April 9, 2014 — With flounder the topic of the moment, let’s get right to it. NJ Marine Fisheries Council met April 3 and set this year’s fluke season to open on May 23 Memorial Day weekend and close Sept 27. Without strong participation from South Jersey’s inshore recreational fishermen, the May 17 option was overwhelmingly turned down. Size remains 18 inches with a five fish bag. Winter flounder opened April 1 and will stay open until end of year with 2 fish at 12 inches.
South Jersey fishermen need to get excited and start getting involved in these meetings or we’ll continue to get short end of the stick. Regionalization with New York is a one year trial and now is the time to get involved for next year. Council agreed to investigate the option raised by Bill Shillingford to split the State if regionalization were to continue. That idea got a favorable response from north and south .
Sea Bass came out better with 186 days available to fish. Season will open May 15 and close June 30 with 15 fish, July 1 to Aug. 30 with 3 fish, Sept. 1- Sept. 6 with 15 fish, and Oct. 18- Dec. 31 with 15 fish. The size remains the same, 12.5 inches, all year.
Speaking of flounder, Thomas M sent in this question: “In the 1970s, when I lived in N. Wildwood, I used to fish for winter flounder. I don't see them anymore and wondered if you knew if the water conditions have changed. Are the winter flounder still in this area, or did they migrate North or to some other region?”
Read the full story at the Cape May County Herald