May 24, 2017 — Local fishermen have finally learned what the regulations will be for the summer flounder season in New Jersey. After a very long period of bickering, a compromise has been reached.
For all coastal waters there will be a 3-fish daily limit with an 18-inch minimum size limit. The minimum size in Delaware Bay will be 17-inches while anglers fishing on the beach at IBSP will have a daily limit of two fish at 16-inches. The season will begin on Thursday, May 25, and run until Tuesday, September 5.
In 2016 the summer flounder season ran from May 21 through September 25 with a five fish per day limit and a minimum size of 18-inches. The original proposed restrictions for 2017 called for a 19-inch minimum size and a daily limit of 3 fish.
The NJ Marine Fisheries Council recommended the new rules at a meeting last week, and DEP Commissioner Bob Martin has approved them with a season running from May 25 through September 5.
The regulations adopted by DEP are final but the Atlantic States Marine Fisheries Council did not accept them, and appear to be moving toward New Jersey being in non-compliance.
Although few anglers are pleased at these regulations, it is a compromise from prior statements and a reflection of the work put forth by NJ state officials at the federal level.
The federal government had mandated rules to reduce the total catch by New Jersey recreational anglers. This determination was reached when NOAA announced the stocks of summer flounder had been reduced to unacceptable levels.
The state of New Jersey decided to fight the federal mandate with Governor Chris Christie and the New Jersey Department of Environmental Protection coming out strongly against it. State officials including DEP head Bob Martin met with senior officials from the Department of Commerce and NOAA Fisheries to express their opposition.