,097 1,614 4,052 3,548 88 

1998 942 415 1,325 734 3,416 3,138 92 

1999 2,381 700 607 682 4,370 3,349 77 

2000 1,553 1,075 942 2,580 6,150 3,704 60 

2001 658 2,384 2,222 1,129 6,393 4,556 71 

2002 716 1,608 1,099 1,983 5,406 3,084 57 

2003 1,037 1,626 692 1,115 4,470 2,308 52 

2004 373 1,974 652 1,822 4,821 1,636 34 

2005 239 2,283 721 627 4,294 1,320 31 

2006 1,614 2,661 1,805 1,408 7,488 1,720 23 

2007 3,061 4,319 1,661 1,463 10,504 1,622 15 
J. Southern New England/Mid-Atlantic winter flounder 2-468

Table J4. The total number of lengths sampled from the recreational fishery for Southern New England/MidAtlantic winter flounder. The landings (metric tons) and metric tons per 100 lengths are also shown. 

 

Year Landings Lengths Metric tons 

per 100 

lengths 

 

1981 3,154 1,725 183 

1982 3,493 1,971 177 

1983 3,485 2,587 135 

1984 5,510 3,123 176 

1985 5,075 2,357 215 

1986 2,949 2,237 132 

1987 3,169 1,360 233 

1988 3,510 1,944 181 

1989 1,792 2,810 64 

1990 1,063 2,548 42 

1991 1,184 1,755 67 

1992 387 1,083 36 

1993 813 1,288 63 

1994 594 948 63 

1995 650 767 85 

1996 714 936 76 

1997 627 752 83 

1998 290 1030 28 

1999 320 643 50 

2000 870 360 242 

2001 549 922 60 

2002 223 657 34 

2003 323 355 91 

2004 214 449 48 

2005 124 134 93 

2006 136 101 135 

2007 116 43 270 
J. Southern New England/Mid-Atlantic winter flounder 2-469

Table J5. NEFSC Fishery Observer Program observed trips in the trawl and scallop dredge fisheries (in SNE/MA 

winter flounder stock areas) and precision (%) of live discard estimates (metric tons) . 

 

Year Fishery N Trips Discards 

 (Live mt) CV (%) 

 

1994 Trawl 111 650 35 

 Scallop 56 31 31 

 

1995 Trawl 248 261 33 

 Scallop 65 57 16 

 

1996 Trawl 216 138 50 

 Scallop 86 211 15 

 

1997 Trawl 159 105 32 

 Scallop 63 449 16 

 

1998 Trawl 98 230 41 

 Scallop 45 115 15 

 

1999 Trawl 123 38 43 

 Scallop 26 86 20 

 

2000 Trawl 186 137 31 

 Scallop 140 159 27 

 

2001 Trawl 244 39 35 

 Scallop 161 17 16 

 

2002 Trawl 248 108 23 

 Scallop 187 78 51 

 

2003 Trawl 383 69 27 

 Scallop 138 201 31 

 

2004 Trawl 854 137 20 

 Scallop 458 31 36 

 

2005 Trawl 1220 126 27 

 Scallop 406 83 27 

 

2006 Trawl 612 198 21 

 Scallop 257 103 17 

 

2007 Trawl 902 151 18 

 Scallop 457 77 16 
J. Southern New England/Mid-Atlantic winter flounder 2-470

Table J6. The total number of lengths sampled from the commercial fishery discards for Southern New 

England/Mid-Atlantic winter flounder. The discards before the 50% mortality rate is applied (metric tons) and 

metric tons per 100 lengths are also shown. 

 

 

Year Discards Lengths 

Metric 

tons 

 (before per 100 

 mortality) lengths 

 

1994 682 307 222 

1995 318 719 44 

1996 350 603 58 

1997 554 968 57 

1998 346 774 45 

1999 124 367 34 

2000 296 481 62 

2001 56 307 18 

2002 186 942 20 

2003 370 1,185 31 

2004 168 2,889 6 

2005 210 3,318 6 

2006 302 3,942 8 

2007 228 4,093 6 
J. Southern New England/Mid-Atlantic winter flounder 

Table J7. Total winter flounder recreational and commercial catch for the Southern New England/Mid-Atlantic stock complex in weignumbers (000s). 

Year Commercial Commercial Recreational Recreational Total 

Landings Discards Landings Discards Catch 

 mt 000s Mt 000s Mt 000s mt 000s mt 000s

1981 11,176 20,705 1,343 5,123 3,154 8,253 91 451 15,764 34,532 

1982 9,438 19,026 1,149 4,271 3,493 8,216 63 324 14,143 31,837 1983 8,659 16,312 1,311 5,251 3,485 8,295 127 405 13,582 30,263 1984 8,882 17,116 986 3,936 5,510 12,441 148 745 15,526 34,238 1985 7,052 14,210 1,534 4,531 5,075 13,086 230 718 13,891 32,545 1986 4,929 9,460 1,273 4,902 2,949 7,001 66 351 9,217 21,714 1987 5,172 10,523 950 3,545 3,169 6,857 61 351 9,352 21,276 1988 4,312 8,378 904 3,729 3,510 7,354 69 422 8,795 19,882 1989 3,670 7,888 1,404 5,761 1,792 3,799 49 345 6,915 17,793 1990 4,232 7,203 673 2,567 1,063 2,487 31 204 5,999 12,461 1991 4,823 9,062 784 2,700 1,184 2,808 51 231 6,842 14,801 1992 3,816 6,758 511 1,812 387 809 15 83 4,729 9,462 1993 3,010 5,335 457 1,580 813 1,879 31 155 4,311 8,949 1994 2,128 4,305 341 1,362 594 1,203 29 80 3,092 6,956 1995 2,593 4,639 159 561 650 1,348 32 119 3,434 6,667 1996 2,783 5,235 175 418 714 1,607 30 157 3,702 7,417 1997 3,548 6,411 277 651 627 1,220 31 105 4,483 8,388 1998 3,138 5,924 173 462 290 584 13 64 3,614 7,033 

1999 3,349 7,386 62 158 320 658 14 62 3,745 8,265 

2000 3,704 6,465 148 354 870 1,401 32 109 4,754 8,328 

2001 4,556 7,667 28 102 549 892 14 79 5,147 8,740 

2002 3,084 4,908 93 221 223 408 12 45 3,412 5,583 

2003 2,308 3,554 185 219 323 572 11 28 2,827 4,374 

2004 1,636 2,420 84 214 214 344 8 15 1,942 2,992 

2005 1,320 2,014 105 243 124 215 14 40 1,563 2,512 

2006 1,720 2,936 151 342 136 273 16 48 2,023 3,601 

2007 1,622 2,794 114 254 116 215 5 11 1,857 3,274 
J. Southern New England/Mid-Atlantic winter flounder 2-472

Table J8. Winter flounder NEFSC survey index stratified mean number and mean weight (kg) per tow for the 

Southern New England- Mid-Atlantic stock complex. Spring and fall strata set (offshore 1-12, 25, 69-76; inshore 1-

29, 45-56); winter strata set (offshore 1-2, 5-6, 9-10, 69, 73). Indices include door and gear conversion factors. 

 Spring Fall 

Year Number N(CV) Weight W(CV) Number N(CV) Weight W(CV) 

1963 9.175 33.2 3.874 41.4 

1964 13.673 22.1 4.897 19.4 

1965 15.537 32.5 4.463 28.7 

1966 9.852 31.5 3.310 27.3 

1967 9.109 20.6 2.811 18.7 

1968 2.444 26.7 0.748 37.2 8.099 21.0 2.218 18.7 

1969 5.640 34.3 3.414 53.7 7.065 34.9 2.009 29.7 

1970 2.729 30.9 1.326 35.6 5.159 36.1 2.467 47.8 

1971 2.035 32.9 0.756 36.2 3.861 17.5 1.231 19.1 

1972 1.865 28.1 0.656 32.1 7.687 39.4 3.053 44.6 

1973 6.233 19.9 1.688 20.6 2.691 26.9 0.775 25.8 

1974 2.439 21.9 0.822 19.3 2.032 31.1 0.822 29.4 

1975 0.683 22.6 0.218 20.8 2.196 20.3 0.688 22.1 

1976 1.527 16.3 0.432 17.2 2.376 32.2 1.251 42.9 

1977 2.084 17.2 0.639 18.6 4.722 22.5 1.735 25.2 

1978 3.315 11.1 0.945 13.3 3.743 17.6 1.430 22.6 

1979 1.468 16.8 0.575 25.0 10.059 18.4 2.606 15.4 

1980 7.550 17.5 1.900 13.6 9.964 31.0 3.216 29.5 

1981 9.027 20.9 2.560 16.9 10.206 20.3 3.110 19.9 

1982 6.986 20.1 1.918 15.8 4.927 22.8 1.683 25.9 

1983 6.262 18.4 2.469 28.0 8.757 37.6 2.690 31.7 

1984 5.524 19.0 2.072 28.4 2.681 21.1 0.887 21.0 

1985 5.360 17.4 1.983 16.5 2.727 21.5 0.991 21.5 

1986 2.266 23.9 0.766 23.4 1.538 21.9 0.487 19.1 

1987 1.763 21.3 0.568 17.9 1.167 28.9 0.419 37.8 

1988 2.126 19.6 0.730 19.3 1.246 22.4 0.530 27.5 

1989 2.485 33.5 0.582 29.6 1.435 40.7 0.341 30.4 

1990 1.992 36.8 0.472 33.1 1.979 29.6 0.546 25.8 

1991 2.473 15.6 0.692 14.7 1.950 23.6 0.708 25.6 
J. Southern New England/Mid-Atlantic winter flounder 2-473

Table J8 continued. 

 Spring Fall Winter 

Year Number N(CV) Weight W(CV) Number N(CV) Weight W(CV)

 

Number N(CV) Weight W(CV)

1992 1.579 23.4 0.435 22.1 2.963 32.4 0.829 31.8 3.680 27.3 0.928 26.0 

1993 0.961 19.1 0.219 14.8 1.328 25.0 0.382 25.9 2.590 29.4 0.456 21.5 

1994 1.510 26.4 0.329 21.9 4.134 24.8 1.482 27.3 3.797 30.8 1.183 35.5 

1995 2.097 23.4 0.592 19.1 2.253 20.7 0.626 17.3 2.221 26.1 0.697 29.1 

1996 1.517 14.3 0.428 15.2 3.186 39.8 1.063 45.3 3.778 28.4 0.734 25.2 

1997 1.436 22.1 0.399 20.0 7.893 32.6 2.583 26.7 3.906 19.7 1.043 21.6 

1998 2.774 20.6 0.845 22.1 6.597 13.6 2.232 9.9 7.169 21.6 1.830 24.1 

1999 4.171 16.2 1.245 16.4 3.596 17.0 1.549 16.5 10.328 31.8 3.100 32.3 

2000 3.172 26.6 1.123 31.9 6.168 25.5 2.143 26.2 5.571 32.9 1.525 29.5 

2001 1.568 14.3 0.581 13.3 4.877 28.1 2.029 28.5 3.096 31.6 0.873 29.0 

2002 2.043 15.7 0.782 16.3 8.858 18.9 3.634 19.8 2.901 27.7 1.188 38.3 

2003 0.767 11.8 0.267 11.1 3.209 24.2 1.568 27.5 2.199 42.1 0.782 42.0 

2004 1.243 27.1 0.442 30.6 3.357 27.6 0.879 27.0 4.336 35.2 0.881 44.4 

2005 0.928 28.8 0.306 30.0 3.707 29.4 1.326 32.3 4.045 30.4 1.143 26.0 

2006 1.810 20.4 0.465 17.5 2.952 28.7 1.043 29.0 5.082 48.4 1.497 36.2 

2007 0.934 18.3 0.350 20.2 3.483 31.9 1.153 30.7 2.794 40.1 1.075 39.7 

2008 1.808 18.9 0.642 19.0 

NOTE: 1968-1972 spring index does not include inshore strata; 1963-1971 fall index does not include inshore strata. 

All indices calculated with trawl door and trawl gear conversion factors where appropriate. Winter trawl survey 

began in 1992 and ended in 2007. 
J. Southern New England/Mid-Atlantic winter flounder 2-474

Table J9. SNE/MAB winter flounder mean weight per tow for annual state surveys. 

Year MADM RIDFW RIDFW CTDEP 

1978 18.24 

1979 18.42 7.72 7.24 

1980 15.13 13.57 4.88 

1981 16.20 12.13 2.12 

1982 15.18 5.23 1.30 

1983 20.01 9.52 2.28 

1984 14.80 8.43 3.38 15.68 

1985 11.79 5.93 3.01 13.91 

1986 10.50 6.47 3.12 10.33 

1987 9.85 8.14 2.25 11.76 

1988 6.73 6.02 1.45 18.28 

1989 8.92 3.09 0.79 22.62 

1990 5.68 3.07 0.71 29.01 

1991 3.01 7.38 0.18 24.59 

1992 8.05 0.95 0.42 12.29 

1993 8.42 0.22 0.50 10.26 

1994 12.93 1.67 0.33 12.20 

1995 7.85 6.04 0.89 7.72 

1996 9.92 4.45 0.91 20.41 

1997 9.89 4.57 0.64 15.53 

1998 8.15 5.00 0.32 14.66 

1999 4.61 3.66 0.57 10.29 

2000 6.26 4.52 0.56 12.63 

2001 3.69 3.56 0.28 14.02 

2002 1.91 3.29 0.28 10.83 

2003 5.00 1.56 0.68 8.87 

2004 2.97 1.85 0.53 6.11 

2005 4.14 2.05 1.08 3.37 

2006 3.80 3.45 0.44 1.82 

2007 3.82 7.02 
J. Southern New England/Mid-Atlantic winter flounder 2-475

Table J10. Winter flounder mean number per tow for annual state surveys. 

Year MADM

F 

RIDFW 

Spring 

RIDFW 

Fall 

CTDEP NYDEC NJDFW 

Ocean 

NJDFW 

Rivers 

1978 52.00 

1979 54.87 83.76 

1980 39.35 63.10 

1981 47.80 87.97 25.21 

1982 41.46 31.39 18.55 

1983 58.14 58.97 17.29 

1984 38.02 41.64 19.02 111.96 

1985 39.49 34.97 21.44 83.58 4.87 

1986 36.78 41.02 31.28 63.65 

1987 39.16 56.21 20.90 79.92 6.07 

1988 28.36 34.44 10.64 137.59 4.31 

1989 27.38 20.88 7.17 148.19 17.02 

1990 27.72 20.33 8.83 223.09 12.22 

1991 11.02 41.95 1.77 150.20 21.50 

1992 28.96 4.40 10.60 61.39 79.11 

1993 50.40 2.92 6.65 63.60 31.20 19.17 

1994 50.84 10.25 2.21 84.44 22.09 14.06 

1995 37.37 32.19 7.00 50.12 8.15 30.41 2.82 

1996 30.92 20.67 7.79 110.62 19.24 9.40 3.05 

1997 38.51 22.28 5.48 71.31 10.99 36.02 3.35 

1998 35.88 19.22 2.02 72.91 7.20 18.20 4.25 

1999 25.98 13.45 2.80 41.35 10.96 17.79 3.23 

2000 24.64 16.32 2.58 45.41 2.61 10.12 2.11 

2001 15.79 12.49 2.10 54.50 7.99 13.83 2.84 

2002 6.70 11.56 1.45 43.71 0.43 22.58 2.80 

2003 17.73 5.56 5.21 27.84 1.40 12.52 1.57 

2004 11.14 11.16 4.40 20.46 5.99 14.21 1.27 

2005 27.02 15.74 10.38 16.10 25.67 0.99 

2006 17.63 15.36 2.33 5.59 18.13 

2007 16.68 28.68 18.57 
J. Southern New England/Mid-Atlantic winter flounder 2-476

Table J11. State survey indices (stratified mean number per tow or haul) for young-of-year 

winter flounder in Southern New England/Mid-Atlantic stock complex. 

Year CTDEP RIDFW DEDFW MADMF NYDEC 

1976 0.344 

1977 0.641 

1978 0.366 

1979 0.507 

1980 0.432 

1981 0.340 

1982 0.370 

1983 0.231 

1984 0.323 

1985 0.335 1.52 

1986 29.00 0.17 0.325 

1987 11.60 0.09 0.274 2.65 

1988 15.50 8.90 0.02 0.184 1.45 

1989 1.90 18.90 0.29 0.421 11.15 

1990 3.10 21.50 0.63 0.325 8.53 

1991 5.80 12.30 0.03 0.267 14.60 

1992 13.70 33.30 0.27 0.294 76.87 

1993 6.00 5.30 0.04 0.067 16.99 

1994 16.60 2.50 0.31 0.148 14.84 

1995 12.50 5.60 0.10 0.154 4.04 

1996 19.20 6.20 0.04 0.221 16.25 

1997 7.47 4.70 0.10 0.392 4.42 

1998 9.38 2.60 0.13 0.165 3.11 

1999 8.70 15.00 0.07 0.201 7.49 

2000 4.30 53.00 0.08 0.347 0.90 

2001 1.30 13.70 0.06 0.214 2.31 

2002 3.06 18.10 0.01 0.100 0.07 

2003 8.10 31.20 0.28 0.197 0.86 

2004 10.96 18.70 0.20 0.095 0.50 

2005 5.63 5.30 0.02 0.075 

2006 0.93 12.80 0.15 0.168 

2007 4.73 17.04 0.168 
J. Southern New England/Mid-Atlantic winter flounder 

Table J12. Commercial fishery landings at age for the Southern New England/Mid-Atlantic winter flounder stock complex. 

Commercial Landings at Age

Age

Year 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 Total 

1981 194 7,154 9,740 2,750 606 178 42 32 0 0 9 0 0 21982 54 6,897 8,496 2,715 488 187 78 59 21 17 7 7 0 11983 6 2,795 7,114 3,957 1,322 584 269 91 34 70 6 29 35 11984 0 4,518 6,367 3,197 1,503 768 355 158 67 86 27 33 37 11985 27 3,936 5,688 3,052 1,014 326 104 32 17 7 5 2 0 11986 0 2,122 4,187 2,206 551 271 84 27 6 3 1 2 0 1987 0 2,488 5,465 1,895 465 122 40 20 14 12 2 0 0 11988 0 2,241 3,929 1,607 412 122 37 24 3 2 1 0 0 1989 0 1,542 4,057 1,747 431 58 34 13 5 1 0 0 0 1990 0 1,003 3,977 1,757 315 95 37 16 0 3 0 0 0 1991 0 1,406 4,756 2,239 447 143 48 16 5 1 1 0 0 1992 0 484 3,416 2,127 574 111 32 11 3 0 0 0 0 1993 13 885 2,516 1,377 361 102 71 7 0 0 2 0 1 1994 2 1,281 1,681 995 261 59 21 3 1 1 0 0 0 1995 0 116 2,067 1,935 424 77 13 6 1 0 0 0 0 1996 108 564 2,283 1,676 445 119 22 18 0 0 0 0 0 1997 1 1,485 2,705 1,734 387 60 23 12 3 1 0 0 0 1998 0 975 2,691 1,515 492 178 63 3 7 0 0 0 0 1999 0 1,962 3,658 1,380 311 59 12 4 0 0 0 0 0 2000 0 1,066 2,804 1,934 518 91 42 10 0 0 0 0 0 2001 0 1,524 3,186 1,963 717 169 65 30 10 2 1 0 0 2002 0 292 1,693 1,688 839 293 75 23 4 1 0 0 0 2003 0 342 1,469 1,068 432 152 56 31 4 0 0 0 0 2004 0 240 861 699 280 194 94 32 17 3 0 0 0 2005 0 239 648 667 286 108 35 22 6 3 0 0 0 2006 1 555 1,339 590 232 119 66 26 7 1 0 0 0 2007 0 267 1,311 871 261 64 15 3 1 1 0 0 0 
J. Southern New England/Mid-Atlantic winter flounder 

Table J13. Recreational fishery landings at age for the Southern New England/Mid-Atlantic winter flounder stock complex. 

Recreational Landings at Age

Age

Year 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 Total 

1981 792 4,136 2,475 757 60 4 28 0 0 0 0 0 0 1982 447 4,146 2,659 806 120 25 13 0 0 0 0 0 0 1983 287 1,616 4,159 1,687 424 111 10 0 0 0 0 0 0 1984 286 4,153 6,071 1,527 261 104 40 0 0 0 0 0 0 11985 216 1,560 4,202 2,517 1,865 1,489 864 0 330 43 0 0 0 11986 106 1,766 2,434 1,798 492 171 81 77 51 8 17 0 0 1987 16 920 1,725 1,016 2,215 629 81 114 64 77 0 0 0 1988 21 534 2,856 2,077 774 856 128 51 37 20 0 0 0 1989 102 762 974 1,238 397 166 94 37 17 8 3 1 0 1990 7 189 814 852 439 101 52 20 3 3 0 2 5 1991 13 233 1,128 883 401 108 38 0 1 0 3 0 0 1992 3 124 236 304 85 50 7 0 0 0 0 0 0 1993 49 370 511 459 347 86 32 16 6 3 0 0 0 1994 10 411 424 233 73 38 13 0 0 0 0 0 0 1995 2 243 779 238 80 6 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 1996 6 306 771 423 90 9 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 1997 1 83 504 416 181 36 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 1998 2 89 191 235 58 7 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 1999 1 101 340 151 49 16 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 2000 0 117 458 491 272 46 15 0 0 0 0 0 0 2001 1 83 265 299 165 62 16 0 0 0 0 0 0 2002 1 85 136 103 59 19 5 0 0 0 0 0 0 2003 1 100 257 103 51 36 25 0 0 0 0 0 0 2004 2 57 92 120 37 21 14 0 0 0 0 0 0 2005 0 54 67 55 22 11 6 0 0 0 0 0 0 2006 0 51 138 57 23 3 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 2007 0 1 82 100 16 10 8 0 0 0 0 0 0 
J. Southern New England/Mid-Atlantic winter flounder 

Table J14. Commercial fishery discards at age for the Southern New England/Mid-Atlantic winter flounder stock complex. 

Commercial Discards at Age

Age

Year 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 Total 

1981 322 2,514 2,186 101 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 5,1982 43 2,817 1,219 192 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 4,21983 260 2,479 2,000 467 45 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 5,21984 159 2,102 1,502 166 6 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 3,91985 22 1,504 2,516 442 43 4 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 4,51986 78 2,220 2,389 205 10 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 4,91987 11 1,600 1,755 170 9 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 3,51988 6 887 2,540 276 20 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 3,71989 315 2,724 2,131 555 33 2 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 5,71990 16 781 1,433 322 14 0 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 2,51991 17 1,238 1,205 227 12 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 2,71992 15 845 787 150 14 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 1,81993 201 849 467 57 6 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 1,51994 233 914 186 28 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 1,31995 86 254 193 25 3 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 51996 16 117 181 82 21 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 41997 73 205 256 102 16 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 61998 10 257 153 37 5 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 41999 2 30 57 45 16 7 2 0 0 0 0 0 0 2000 42 113 111 41 32 9 5 0 0 0 0 0 0 32001 12 44 35 11 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 2002 10 74 58 36 25 11 6 0 0 0 0 0 0 22003 8 47 68 26 16 35 19 0 0 0 0 0 0 22004 31 76 45 37 12 7 5 0 0 0 0 0 0 22005 22 107 47 30 17 12 8 0 0 0 0 0 0 22006 36 131 102 37 21 9 6 0 0 0 0 0 0 32007 9 60 100 57 15 8 4 0 0 0 0 0 0 2
J. Southern New England/Mid-Atlantic winter flounder 

Table J15. Recreational fishery discards at age for the Southern New England/Mid-Atlantic winter flounder stock complex. 

Recreational Discards at Age

Age

Year 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 Total 

1981 72 379 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 41982 31 293 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 31983 63 342 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 41984 48 697 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 71985 9 342 365 2 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 71986 32 219 91 9 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 31987 47 257 43 3 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 31988 58 284 76 3 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 41989 51 247 46 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 31990 13 137 52 2 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 21991 22 152 57 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 21992 7 54 21 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 1993 29 96 26 4 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 1994 6 48 24 2 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 1995 1 41 73 4 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 1996 41 62 54 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 1997 14 68 23 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 1998 5 49 8 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 1999 2 53 6 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 2000 0 40 62 7 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 2001 22 39 17 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 2002 3 28 9 3 2 0 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 2003 6 9 7 2 2 0 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 2004 2 5 1 2 1 2 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 2005 10 17 3 4 3 3 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 2006 2 21 19 2 1 1 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 2007 0 1 5 5 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 
J. Southern New England/Mid-Atlantic winter flounder 

Table J16. Total fishery catch at age for the Southern New England/Mid-Atlantic winter flounder stock complex. 

Total Catch at Age

Age

Year 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 Total 

1981 1380 14183 14401 3608 666 182 70 32 0 0 9 0 0 341982 575 14153 12374 3713 608 212 91 59 21 17 7 7 0 31983 616 7232 13273 6111 1791 695 279 91 34 70 6 29 35 31984 493 11470 13940 4890 1770 873 395 158 67 86 27 33 37 341985 274 7342 12771 6013 2922 1819 968 32 347 50 5 2 0 321986 216 6327 9101 4218 1053 442 165 104 57 11 18 2 0 21987 74 5265 8988 3084 2690 751 121 134 78 89 2 0 0 21988 85 3946 9401 3963 1206 978 165 75 40 22 1 0 0 11989 468 5275 7208 3541 861 226 129 50 22 9 3 1 0 11990 36 2110 6276 2933 768 196 90 36 3 6 0 2 5 121991 52 3029 7146 3349 860 252 86 16 6 1 4 0 0 141992 25 1507 4460 2582 673 162 39 11 3 0 0 0 0 1993 292 2200 3520 1897 714 188 103 23 6 3 2 0 1 1994 251 2612 2339 1280 337 97 34 3 1 1 0 0 0 1995 88 654 3112 2202 506 83 13 6 1 0 0 0 0 1996 171 1050 3289 2181 556 129 22 18 0 0 0 0 0 1997 88 1841 3488 2252 584 96 23 12 3 1 0 0 0 1998 16 1371 3043 1788 555 185 64 3 7 0 0 0 0 1999 5 2146 4062 1577 375 82 14 4 0 0 0 0 0 2000 43 1336 3436 2473 822 146 62 10 0 0 0 0 0 2001 35 1689 3503 2274 883 231 81 30 10 2 1 0 0 2002 14 478 1897 1830 925 324 87 23 4 1 0 0 0 2003 15 498 1802 1199 501 223 101 31 4 0 0 0 0 42004 36 378 999 858 331 223 115 32 17 3 0 0 0 22005 32 417 765 755 328 134 50 22 6 3 0 0 0 22006 39 758 1598 686 277 133 74 26 7 1 0 0 0 2007 9 328 1498 1033 293 82 27 3 1 1 0 0 0 
J. Southern New England/Mid-Atlantic winter flounder 

Table J17. Total fishery mean weight at age for the Southern New England/Mid-Atlantic winter flounder stock complex. 

Total Catch Mean Weights at Age

Age

Year 1 2 3 4 5 6 7+

1981 0.130 0.276 0.478 0.802 1.065 1.243 1.2021982 0.090 0.261 0.438 0.694 1.048 1.253 1.8371983 0.195 0.237 0.353 0.516 0.774 1.046 1.5521984 0.146 0.258 0.366 0.542 0.693 0.913 1.2821985 0.111 0.282 0.364 0.482 0.522 0.467 0.6131986 0.129 0.292 0.398 0.480 0.685 0.879 0.9611987 0.046 0.287 0.384 0.551 0.475 0.564 0.8531988 0.039 0.279 0.351 0.508 0.634 0.517 0.8271989 0.118 0.258 0.378 0.508 0.660 0.716 1.0731990 0.082 0.295 0.394 0.525 0.672 0.808 0.9901991 0.093 0.317 0.420 0.534 0.603 0.823 1.1681992 0.079 0.287 0.427 0.599 0.802 0.945 1.3951993 0.169 0.334 0.460 0.592 0.689 0.878 1.1671994 0.311 0.430 0.473 0.564 0.750 0.985 1.2811995 0.267 0.420 0.470 0.559 0.789 1.089 1.7411996 0.136 0.380 0.464 0.607 0.824 0.851 1.0851997 0.245 0.443 0.515 0.644 0.771 0.957 1.4771998 0.196 0.362 0.465 0.568 0.665 1.090 1.1161999 0.136 0.359 0.439 0.524 0.684 0.903 1.1472000 0.106 0.407 0.492 0.622 0.729 0.975 1.0792001 0.089 0.436 0.519 0.640 0.783 1.051 1.2342002 0.135 0.372 0.499 0.617 0.747 0.927 1.1432003 0.167 0.426 0.517 0.672 0.854 1.000 1.1352004 0.094 0.384 0.549 0.619 0.786 0.945 1.2512005 0.129 0.342 0.488 0.675 0.834 1.013 1.2592006 0.118 0.379 0.468 0.652 0.872 1.065 1.2292007 0.069 0.379 0.468 0.624 0.849 1.116 1.363
J. Southern New England/Mid-Atlantic winter flounder 2-483

Table J18. NEFSC Spring survey: stratified mean number per tow at age for winter flounder in 

the Southern New England/Mid-Atlantic stock complex (strata set: offshore 1-12, 25, 69-76; 

inshore 1-29, 45-56). 

Year 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9+ Total 

1980 1.09 4.06 2.05 0.25 0.06 0.03 0.01 7.55 

1981 0.99 4.00 3.41 0.47 0.13 0.01 0.01 9.02 

1982 1.16 3.20 1.56 0.74 0.21 0.09 0.02 0.01 6.99 

1983 0.58 0.97 2.14 1.23 0.81 0.37 0.08 0.08 6.26 

1984 0.22 1.36 2.18 0.85 0.46 0.29 0.07 0.06 0.03 5.52 

1985 0.41 1.21 2.16 0.72 0.51 0.20 0.14 0.01 5.36 

1986 0.10 0.49 1.16 0.31 0.15 0.05 0.01 2.27 

1987 0.14 0.54 0.70 0.28 0.06 0.02 0.01 0.01 1.76 

1988 0.09 0.48 0.99 0.37 0.16 0.02 0.02 2.13 

1989 0.14 0.95 0.90 0.34 0.11 0.02 0.02 0.01 2.49 

1990 0.23 0.49 0.89 0.28 0.05 0.04 0.01 1.99 

1991 0.14 0.60 1.22 0.41 0.05 0.02 0.02 0.01 2.47 

1992 0.14 0.39 0.62 0.36 0.05 0.02 1.58 

1993 0.14 0.35 0.26 0.12 0.07 0.01 0.01 0.96 

1994 0.16 0.74 0.43 0.11 0.04 0.02 0.01 1.51 

1995 0.22 0.75 0.87 0.22 0.03 0.01 2.10 

1996 0.07 0.54 0.66 0.17 0.06 0.01 0.01 1.52 

1997 0.13 0.50 0.56 0.18 0.06 0.01 1.44 

1998 0.33 1.21 0.72 0.37 0.13 0.01 2.77 

1999 0.41 1.89 1.35 0.36 0.11 0.04 0.01 4.17 

2000 0.28 0.70 1.19 0.65 0.27 0.07 0.01 3.17 

2001 0.17 0.26 0.47 0.44 0.20 0.02 0.01 1.57 

2002 0.11 0.60 0.56 0.38 0.23 0.11 0.04 0.01 2.04 

2003 0.12 0.11 0.33 0.10 0.05 0.04 0.02 0.77 

2004 0.30 0.19 0.29 0.26 0.11 0.05 0.03 0.01 1.24 

2005 0.10 0.45 0.11 0.16 0.07 0.03 0.01 0.93 

2006 0.30 0.62 0.62 0.16 0.08 0.02 0.01 1.81 

2007 0.11 0.14 0.36 0.26 0.04 0.01 0.01 0.01 0.94 

2008 0.17 0.61 0.48 0.41 0.12 0.01 0.01 1.81 
J. Southern New England/Mid-Atlantic winter flounder 2-484

Table J19. NEFSC Fall survey: stratified mean number per tow at age for winter flounder in the 

Southern New England/Mid-Atlantic stock complex (strata set: offshore 1-12, 25, 69-76; inshore 1-29, 

45-56). 

Year 0 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8+ Total 

 

1980 0.40 1.76 4.62 2.74 0.43 0.01 9.96 

1981 0.04 2.13 5.03 2.49 0.30 0.10 0.09 0.02 0.01 10.21 

1982 0.01 0.76 2.21 1.34 0.47 0.12 0.02 4.93 

1983 1.63 3.82 2.06 0.62 0.35 0.11 0.07 0.10 8.76 

1984 0.17 1.04 1.17 0.26 0.03 0.01 2.68 

1985 0.16 1.18 0.99 0.30 0.09 0.01 2.73 

1986 0.23 0.90 0.36 0.03 0.01 0.01 1.54 

1987 0.03 0.64 0.36 0.12 0.02 1.17 

1988 0.03 0.30 0.64 0.22 0.04 0.01 0.01 1.25 

1989 0.28 0.83 0.26 0.05 0.01 0.01 1.44 

1990 0.08 0.89 0.85 0.15 0.01 1.98 

1991 0.07 1.02 0.73 0.12 0.01 1.95 

1992 0.13 1.74 0.79 0.26 0.03 0.01 2.96 

1993 0.43 0.52 0.35 0.08 1.38 

1994 0.45 2.23 1.08 0.30 0.04 0.03 4.13 

1995 0.58 0.93 0.63 0.09 0.01 0.01 2.25 

1996 0.61 1.40 0.80 0.31 0.06 0.01 3.19 

1997 1.48 3.58 2.20 0.55 0.08 7.89 

1998 1.39 2.83 1.91 0.41 0.05 0.01 6.60 

1999 0.43 0.95 1.46 0.54 0.18 0.04 3.60 

2000 0.90 2.30 2.02 0.71 0.22 0.01 0.01 6.17 

2001 0.49 1.79 1.61 0.63 0.30 0.02 0.04 4.88 

2002 0.05 0.52 4.01 2.35 1.14 0.59 0.18 0.01 0.01 8.86 

2003 0.40 1.06 1.15 0.46 0.10 0.03 0.01 3.21 

2004 1.89 0.79 0.28 0.28 0.06 0.04 0.02 3.36 

2005 0.72 1.83 0.73 0.21 0.13 0.08 0.01 3.71 

2006 0.47 1.39 0.79 0.22 0.06 0.02 2.95 

2007 0.01 0.60 1.64 1.03 0.16 0.02 0.03 3.48 
J. Southern New England/Mid-Atlantic winter flounder 2-485

Table J20. NEFSC Winter survey: stratified mean number per tow at age for winter flounder in the 

Southern New England/Mid-Atlantic stock complex (strata set: offshore 1-2, 5-6, 9-10, 69, 73). The 

Winter survey ended in 2007. Lengths converted to age using NEFSC spring survey ALKs. 

Year 0 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8+ Total 

 

1992 0.73 0.86 1.09 0.73 0.24 0.02 0.02 3.68 

1993 0.56 1.16 0.54 0.18 0.12 0.02 0.01 2.59 

1994 0.36 1.16 1.76 0.25 0.28 3.80 

1995 0.04 0.75 1.26 0.17 2.22 

1996 1.01 0.87 1.55 0.32 0.02 3.78 

1997 0.43 1.49 1.32 0.54 0.13 3.91 

1998 0.42 3.52 1.95 0.96 0.32 7.17 

1999 0.84 5.94 2.23 0.96 0.20 0.16 10.33 

2000 0.23 2.82 2.12 0.24 0.16 5.57 

2001 1.04 0.55 0.70 0.54 0.22 0.05 3.10 

2002 0.08 1.34 0.74 0.15 0.21 0.06 0.21 0.11 2.90 

2003 0.09 0.57 1.04 0.25 0.22 0.03 2.20 

2004 2.17 1.02 0.43 0.36 0.22 0.09 0.03 0.02 4.34 

2005 0.39 2.56 0.36 0.43 0.27 0.04 4.05 

2006 0 2.40 1.73 0.51 0.27 0.08 0.07 0.02 5.08 

2007 0.02 0.56 1.03 1.03 0.13 0.02 2.79 
J. Southern New England/Mid-Atlantic winter flounder 2-486

Table J21. MADMF spring trawl survey mean number per tow at age for winter flounder in the 

Southern New England/Mid-Atlantic stock complex. 

Year 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9+ Total 

 

1978 10.00 9.80 15.86 9.40 3.17 1.10 1.34 0.51 0.82 52.00 

1979 4.72 13.18 21.58 9.08 2.99 1.02 0.97 0.47 0.86 54.87 

1980 1.65 8.30 14.66 9.23 3.04 0.97 0.80 0.28 0.43 39.36 

1981 8.65 9.07 13.66 9.72 3.81 1.20 0.78 0.33 0.58 47.80 

1982 3.06 11.88 12.72 8.80 2.66 1.07 0.69 0.18 0.40 41.46 

1983 1.71 15.32 17.85 14.11 4.14 2.34 1.12 0.64 0.90 58.14 

1984 1.28 9.59 11.82 10.18 3.35 1.22 0.46 0.01 0.12 38.02 

1985 3.13 9.98 16.48 6.35 2.48 0.75 0.15 0.07 0.11 39.49 

1986 3.27 7.07 19.36 5.69 0.83 0.13 0.19 0.16 0.08 36.78 

1987 9.44 7.74 12.35 6.59 2.21 0.22 0.38 0.12 0.11 39.16 

1988 3.61 7.02 14.66 2.45 0.35 0.07 0.18 0.00 0.02 28.36 

1989 2.26 6.08 12.30 4.68 1.01 0.29 0.28 0.09 0.41 27.38 

1990 4.43 11.73 8.03 2.99 0.40 0.02 0.10 0.00 0.02 27.72 

1991 1.65 2.88 4.90 1.18 0.24 0.13 0.02 0.00 0.02 11.02 

1992 8.06 7.40 6.73 4.21 1.67 0.60 0.07 0.08 0.14 28.96 

1993 16.03 18.75 12.02 2.76 0.65 0.14 0.02 0.04 0.00 50.40 

1994 12.15 17.35 14.96 4.72 0.62 0.59 0.37 0.05 0.02 50.84 

1995 14.31 11.14 8.10 1.93 0.61 0.80 0.28 0.14 0.06 37.37 

1996 4.98 10.12 7.72 2.86 2.00 1.46 0.85 0.29 0.64 30.92 

1997 10.43 9.30 10.27 4.26 1.32 1.00 0.49 0.75 0.69 38.51 

1998 8.62 13.09 7.21 3.51 1.47 1.22 0.41 0.31 0.03 35.88 

1999 9.66 8.00 5.81 1.89 0.21 0.25 0.13 0.04 0.00 25.98 

2000 6.41 7.78 6.68 1.74 1.09 0.46 0.15 0.23 0.10 24.64 

2001 5.47 4.73 2.39 2.02 0.66 0.20 0.13 0.16 0.04 15.79 

2002 0.94 3.00 1.55 0.82 0.29 0.08 0.01 0.00 0.00 6.70 

2003 4.12 3.78 6.15 2.25 1.14 0.24 0.03 0.01 0.00 17.73 

2004 3.46 3.15 1.97 1.67 0.56 0.21 0.09 0.03 0.00 11.14 

2005 14.05 8.42 2.68 1.07 0.59 0.11 0.02 0.06 0.00 27.02 

2006 3.19 9.61 2.98 1.12 0.32 0.20 0.12 0.06 0.02 17.63 

2007 3.69 5.59 5.32 1.63 0.35 0.09 0.02 0.00 0.00 16.68 
J. Southern New England/Mid-Atlantic winter flounder 2-487

Table J22. CTDEP spring survey for winter flounder in the Southern New England-Mid Atlantic 

stock complex. 

Year 0 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12+ Total 

1984 0.00 8.21 44.01 31.83 20.96 4.23 1.23 0.67 0.74 0.04 0.01 0.03 0.00 111.96

1985 0.00 4.11 28.46 32.88 14.17 2.33 0.82 0.45 0.19 0.11 0.04 0.02 0.00 83.58

1986 0.00 6.69 26.00 15.53 12.26 2.05 0.50 0.24 0.24 0.10 0.01 0.03 0.00 63.65

1987 0.00 7.32 44.69 14.56 5.05 6.55 1.28 0.11 0.24 0.13 0.00 0.00 0.00 79.93

1988 15.50 14.49 71.87 39.10 8.59 1.83 1.46 0.16 0.04 0.02 0.02 0.00 0.00 153.08

1989 1.90 13.56 78.43 41.23 10.85 2.84 0.98 0.14 0.09 0.06 0.01 0.00 0.00 150.09

1990 3.10 11.31 131.52 64.97 8.97 4.09 1.96 0.19 0.05 0.00 0.02 0.00 0.00 226.18

1991 5.80 8.52 66.99 60.39 9.31 4.05 0.80 0.14 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.01 0.00 156.01

1992 13.70 6.80 31.32 12.78 8.97 1.10 0.36 0.05 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00 75.08

1993 6.00 19.11 19.87 15.46 4.81 3.24 0.80 0.15 0.11 0.04 0.01 0.00 0.00 69.60

1994 16.60 9.57 64.14 5.86 3.01 1.14 0.49 0.17 0.05 0.01 0.01 0.00 0.00 101.05

1995 12.50 14.35 23.69 9.77 1.36 0.63 0.20 0.08 0.02 0.02 0.00 0.00 0.00 62.62

1996 19.20 11.46 59.07 24.17 14.41 0.97 0.28 0.14 0.06 0.04 0.01 0.00 0.00 129.81

1997 7.47 12.53 25.53 19.41 9.45 3.76 0.51 0.07 0.03 0.01 0.01 0.01 0.00 78.79

1998 9.28 11.22 32.40 12.23 12.67 3.15 0.99 0.14 0.02 0.07 0.00 0.00 0.00 82.17

1999 8.70 6.56 12.42 11.27 6.09 3.20 1.14 0.61 0.04 0.01 0.02 0.00 0.00 50.06

2000 4.30 7.11 16.66 8.40 7.70 3.42 1.53 0.31 0.26 0.01 0.01 0.00 0.01 49.72

2001 1.30 8.45 19.60 10.85 8.06 5.46 1.28 0.68 0.05 0.08 0.00 0.00 0.00 55.81

2002 3.06 6.27 19.90 9.56 4.43 1.95 1.02 0.35 0.11 0.03 0.10 0.00 0.00 46.78

2003 8.10 2.47 7.83 8.71 4.79 1.95 0.77 0.82 0.29 0.07 0.14 0.00 0.00 35.94

2004 10.96 6.34 3.84 3.49 3.88 1.91 0.64 0.21 0.11 0.03 0.01 0.00 0.01 31.43

2005 5.63 7.06 6.18 0.84 0.81 0.67 0.21 0.16 0.10 0.05 0.01 0.01 0 16.10

2006 0.93 1.14 2.60 1.10 0.19 0.14 0.17 0.09 0.01 0.09 0.03 0.02 0 5.59

2007 4.73 2.98 10.83 10.70 3.10 0.61 0.15 0.11 0.12 0.04 0.01 0.01 0 28.68
J. Southern New England/Mid-Atlantic winter flounder 2-488

Table J23. RIDFW spring survey for winter flounder in the Southern New England-Mid Atlantic 

stock complex. 

 

 Age 

Year 1 2 3 4 5 6 7+ 

 

1981 45.67 27.88 12.86 1.27 0.23 0.05 0.02 

1982 13.42 9.74 5.02 2.31 0.33 0.11 0.02 

1983 29.49 9.79 10.98 6.00 2.13 0.56 0.00 

1984 6.67 16.79 13.94 2.96 0.83 0.35 0.10 

1985 6.01 15.69 10.35 2.24 0.60 0.08 0.01 

1986 11.94 15.63 9.59 2.63 1.14 0.09 0.00 

1987 15.30 24.59 13.14 2.66 0.41 0.08 0.04 

1988 8.93 12.37 9.53 2.92 0.68 0.01 0.00 

1989 4.79 8.20 4.95 2.33 0.51 0.07 0.03 

1990 6.46 6.36 4.88 2.16 0.48 0.04 0.06 

1991 11.21 14.36 12.00 2.78 0.41 0.10 0.11 

1992 1.30 0.95 1.17 0.75 0.20 0.04 0.00 

1993 2.32 0.35 0.17 0.06 0.02 0.00 0.00 

1994 2.84 4.56 1.97 0.63 0.19 0.04 0.03 

1995 9.36 11.36 9.87 1.47 0.13 0.00 0.00 

1996 3.11 8.36 7.47 1.56 0.15 0.03 0.00 

1997 4.90 8.77 6.86 1.48 0.26 0.00 0.00 

1998 2.11 9.47 5.90 1.60 0.13 0.01 0.00 

1999 1.71 6.52 4.26 0.82 0.09 0.06 0.00 

2000 2.88 4.98 5.51 2.19 0.66 0.10 0.00 

2001 2.46 3.47 3.67 2.23 0.63 0.02 0.01 

2002 1.60 4.76 3.21 1.24 0.54 0.15 0.06 

2003 1.72 0.86 1.76 0.50 0.30 0.28 0.14 

2004 5.47 3.97 1.03 0.44 0.12 0.09 0.04 

2005 8.86 2.41 1.73 1.38 0.79 0.43 0.14 

2006 2.07 4.72 5.24 2.24 0.74 0.30 0.05 
J. Southern New England/Mid-Atlantic winter flounder 2-489

Table J24. NYDEC Peconic Bay Small Mesh Trawl Survey for winter flounder in the Southern 

New England-Mid Atlantic stock complex. No sampling in 1986; the survey ended in 2004. 

 

 AGE 

Year 0 1 2+ Total 

1985 1.52 3.05 0.30 4.87 

1987 2.65 3.30 0.12 6.07 

1988 1.45 2.55 0.31 4.31 

1989 11.15 5.52 0.35 17.02 

1990 8.53 3.43 0.26 12.22 

1991 14.60 6.32 0.58 21.50 

1992 76.87 2.04 0.20 79.11 

1993 16.99 14.09 0.12 31.20 

1994 14.84 6.93 0.32 22.09 

1995 4.04 3.84 0.27 8.15 

1996 16.25 2.84 0.15 19.24 

1997 4.42 6.46 0.11 10.99 

1998 3.11 3.80 0.29 7.20 

1999 7.49 3.25 0.22 10.96 

2000 0.90 1.56 0.15 2.61 

2001 2.31 5.52 0.16 7.99 

2002 0.07 0.17 0.19 0.43 

2003 0.86 0.45 0.09 1.40 

2004 0.50 5.38 0.11 5.99 
J. Southern New England/Mid-Atlantic winter flounder 2-490

Table J25. NJDFW Ocean survey (April) for winter flounder in the Southern New England-Mid 

Atlantic stock complex. 

 AGE 

Year 1 2 3 4 5 6 7+ Total 

 

1993 5.10 6.50 2.50 2.40 1.70 0.40 0.57 19.17

1994 3.70 4.20 3.90 1.40 0.40 0.30 0.16 14.06

1995 8.00 10.10 8.60 2.40 0.90 0.30 0.11 30.41

1996 0.60 2.90 2.60 1.90 0.90 0.30 0.20 9.40

1997 16.60 5.40 6.10 6.00 1.50 0.30 0.12 36.02

1998 4.50 3.90 4.80 3.30 1.20 0.40 0.10 18.20

1999 2.40 2.20 5.90 3.10 2.90 0.70 0.59 17.79

2000 0.70 0.30 2.10 3.30 2.00 0.90 0.82 10.12

2001 3.90 0.60 1.30 2.70 3.80 0.70 0.83 13.83

2002 5.81 3.21 4.55 2.22 2.80 2.16 1.83 22.58

2003 2.08 1.10 4.79 1.24 1.09 0.87 1.35 12.52

2004 6.48 0.72 1.42 2.08 0.56 1.38 1.57 14.21

2005 4.97 10.04 2.55 2.76 2.61 1.32 1.42 25.67

2006 0.64 2.49 9.43 3.23 0.62 0.75 0.97 18.13

2007 3.80 0.67 4.33 6.09 1.51 0.62 1.56 18.58
J. Southern New England/Mid-Atlantic winter flounder 2-491

Table J26. NJDFW Rivers survey (March-May) for winter flounder in the Southern New 

England-Mid Atlantic stock complex. The Rivers Survey ended in 2005. 

 

 AGE 

Year 1 2 3 4 5 6 7+ Total 

 

1995 0.60 0.30 1.40 0.40 0.10 0.01 0.01 2.82

1996 0.30 0.90 0.70 0.70 0.20 0.10 0.15 3.05

1997 1.10 0.40 0.90 0.40 0.40 0.10 0.05 3.35

1998 1.90 0.90 0.40 0.70 0.20 0.10 0.05 4.25

1999 0.20 0.50 1.40 0.50 0.40 0.10 0.13 3.23

2000 0.40 0.20 0.40 0.80 0.20 0.10 0.01 2.11

2001 1.40 0.30 0.20 0.40 0.40 0.10 0.04 2.84

2002 1.21 0.48 0.49 0.18 0.27 0.13 0.04 2.80

2003 0.05 0.22 0.90 0.18 0.03 0.10 0.09 1.57

2004 0.67 0.02 0.10 0.29 0.05 0.00 0.14 1.27

2005 0.42 0.24 0.17 0.02 0.09 0.02 0.03 0.99
J. Southern New England/Mid-Atlantic winter flounder 2-492

Table J27. Mohn’s rho statistic for the BASE and SPLIT ADAPT VPA configurations for F 

(ages 4-5, unweighted), SSB, and recruitment (R) at age 1. 

 

F 

Year BASE Split 

2000 -0.4477 -0.0495 

2001 -0.3403 0.0324 

2002 -0.0616 0.3145 

2003 -0.1108 0.1954 

2004 -0.2883 -0.0461 

2005 -0.1145 0.1513 

2006 0.3166 0.4141 

Total -1.0466 1.0121 

Average -0.1495 0.1446 

 

SSB 

Year BASE Split 

2000 0.5172 0.0288 

2001 0.2369 -0.1198 

2002 0.0674 -0.1518 

2003 0.3294 0.0724 

2004 0.3444 0.0727 

2005 0.079 -0.1058 

2006 -0.0195 -0.0231 

Total 1.5548 -0.2266 

Average 0.2221 -0.0324 

 

R age 1 

Year BASE Split 

2000 0.4547 0.1691 

2001 1.7625 1.2171 

2002 -0.1101 -0.0546 

2003 -0.1106 -0.1983 

2004 0.8004 0.8576 

2005 0.0303 0.0468 

2006 -0.1203 -0.0580 

2007 -0.5070 -0.4286 

Total 2.1999 1.5511 

Average 0.2750 0.1939 
J. Southern New England/Mid-Atlantic winter flounder 2-493

Table J28. Catchability coefficients (q) estimated in the BASE and SPLIT run configurations. 

Catchability Coefficients: BASE vs SPLIT 

 

Survey BASE SPLIT-1 SPLIT-1/BASE SPLIT-2 SPLIT2/BASE 

 

NEFSC (split) 

Spring 1 1.25E-05 8.66E-06 0.69 1.92E-05 1.54 

Spring 2 4.50E-05 3.39E-05 0.75 6.29E-05 1.40 

Spring 3 7.46E-05 6.73E-05 0.90 8.70E-05 1.17 

Spring 4 7.20E-05 6.34E-05 0.88 8.54E-05 1.19 

Spring 5 7.61E-05 6.41E-05 0.84 9.43E-05 1.24 

Spring 6 7.04E-05 5.92E-05 0.84 8.96E-05 1.27 

Spring 7 8.00E-05 5.57E-05 0.70 1.21E-04 1.51 

 

NEFSC (split) 

Fall 2 2.93E-05 9.35E-06 0.32 8.61E-05 2.94 

Fall 3 1.46E-04 7.92E-05 0.54 2.65E-04 1.81 

Fall 4 2.20E-04 1.34E-04 0.61 3.59E-04 1.63 

 

MADMF (split) 

Spring 2 5.49E-04 3.54E-04 0.64 8.80E-04 1.60 

Spring 3 7.29E-04 6.85E-04 0.94 8.08E-04 1.11 

Spring 4 7.11E-04 7.56E-04 1.06 7.00E-04 0.99 

Spring 5 6.54E-04 5.88E-04 0.90 7.51E-04 1.15 

 

RIDFW (split) 

Spring 1 3.05E-04 3.12E-04 1.02 3.19E-04 1.05 

Spring 2 4.24E-04 3.34E-04 0.79 5.62E-04 1.33 

Spring 3 4.44E-04 3.33E-04 0.75 6.09E-04 1.37 

Spring 4 3.32E-04 2.63E-04 0.79 4.30E-04 1.29 

 

CTDEP (split) 

Spring 1 5.35E-04 4.16E-04 0.78 7.03E-04 1.31 

Spring 2 1.93E-03 2.28E-03 1.18 1.83E-03 0.95 

Spring 3 1.40E-03 1.90E-03 1.36 1.18E-03 0.84 

Spring 4 1.39E-03 1.60E-03 1.15 1.31E-03 0.94 

Spring 5 1.52E-03 1.41E-03 0.93 1.67E-03 1.10 

Spring 6 1.59E-03 1.29E-03 0.81 1.92E-03 1.21 

Spring 7 1.68E-03 7.61E-04 0.45 3.09E-03 1.84 
J. Southern New England/Mid-Atlantic winter flounder 2-494

Table J28 continued. 

Catchability Coefficients: BASE vs SPLIT 

 

Survey BASE SPLIT-1 SPLIT1/BASE SPLIT-2 SPLIT-2/BASE 

 

NEFSC (not split) 

Winter 1 2.94E-05 3.14E-05 1.07 3.14E-05 1.07 

Winter 2 1.48E-04 1.57E-04 1.06 1.57E-04 1.06 

Winter 3 1.66E-04 1.73E-04 1.04 1.73E-04 1.04 

Winter 4 1.31E-04 1.36E-04 1.04 1.36E-04 1.04 

Winter 5 1.88E-04 1.95E-04 1.04 1.95E-04 1.04 

 

NJOcean (not split) 

Spring 3 5.76E-04 6.01E-04 1.04 6.01E-04 1.04 

Spring 4 9.07E-04 9.43E-04 1.04 9.43E-04 1.04 

Spring 5 1.48E-03 1.53E-03 1.04 1.53E-03 1.04 

Spring 6 2.27E-03 2.35E-03 1.04 2.35E-03 1.04 

Spring 7 4.35E-03 4.53E-03 1.04 4.53E-03 1.04 

 

NJ-River (not split) 

Spring 1 4.91E-05 5.18E-05 1.05 5.18E-05 1.05 

Spring 2 3.43E-05 3.55E-05 1.03 3.55E-05 1.03 

Spring 3 7.73E-05 7.85E-05 1.02 7.85E-05 1.02 

Spring 4 1.24E-04 1.25E-04 1.01 1.25E-04 1.01 

Spring 5 1.62E-04 1.64E-04 1.01 1.64E-04 1.01 
J. Southern New England/Mid-Atlantic winter flounder 2-495

Table J29. SNE/MA winter flounder GARM3 SPLIT VPA results. 

JAN-1 Population Numbers 

 AGE 1981 1982 1983 1984 1985 

_____________________________________________________________________________ 

 1 62523. 51649. 56232. 35570. 34617. 

 2 52498. 49941. 41766. 45482. 28676. 

 3 27775. 30148. 28082. 27652. 26859. 

 4 7151. 9710. 13487. 10982. 10026. 

 5 1466. 2590. 4590. 5513. 4566. 

 6 362. 598. 1570. 2138. 2912. 

 7 221. 569. 1229. 1966. 2248. 

 ==================================================================== 

 Total 151995. 145205. 146957. 129301. 109904. 

 AGE 1986 1987 1988 1989 1990 

_____________________________________________________________________________ 

 1 32860. 25995. 26675. 22572. 16474. 

 2 28094. 26708. 21216. 21763. 18057. 

 3 16835. 17277. 17103. 13799. 13045. 

 4 10434. 5548. 6012. 5496. 4776. 

 5 2768. 4726. 1752. 1337. 1296. 

 6 1095. 1313. 1436. 343. 315. 

 7 884. 741. 445. 325. 228. 

 ==================================================================== 

 Total 92970. 82308. 74638. 65635. 54192. 

 AGE 1991 1992 1993 1994 1995 

_____________________________________________________________________________ 

 1 12273. 13061. 15589. 12962. 12525. 

 2 13456. 10001. 10671. 12499. 10385. 

 3 12875. 8276. 6825. 6746. 7870. 

 4 5001. 4075. 2740. 2402. 3406. 

 5 1256. 1065. 1000. 527. 809. 

 6 366. 250. 263. 173. 126. 

 7 164. 82. 193. 69. 30. 

 ==================================================================== 

 Total 45391. 36809. 37279. 35378. 35152. 

 AGE 1996 1997 1998 1999 2000 

_____________________________________________________________________________ 

 1 14078. 17348. 16597. 13768. 9446. 

 2 10175. 11371. 14124. 13574. 11267. 

 3 7911. 7381. 7644. 10323. 9172. 

 4 3627. 3501. 2887. 3505. 4777. 

 5 797. 996. 829. 746. 1443. 

 6 204. 149. 287. 176. 271. 

 7 63. 61. 115. 39. 134. 

 ==================================================================== 

 Total 36855. 40807. 42483. 42131. 36510. 
J. Southern New England/Mid-Atlantic winter flounder 2-496

Table 29 continued. 

 AGE 2001 2002 2003 2004 2005 

_____________________________________________________________________________ 

 1 6950. 5241. 4398. 9355. 10057. 

 2 7695. 5659. 4278. 3587. 7627. 

 3 8016. 4772. 4201. 3052. 2595. 

 4 4400. 3393. 2191. 1809. 1595. 

 5 1673. 1545. 1122. 709. 704. 

 6 437. 571. 428. 466. 281. 

 7 235. 203. 261. 349. 170. 

 ==================================================================== 

 Total 29407. 21383. 16879. 19326. 23027. 

 AGE 2006 2007 2008 

_____________________________________________________________________________ 

 1 6159. 3600. 8837. 

 2 8205. 5008. 2939. 

 3 5867. 6032. 3803. 

 4 1432. 3357. 3583. 

 5 623. 552. 1814. 

 6 280. 259. 187. 

 7 227. 73. 83. 

 ==================================================================== 

 Total 22793. 18881. 21246. 
J. Southern New England/Mid-Atlantic winter flounder 2-497

Table 29 Continued. 

Fishing Mortality Calculated 

 AGE 1981 1982 1983 1984 1985 

 1 0.0247 0.0124 0.0122 0.0154 0.0088 

 2 0.3546 0.3757 0.2124 0.3267 0.3326 

 3 0.8510 0.6044 0.7389 0.8145 0.7455 

 4 0.8156 0.5492 0.6947 0.6775 1.0872 

 5 0.6974 0.3004 0.5643 0.4383 1.2283 

 6 0.7945 0.4914 0.6599 0.5910 1.1292 

 7 0.7945 0.4914 0.6599 0.5910 1.1292 

 AGE 1986 1987 1988 1989 1990 

 1 0.0073 0.0032 0.0035 0.0232 0.0024 

 2 0.2862 0.2457 0.2301 0.3118 0.1383 

 3 0.9100 0.8556 0.9352 0.8610 0.7587 

 4 0.5920 0.9527 1.3037 1.2449 1.1354 

 5 0.5456 0.9916 1.4301 1.2446 1.0643 

 6 0.5820 0.9704 1.3309 1.2449 1.1198 

 7 0.5820 0.9704 1.3309 1.2449 1.1198 

 AGE 1991 1992 1993 1994 1995 

 1 0.0047 0.0021 0.0209 0.0216 0.0078 

 2 0.2861 0.1822 0.2586 0.2626 0.0721 

 3 0.9504 0.9054 0.8440 0.4832 0.5745 

 4 1.3472 1.2048 1.4488 0.8887 1.2531 

 5 1.4127 1.1997 1.5560 1.2273 1.1759 

 6 1.3600 1.2037 1.4763 0.9418 1.2379 

 7 1.3600 1.2037 1.4763 0.9418 1.2379 

 AGE 1996 1997 1998 1999 2000 

 1 0.0135 0.0056 0.0011 0.0004 0.0050 

 2 0.1211 0.1971 0.1135 0.1920 0.1405 

 3 0.6152 0.7387 0.5797 0.5707 0.5345 

 4 1.0922 1.2411 1.1536 0.6876 0.8491 

 5 1.4759 1.0436 1.3481 0.8115 0.9933 

 6 1.1513 1.1938 1.1938 0.7083 0.8807 

 7 1.1513 1.1938 1.1938 0.7083 0.8807 

 AGE 2001 2002 2003 2004 2005 

 1 0.0056 0.0030 0.0038 0.0043 0.0035 

 2 0.2778 0.0980 0.1377 0.1238 0.0623 

 3 0.6596 0.5786 0.6427 0.4490 0.3942 

 4 0.8466 0.9063 0.9287 0.7429 0.7407 

 5 0.8754 1.0838 0.6798 0.7263 0.7228 

 6 0.8545 0.9586 0.8373 0.7382 0.7352 

 7 0.8545 0.9586 0.8373 0.7382 0.7352 
J. Southern New England/Mid-Atlantic winter flounder 2-498

Table 29 Continued. 

 AGE 2006 2007 

_____________________________________________________________________________ 

 1 0.0070 0.0028 

 2 0.1077 0.0751 

 3 0.3581 0.3209 

 4 0.7535 0.4156 

 5 0.6768 0.8833 

 6 0.7296 0.6495 

 7 0.7296 0.6495 

 Average Fishing Mortality For Ages 4- 5 

 Year Average F N Weighted Biomass Wtd Catch Wtd 

_____________________________________________________________________________ 

 1981 0.7565 0.7955 0.7893 0.7972 

 1982 0.4248 0.4968 0.4751 0.5142 

 1983 0.6295 0.6615 0.6498 0.6651 

 1984 0.5579 0.5976 0.5801 0.6139 

 1985 1.1577 1.1313 1.1388 1.1333 

 1986 0.5688 0.5822 0.5796 0.5827 

 1987 0.9721 0.9706 0.9708 0.9708 

 1988 1.3669 1.3322 1.3392 1.3332 

 1989 1.2447 1.2449 1.2448 1.2449 

 1990 1.0999 1.1202 1.1167 1.1206 

 1991 1.3800 1.3604 1.3626 1.3606 

 1992 1.2022 1.2037 1.2035 1.2037 

 1993 1.5024 1.4774 1.4829 1.4781 

 1994 1.0580 0.9496 0.9642 0.9593 

 1995 1.2145 1.2383 1.2350 1.2387 

 1996 1.2840 1.1613 1.1759 1.1701 

 1997 1.1423 1.1973 1.1892 1.2004 

 1998 1.2509 1.1970 1.2038 1.1997 

 1999 0.7496 0.7094 0.7139 0.7114 

 2000 0.9212 0.8825 0.8870 0.8851 

 2001 0.8610 0.8546 0.8559 0.8547 

 2002 0.9951 0.9619 0.9698 0.9659 

 2003 0.8043 0.8444 0.8314 0.8554 

 2004 0.7346 0.7382 0.7374 0.7383 

 2005 0.7317 0.7352 0.7345 0.7352 

 2006 0.7151 0.7303 0.7250 0.7314 

 2007 0.6495 0.4816 0.5019 0.5189 
J. Southern New England/Mid-Atlantic winter flounder 2-499

Table 29 Continued. 

 Back Calculated Partial Recruitment 

 AGE 1981 1982 1983 1984 1985 

_____________________________________________________________________________ 

 1 0.0290 0.0205 0.0165 0.0190 0.0072 

 2 0.4167 0.6216 0.2875 0.4011 0.2708 

 3 1.0000 1.0000 1.0000 1.0000 0.6069 

 4 0.9585 0.9087 0.9401 0.8318 0.8851 

 5 0.8195 0.4970 0.7636 0.5381 1.0000 

 6 0.9336 0.8131 0.8931 0.7256 0.9193 

 7 0.9336 0.8131 0.8931 0.7256 0.9193 

 AGE 1986 1987 1988 1989 1990 

_____________________________________________________________________________ 

 1 0.0080 0.0032 0.0025 0.0186 0.0021 

 2 0.3145 0.2478 0.1609 0.2505 0.1218 

 3 1.0000 0.8628 0.6539 0.6916 0.6682 

 4 0.6505 0.9608 0.9116 1.0000 1.0000 

 5 0.5995 1.0000 1.0000 0.9997 0.9374 

 6 0.6396 0.9786 0.9306 0.9999 0.9863 

 7 0.6396 0.9786 0.9306 0.9999 0.9863 

 AGE 1991 1992 1993 1994 1995 

_____________________________________________________________________________ 

 1 0.0033 0.0018 0.0134 0.0176 0.0062 

 2 0.2025 0.1512 0.1662 0.2140 0.0576 

 3 0.6727 0.7515 0.5424 0.3937 0.4585 

 4 0.9536 1.0000 0.9311 0.7242 1.0000 

 5 1.0000 0.9958 1.0000 1.0000 0.9383 

 6 0.9627 0.9991 0.9488 0.7674 0.9878 

 7 0.9627 0.9991 0.9488 0.7674 0.9878 

 AGE 1996 1997 1998 1999 2000 

_____________________________________________________________________________ 

 1 0.0092 0.0045 0.0008 0.0005 0.0051 

 2 0.0820 0.1589 0.0842 0.2366 0.1414 

 3 0.4169 0.5952 0.4300 0.7033 0.5381 

 4 0.7400 1.0000 0.8558 0.8474 0.8548 

 5 1.0000 0.8409 1.0000 1.0000 1.0000 

 6 0.7801 0.9619 0.8856 0.8728 0.8867 

 7 0.7801 0.9619 0.8856 0.8728 0.8867 
J. Southern New England/Mid-Atlantic winter flounder 2-500

Table 29 Continued. 

 AGE 2001 2002 2003 2004 2005 

_____________________________________________________________________________ 

 1 0.0064 0.0027 0.0041 0.0057 0.0048 

 2 0.3174 0.0904 0.1483 0.1667 0.0842 

 3 0.7535 0.5339 0.6920 0.6044 0.5323 

 4 0.9672 0.8363 1.0000 1.0000 1.0000 

 5 1.0000 1.0000 0.7320 0.9776 0.9758 

 6 0.9761 0.8845 0.9016 0.9937 0.9925 

 7 0.9761 0.8845 0.9016 0.9937 0.9925 

 AGE 2006 2007 

_____________________________________________________________________________ 

 1 0.0093 0.0031 

 2 0.1429 0.0851 

 3 0.4753 0.3632 

 4 1.0000 0.4705 

 5 0.8981 1.0000 

 6 0.9683 0.7352 

 7 0.9683 0.7352 

 Spawning Stock Biomass 

 AGE 1981 1982 1983 1984 1985 

_____________________________________________________________________________ 

 1 0. 0. 0. 0. 0. 

 2 0. 0. 0. 0. 0. 

 3 4733. 4730. 3744. 3523. 3611. 

 4 3890. 4574. 5093. 3829. 3092. 

 5 1203. 2148. 2887. 2902. 1825. 

 6 341. 601. 1384. 1534. 1270. 

 7 217. 911. 1606. 2152. 1056. 

 ==================================================================== 

 Total 10384. 12964. 14714. 13939. 10855. 

 AGE 1986 1987 1988 1989 1990 

_____________________________________________________________________________ 

 1 0. 0. 0. 0. 0. 

 2 0. 0. 0. 0. 0. 

 3 2394. 2483. 2293. 1921. 1820. 

 4 3537. 1960. 1868. 1652. 1548. 

 5 1370. 1778. 747. 580. 588. 

 6 634. 646. 524. 173. 177. 

 7 727. 500. 271. 261. 174. 

 ==================================================================== 

 Total 8661. 7368. 5702. 4586. 4305. 
J. Southern New England/Mid-Atlantic winter flounder 2-501

Table 29 Continued. 

 AGE 1991 1992 1993 1994 1995 

_____________________________________________________________________________ 

 1 0. 0. 0. 0. 0. 

 2 0. 0. 0. 0. 0. 

 3 1908. 1294. 1066. 1240. 1606. 

 4 1599. 1466. 941. 935. 1244. 

 5 512. 527. 452. 264. 410. 

 6 199. 143. 158. 113. 86. 

 7 140. 86. 161. 71. 40. 

 ==================================================================== 

 Total 4359. 3515. 2778. 2623. 3386. 

 AGE 1996 1997 1998 1999 2000 

_____________________________________________________________________________ 

 1 0. 0. 0. 0. 0. 

 2 0. 0. 0. 0. 0. 

 3 1573. 1434. 1573. 1869. 1764. 

 4 1421. 1363. 1132. 1376. 1922. 

 5 387. 531. 398. 380. 702. 

 6 128. 100. 199. 114. 178. 

 7 52. 68. 97. 37. 116. 

 ==================================================================== 

 Total 3561. 3496. 3399. 3776. 4683. 

 AGE 2001 2002 2003 2004 2005 

_____________________________________________________________________________ 

 1 0. 0. 0. 0. 0. 

 2 0. 0. 0. 0. 0. 

 3 1644. 1009. 825. 687. 529. 

 4 1902. 1462. 962. 805. 764. 

 5 942. 826. 683. 428. 421. 

 6 310. 386. 301. 347. 208. 

 7 235. 184. 241. 362. 177. 

 ==================================================================== 

 Total 5033. 3867. 3011. 2628. 2098. 
J. Southern New England/Mid-Atlantic winter flounder 2-502

Table 29 Continued. 

 AGE 2006 2007 

_____________________________________________________________________________ 

 1 0. 0. 

 2 0. 0. 

 3 1113. 1213. 

 4 634. 1524. 

 5 401. 331. 

 6 219. 216. 

 7 232. 84. 

 ==================================================================== 

 Total 2599. 3368. 

Bootstrap Summary Report 

 Number of Bootstrap Repetitions Requested = 1000 

 Number of Bootstrap Repetitions Completed = 1000 

 Bootstrap Output Variable: Stock Estimates (2008) 

 NLLS Bootstrap Bootstrap C.V. For 

 Estimate Mean Std Error NLLS Soln. 

 N 1 8837. 10251. 6192. 0.6040 

 N 2 2939. 3015. 806. 0.2674 

 N 3 3803. 3835. 658. 0.1715 

 N 4 3583. 3631. 670. 0.1845 

 N 5 1814. 1816. 381. 0.2099 

 N 6 187. 197. 75. 0.3803 

 N 7 83. 106. 72. 0.6807 

 NLLS 

 Estimate C.V. For 

 Bias Bias Per Cent Corrected Corrected 

 Estimate Std. Error Bias For Bias Estimate 

 N 1 1414. 201. 16.0029 7423. 0.8341 

 N 2 76. 26. 2.5759 2864. 0.2815 

 N 3 32. 21. 0.8503 3771. 0.1744 

 N 4 49. 21. 1.3575 3534. 0.1896 

 N 5 2. 12. 0.1291 1812. 0.2105 

 N 6 10. 2. 5.2210 177. 0.4222 

 N 7 23. 2. 27.9950 60. 1.2100 

 LOWER UPPER 

 80. % CI 80. % CI 

 N 1 3926. 19130. 

 N 2 2082. 4103. 

 N 3 3001. 4690. 

 N 4 2815. 4478. 

 N 5 1348. 2317. 

 N 6 107. 295. 

 N 7 32. 203. 
J. Southern New England/Mid-Atlantic winter flounder 2-503

Table 29 Continued.

Bootstrap Output Variable: Fishing Mortality (2007) 

 NLLS Bootstrap Bootstrap C.V. For 

 Estimate Mean Std Error NLLS Soln. 

AGE 1 0.0028 0.0029 0.000784 0.2710 

AGE 2 0.0751 0.0766 0.012928 0.1687 

AGE 3 0.3209 0.3255 0.053652 0.1648 

AGE 4 0.4156 0.4277 0.074216 0.1735 

AGE 5 0.8833 0.9178 0.250750 0.2732 

AGE 6 0.6495 0.6727 0.136016 0.2022 

AGE 7 0.6495 0.6727 0.136016 0.2022 

 NLLS 

 Estimate C.V. For 

 Bias Bias Per Cent Corrected Corrected 

 Estimate Std. Error Bias For Bias Estimate 

AGE 1 0.000127 0.000025 4.5736 0.0026 0.2969 

AGE 2 0.001469 0.000411 1.9554 0.0737 0.1755 

AGE 3 0.004627 0.001703 1.4422 0.3162 0.1697 

AGE 4 0.012098 0.002378 2.9110 0.4035 0.1839 

AGE 5 0.034455 0.008004 3.9006 0.8489 0.2954 

AGE 6 0.023277 0.004364 3.5840 0.6262 0.2172 

AGE 7 0.023277 0.004364 3.5840 0.6262 0.2172 

 LOWER UPPER 

 80. % CI 80. % CI 

AGE 1 0.001982 0.003899 

AGE 2 0.061349 0.094284 

AGE 3 0.264199 0.391995 

AGE 4 0.338684 0.526526 

AGE 5 0.639456 1.244800 

AGE 6 0.522168 0.860745 

AGE 7 0.522168 0.860745 
J. Southern New England/Mid-Atlantic winter flounder 2-504

Table 29 Continued.

 Bootstrap Output Variable: Average F (2007) AGES 4 - 5 

 NLLS Bootstrap Bootstrap C.V. For 

 Estimate Mean Std Error NLLS Soln. 

AVG F 0.6495 0.6727 0.136016 0.2022 

N WTD 0.4816 0.4937 0.078975 0.1600 

B WTD 0.5019 0.5140 0.081910 0.1593 

C WTD 0.5189 0.5360 0.085905 0.1603 

 NLLS 

 Estimate C.V. For 

 Bias Bias Per Cent Corrected Corrected 

 Estimate Std. Error Bias For Bias Estimate 

AVG F 0.023277 0.004364 3.5840 0.6262 0.2172 

N WTD 0.012027 0.002526 2.4971 0.4696 0.1682 

B WTD 0.012116 0.002618 2.4140 0.4898 0.1672 

C WTD 0.017038 0.002770 3.2832 0.5019 0.1712 

 LOWER UPPER 

 80. % CI 80. % CI 

AVG F 0.522168 0.860745 

N WTD 0.397060 0.596489 

B WTD 0.414336 0.620860 

C WTD 0.437215 0.650059 
J. Southern New England/Mid-Atlantic winter flounder 2-505

Table 29 Continued.

 Bootstrap Output Variable: Biomass 

 JAN-1 Biomass (2008) Mean Biomass & SSB (2007) 

 NLLS Bootstrap Bootstrap C.V. For 

 Estimate Mean Std Error NLLS Soln. 

JAN-1 6347. 6522. 737. 0.1129 

MEAN 6197. 6252. 606. 0.0969 

SSB 3368. 3390. 357. 0.1053 

 NLLS 

 Estimate C.V. For 

 Bias Bias Per Cent Corrected Corrected 

 Estimate Std. Error Bias For Bias Estimate 

JAN-1 175. 24. 2.7496 6173. 0.1193 

MEAN 55. 19. 0.8845 6142. 0.0986 

SSB 23. 11. 0.6757 3345. 0.1067 

 LOWER UPPER 

 80. % CI 80. % CI 

JAN-1 5600. 7474. 

MEAN 5482. 7043. 

SSB 2936. 3825. 
J. Southern New England/Mid-Atlantic winter flounder 2-506

Table J30. Input values for SNE/MA winter flounder BRP calculations based on 2003-2007 

average values from the GARM3 SPLIT VPA run; mean weights in kilograms. 

 

M = 0.2 

 

Age PR Maturity Mid-Year SSB Jan 1 

 Catch XW XW XW 

 

1 0.01 0.00 0.115 0.065 0.065

2 0.14 0.00 0.382 0.221 0.221

3 0.59 0.55 0.498 0.435 0.435

4 0.97 0.95 0.648 0.572 0.572

5 1.00 1.00 0.839 0.736 0.736

6 1.00 1.00 1.028 0.917 0.917

7+ 1.00 1.00 1.247 1.247 1.247
J. Southern New England/Mid-Atlantic winter flounder 2-507

Table J31. Biological reference points for SNE/MA Winter flounder from the non-parametric 

empirical approach; MSY and SSBMSY in metric tons, R in thousands of age 1 fish. 

 

 

Parametric BRPs 

BRP2002; GARM3 GARM3 GARM3 GARM3 

GARM 2 BASE SPLIT BASE SPLIT 

SRFIT AGEPRO AGEPRO AGEPRO AGEPRO 

 T2006 T2006 T2007 T2007 

 

MSY 10606 n/a n/a n/a n/a 

FMSY 0.320 n/a n/a n/a n/a 

SSBMSY 30144 n/a n/a n/a n/a 

 

Non-Parametric BRPs 

BRP2002; GARM3 GARM3 GARM3 GARM3 

GARM 2 BASE SPLIT BASE SPLIT 

 AGEPRO AGEPRO AGEPRO AGEPRO 

 T2006 T2006 T2007 T2007 

 

F40% 0.210 0.260 0.260 0.248 0.248

YPR 0.246 0.274 0.274 0.276 0.276

SSBR 1.106 1.070 1.070 1.098 1.098

Mean R 35920 35239 35239 35239 35239

MSY 10420 9658 9658 9742 9742

SSBMSY 46810 37608 37608 38761 38761
J. Southern New England/Mid-Atlantic winter flounder 2-508

Table J32. Stock status in 2007 and 2009-2014 projection results for SNE/MA winter flounder. 

Catch and SSB in metric tons. 

 

Status and Projections 

GARM3 

SPLIT 

AGEPRO 

T2007 

FMSY = F40% 0.248

F2007 0.649

F2007/FMSY 2.62

SSBMSY 38761

SSB2007 3368

SSB2007/SSBMSY 0.09

F2009-2014 0.248

Total Catch 2009 1116

SSB2014 14202

SSBMSY 38761

Prob => SSBMSY <1%

F2009-2014 0.000

Total Catch 2009 0

SSB2014 28663

SSBMSY 38761

Prob => SSBMSY 1%

 
J. Southern New England/Mid-Atlantic winter flounder 2-509

Figure J1. Statistical areas used to define winter flounder stocks. The Southern New 

England/Mid-Atlantic Bight complex includes areas 521, 526, and 533-639. 
J. Southern New England/Mid-Atlantic winter flounder 2-510

SNE/MA Winter Flounder

Landings and Discards

Year

1960 1965 1970 1975 1980 1985 1990 1995 2000 2005 2010

000s mt

0

2000

4000

6000

8000

10000

12000

14000

16000

Comm Land 

Comm Disc

Rec Land

Rec Disc

Total Catch

Figure J2. Commercial landings (1964-2007), commercial discards (1981-2007)

 recreational landings (1981-2007), recreational discards (1981-2007) and

 total fishery catch (1981-2007) for the SNE/MA winter flounder stock complex.
J. Southern New England/Mid-Atlantic winter flounder 2-511

SNE/MA Winter Flounder Survey Biomass Indices

1960 1970 1980 1990 2000 2010

0

1

2

3

4

5

6

NEFSC Fall 

NEFSC Spring 

NEFSC Winter 

1960 1970 1980 1990 2000 2010

Stratified mean kg/tow

0

5

10

15

20

MADMF Spring 

RIDFW Spring 

RIDFW Fall 

Figure J3. Trends in research survey biomass indices for SNE/MA winter flounder.

Year

1960 1970 1980 1990 2000 2010

0

5

10

15

20

25

30

CTDEP Spring 

NJDFW Ocean 
J. Southern New England/Mid-Atlantic winter flounder 2-512

SNE/MA Winter Flounder

Recruitment Indices

1975 1980 1985 1990 1995 2000 2005 2010

0

1

2

3

NEC S1 

NEC W1 

1975 1980 1985 1990 1995 2000 2005 2010

Stratified mean no/tow

0

5

10

15

20

RI S1

0

10

20

30

40

50

MA S1 

RI S1

CT S1 

Figure J4. Trends in research survey recruitment indices for SNE/MA winter flounder.

Year

1975 1980 1985 1990 1995 2000 2005 2010

0

5

10

15

20

NJ O1 

NY 1 

NJ R1 
J. Southern New England/Mid-Atlantic winter flounder 2-513

SNE/MA Winter Flounder Spring Survey Indices by Age

Age (years)

1234567

Year

1980

1985

1990

1995

2000

2005

2010

+

Figure J5. Age 1+ structure of the SNE/MA winter flounder population, 1980-2008.
J. Southern New England/Mid-Atlantic winter flounder 2-514

Figure J6. Retrospective analysis of F for the GARM3 BASE run. 
J. Southern New England/Mid-Atlantic winter flounder 2-515

Figure J7. Retrospective analysis of SSB for the GARM3 BASE run. 
J. Southern New England/Mid-Atlantic winter flounder 2-516

Figure J8. Retrospective analysis of F for the GARM3 SPLIT run.
J. Southern New England/Mid-Atlantic winter flounder 2-517

Figure J9. Retrospective analysis of SSB for the GARM3 SPLIT run. 
J. Southern New England/Mid-Atlantic winter flounder 2-518

Figure J10. Retrospective analysis of recruitment at age 1 for the GARM3 SPLIT run. 
J. Southern New England/Mid-Atlantic winter flounder 2-519

BASE SWEPT AREA INDICES

0.00

0.20

0.40

0.60

0.80

1.00

1.20

1.40

NEFSC S1NEFSC S2NEFSC S3NEFSC S4NEFSC S5NEFSC S6NEFSC S7

NEFSC F2NEFSC F3NEFSC F4

MADMF S2MADMF S3MADMF S4MADMF S5

Survey

q

1981-2007

SPLIT SWEPT AREA INDICES

0.00

0.50

1.00

1.50

2.00

2.50

NEFSC S1NEFSC S2NEFSC S3NEFSC S4NEFSC S5NEFSC S6NEFSC S7

NEFSC F2NEFSC F3NEFSC F4

MADMF S2MADMF S3MADMF S4MADMF S5

Survey

q

1981-1993 1994-2007

Figure J11. Comparison of swept area (absolute N) survey index catchability coefficents (q) for 

the BASE and SPLIT VPA run configurations; error bars are +/- 2 standard errors. 
J. Southern New England/Mid-Atlantic winter flounder 2-520

Figure J12. Fishing mortality (F ages 4-5, unweighted) and SSB for the GARM3 SPLIT run. 
J. Southern New England/Mid-Atlantic winter flounder 2-521

Figure J13. Recruitment at age 1 (000s) for the GARM3 SPLIT run. 

Figure J14. Bootstrap distribution of 2007 Spawning Stock Biomass (SSB, metric tons). 
J. Southern New England/Mid-Atlantic winter flounder 2-522

Figure J15. Bootstrap distribution of 2007 Fishing Mortality (F ages 4-5, unweighted). 
J. Southern New England/Mid-Atlantic winter flounder 2-523

Year

1985 1990 1995 2000 2005

Mean weight (kg)

0.0

0.2

0.4

0.6

0.8

1.0

1.2

1.4

1.6

1.8

2.0

Figure J16. Trends in mean weight at age in the total catch of SNE/MA winter flounder.

1

2

3

4

5

6

7+
J. Southern New England/Mid-Atlantic winter flounder 2-524

Year

1980 1983 1986 1989 1992 1995 1998 2001 2004 2007

Mean weight (kg)

0.0

0.2

0.4

0.6

0.8

1.0

1.2

1.4

1.6

1.8

Figure J17. Trends in mean weight at age in the NEFSC Spring survey catch of SNE/MA winter flounder.

1

2

3

4

5

6

7+
J. Southern New England/Mid-Atlantic winter flounder 2-525

SNE/MA W FL Fem ales

Annua l Estim a te s

1

2

3

4

5

19 82

1984

1986

1988

1990

19 92

1994

1996

19 98

2000

20 02

2004

2006

Year

A50

Females U95 L95

1999 SAW28 2008

BRP2002 GARM 3

L50 29.00 29.20

A50 3.00 2.90

Age

1 0.00 0.00

2 0.06 0.00 0.07 0.00

3 0.53 0.55

4 0.95 0.95

5 1.00 1.00

6 1.00 1.00

7+ 1.00 1.00

Figure J18. Time series pattern in female age of 50% maturity (A50) and time series estimates 

of female maturity at age for SNE/MA winter flounder. 
J. Southern New England/Mid-Atlantic winter flounder 2-526

SN E/MA W FL S-R : GAR M3_T2007_SPLIT

0

10000

20000

30000

40000

50000

60000

0 2000 4000 6000 8000 10000 12000 14000 16000

S pa w ning S tock Biom a ss (m t)

Recruitm ent (age 1, 000s)

Figure J19. Spawning stock biomass (SSB; mt) and recruitment (age 1, 000s) estimates for 

SNE/MA winter flounder: GARM3 ADAPT VPA SPLIT run configuration; top 8 year classes 

used in reference point calculations (SSB > 5,700 mt) in solid square symbols, others in open 

diamonds. 
J. Southern New England/Mid-Atlantic winter flounder 2-527

Figure J20. Top panel: projection of SNE/MA winter flounder SSB to 2014 under FMSY = F40% 

= 0.248 during 2009-2014; median SSB in 2014 = 14,202 mt. Bottom panel: projection of 

SNE/MA winter flounder SSB to 2014 under F = 0.000 during 2009-2014; median SSB in 2014 

= 28,663 mt. 
J. Southern New England/Mid-Atlantic winter flounder 2-528

Figure J21. Southern New England/Mid-Atlantic winter flounder stock status in 2007. 
Procedures for Issuing Manuscripts

in the

Northeast Fisheries Science Center Reference Document (CRD) Series

Clearance

All manuscripts submitted for issuance as CRDs 

must have cleared the NEFSC’s manuscript/abstract/

webpage review process. If any author is not a federal 

employee, he/she will be required to sign an “NEFSC 

Release-of-Copyright Form.” If your manuscript 

includes material from another work which has been 

copyrighted, then you will need to work with the 

NEFSC’s Editorial Office to arrange for permission 

to use that material by securing release signatures on 

the “NEFSC Use-of-Copyrighted-Work Permission 

Form.” 

For more information, NEFSC authors should see 

the NEFSC’s online publication policy manual, “Manuscript/abstract/webpage preparation, review, and dissemination: NEFSC author’s guide to policy, process, 

and procedure,” located in the Publications/Manuscript 

Review section of the NEFSC intranet page.

Organization

Manuscripts must have an abstract and table of 

contents, and (if applicable) lists of figures and tables. 

As much as possible, use traditional scientific manuscript organization for sections: “Introduction,” “Study 

Area” and/or ”Experimental Apparatus,” “Methods,” 

“Results,” “Discussion,” “Conclusions,” “Acknowledgments,” and “Literature/References Cited.” 

Style

The CRD series is obligated to conform with the 

style contained in the current edition of the United 

States Government Printing Office Style Manual. That 

style manual is silent on many aspects of scientific 

manuscripts. The CRD series relies more on the CSE 

Style Manual. Manuscripts should be prepared to 

conform with these style manuals. 

The CRD series uses the American Fisheries Society’s guides to names of fishes, mollusks, and decapod 

crustaceans, the Society for Marine Mammalogy’s 

guide to names of marine mammals, the Biosciences 

Information Service’s guide to serial title abbreviations, 

and the ISO’s (International Standardization Organization) guide to statistical terms. 

For in-text citation, use the name-date system. A 

special effort should be made to ensure that all necessary bibliographic information is included in the list 

of cited works. Personal communications must include 

date, full name, and full mailing address of the contact.

Preparation

Once your document has cleared the review process, the Editorial Office will contact you with publication needs – for example, revised text (if necessary) and 

separate digital figures and tables if they are embedded 

in the document. Materials may be submitted to the 

Editorial Office as files on zip disks or CDs, email 

attachments, or intranet downloads. Text files should 

be in Microsoft Word, tables may be in Word or Excel, 

and graphics files may be in a variety of formats (JPG, 

GIF, Excel, PowerPoint, etc.).

Production and Distribution

The Editorial Office will perform a copy-edit of 

the document and may request further revisions. The 

Editorial Office will develop the inside and outside 

front covers, the inside and outside back covers, and 

the title and bibliographic control pages of the document.

Once both the PDF (print) and Web versions of 

the CRD are ready, the Editorial Office will contact 

you to review both versions and submit corrections or 

changes before the document is posted online.

A number of organizations and individuals in the 

Northeast Region will be notified by e-mail of the 

availability of the document online. 
Research Communications Branch

Northeast Fisheries Science Center

National Marine Fisheries Service, NOAA

166 Water St.

Woods Hole, MA 02543-1026

Publications and Reports

of the

Northeast Fisheries Science Center

The mission of NOAA’s National Marine Fisheries Service (NMFS) is “stewardship of living marine resources 

for the benefit of the nation through their science-based conservation and management and promotion of the 

health of their environment.” As the research arm of the NMFS’s Northeast Region, the Northeast Fisheries 

Science Center (NEFSC) supports the NMFS mission by “conducting ecosystem-based research and assessments of living marine resources, with a focus on the Northeast Shelf, to promote the recovery and long-term 

sustainability of these resources and to generate social and economic opportunities and benefits from their use.” 

Results of NEFSC research are largely reported in primary scientific media (e.g., anonymously-peer-reviewed 

scientific journals). However, to assist itself in providing data, information, and advice to its constituents, the 

NEFSC occasionally releases its results in its own media. Currently, there are three such media:

NOAA Technical Memorandum NMFS-NE -- This series is issued irregularly. The series typically includes: data reports of 

long-term field or lab studies of important species or habitats; synthesis reports for important species or habitats; annual reports 

of overall assessment or monitoring programs; manuals describing program-wide surveying or experimental techniques; literature 

surveys of important species or habitat topics; proceedings and collected papers of scientific meetings; and indexed and/or annotated 

bibliographies. All issues receive internal scientific review and most issues receive technical and copy editing.

Northeast Fisheries Science Center Reference Document -- This series is issued irregularly. The series typically includes: data 

reports on field and lab studies; progress reports on experiments, monitoring, and assessments; background papers for, collected 

abstracts of, and/or summary reports of scientific meetings; and simple bibliographies. Issues receive internal scientific review and 

most issues receive copy editing.

Resource Survey Report (formerly Fishermen’s Report) -- This information report is a regularly-issued, quick-turnaround report on 

the distribution and relative abundance of selected living marine resources as derived from each of the NEFSC’s periodic research vessel surveys of the Northeast’s continental shelf. This report undergoes internal review, but receives no technical or copy editing.

TO OBTAIN A COPY of a NOAA Technical Memorandum NMFS-NE or a Northeast Fisheries Science Center Reference Document, 

either contact the NEFSC Editorial Office (166 Water St., Woods Hole, MA 02543-1026; 508-495-2350) or consult the NEFSC webpage 

on “Reports and Publications” (http://www.nefsc.noaa.gov/nefsc/publications/). To access Resource Survey Report, consult the Ecosystem 

Surveys Branch webpage (http://www.nefsc.noaa.gov/femad/ecosurvey/mainpage/).

Any use of trade OR BRAND names in any NEFSC publication or report does not imply endorsement.

MEDIA

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