After a long, cold winter, New Jersey anglers will once again be able to target striped bass in the back bays starting March 1, while also soaking baits for winter flounder.

The targeting of striped bass west of the COLREGS is prohibited in New Jersey during the months of January and February, meaning that anglers are not even allowed to target stripers for catch and release purposes until March.  The term COLREGs comes from the International Regulations for Preventing Collisions at Sea of 1972, also known as Collision Regulations or COLREGs, a set of navigation rules published by the International Maritime Organization.

You may target (and even retain a keeper) striped bass along the front beaches on out to the three-mile-line at the Jersey Shore in January and February, but west of the COLREGs line (inlets, back bays and saltwater rivers) are off limits to striper fishing during that timeframe. The limit for retention is one striped bass from 28 inches to 31 inches. Keep in mind too that striper fishing on Delaware River from Trenton to the Salem River open will also open in March, but is closed during the spawning season of April and May, reopening again on June 1.

As for winter flounder, the season runs from March 1 through the end of the year with a two-fish bag limit and a 12-inch minimum size.

For anglers fishing aboard any recreational vessel less than 26 feet in length, keep in that under New Jersey state law all persons aboard must be wearing a securely fastened USCG approved wearable personal flotation device (PFD) while vessel is underway in New Jersey waters from November 1 through May 1.