New Jersey’s recreational fluke season will run from May 4 through September 25 with a three fish bag and 18-inch minimum size limit. The state sill once again have separate summer flounder regulations in two special management zones, one being a 17-inch minimum and three fish bag west of COLREGS on Delaware Bay, as well as a 16-inch minimum size and two per angler limit at Island Beach State Park for surfcasters.
As a reminder, summer flounder is open year-round in Delaware, however, there’s a new “split season” of sorts, with a four fish bag limit and 16-inch size limit through May 31, and then changing to a four-fish bag at 17-1/2-inch size limit starting on June 1.
For those fishing in New York marine waters, keep in mind that the state of New York has a three fish bag limit and 19-inch minimum size for fluke from May 4 through August 1, at which point the size limit increases to 19-1/2 inches as of August 2 and running until October 15 (same three-fish bag limit).
If you plan on fishing across state boundaries, make sure you’re registered/licensed to fish those waters. Also remember that you must abide by the fisheries regulations in that state where you’re actively fishing, as well as back in your homeport where you actually offload. In other words, if you’re a New Jersey angler who crosses the Raritan to fish for doormats on the east side of Ambrose Channel next week you will have to abide by the 19-inch size limit in New York waters while you’re there, and you must be registered to fish with the state’s Department of Environmental Conservation.
By the same token, if you’re leaving from Cape May or Fortescue and fish across state lines on the Delaware Bay, you’ll have to abide by New Jersey’s special 17-inch and three-fish bag limit while in Delaware in order to legally bring your summer flounder back home. You’ll also have to have your Delaware recreational fishing license while you’re there, available through Delaware’s Department of Natural Resources.
