As a reminder for New Jersey saltwater anglers, the spring season for black sea bass will shut down as of June 19. A one-fish bag limit and 12-1/2-inch size limit will return on July 1 running through August 31, while the 10-fish bag limit returns from October 1 through October 31, followed by a 15-fish bag limit from November 1 through December 31 (with same 12-1/2-inch size limit).
The New Jersey Marine Fisheries Council (Council) met Thursday, March 2 in Galloway Township to memorialize required changes to the black sea bass and porgy regulations for 2023. As expected, summer flounder (fluke) regulations that were in effect for 2022 stayed the same for another season.
Fluke opened on May 2 with a season to run through September 27 with a three fish bag limit, two of which must be within the “slot” of 17 to 17.99 inches, and one at 18 inches or above. The same three fish bag and 17-inch minimum size limit will be in place again west of the COLREGS on Delaware Bay in 2023, with a two-fish limit at 16 inches for surfcasters at Island Beach State Park.
As per requirements passed down from NOAA Fisheries through both the Mid-Atlantic Fishery Management Council (MAFMC) and Atlantic States Marine Fisheries Commission (ASMFC), all states along the Atlantic Coast were required to keep their same fluke regulations in place again for 2023, while also coming up with regulations to meet a 10% cutback in black sea bass and scup (porgy). To meet the 10% cutback in porgy harvest in New Jersey, the season was essentially halved to an August 1 through December 31 season, with a 30 fish bag limit and a 10-inch size limit.
Delaware anglers on the other hand can continue to target black sea bass through September 30 on a 15 fish bag and 13-inch size limit. The Delaware sea bass season will close for a short time, reopening from October 10 through December 31.
For more information on New Jersey fisheries go to njfishandwildlife.com. In Delaware, visit the DNREC website at dnrec.alpha.delaware.gov.
