In keeping with staff recommendations, the Virginia Marine Resources Commission voted once again to lower the recreational size limit for summer flounder.

During a meeting Feb. 28 at its headquarters in Newport News, the commission voted to lower the recreational size from 17½" last year to the new 16½" length for summer flounder. A daily possession limit of four fish was also imposed, said VMRC spokesman John Bull.

"The lower limit will allow anglers to keep more fish that they catch, and was made possible by an increased quota allocation to Virginia by the Atlantic States Marine Fisheries Commission," Bull said. The 2011 limit included a five-fish possession standard.

This is the third year in a row that the commission has lowered the recreational flounder limit, Bull said, with that standard at 19" three years ago, then 18" two years ago, and 17½" last year.
On a separate matter, the commission established a 50,000-po...