The Virginia Marine Resources Commission has lowered the recreational flounder size limit for the fourth year in a row.

During a meeting Feb. 26 at its headquarters in Newport News, the commission changed the recreational flounder size from 16½ inches to 16 inches.

VMRC spokesman John Bull said this allows anglers to keep more of the fish they catch and reduces the flounder size limit to its lowest level since 2001. Bull said the creel limit of four fish will remain unchanged, and there will be no closed season.

Following a separate public hearing, the commission established a limited permitting system for the American shad by-catch allowance fishery.

That measure was taken, Bull said, to comply with interstate management plan requirements and to assign fishing permits in a fair and equitable manner. The commission unanimously adopted a five-year commercial American shad by-catch allowance with a maximum of 30 permits a year and total annual landings of 500 fish.

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