Flounder season is coming and offers some inshore fishing consisting of a species you can actually keep and eat...well, a couple anyway!

Photos and Story by Bob Misak

Flounder Season "Approacheth"...

The month of March has descended upon the “cabin fever” gang here in New Jersey’s waters, and unless you’re a die-hard cod angler, a trout chaser or are off at some pond trying to conjure up some big pickerel or pan fish, your rods are sitting, dusty and lonely, in the corner. But alas, flounder season is coming...and March 23rd will offer some inshore fishing consisting of a species you can actually keep! The winter flounder season begins here in New Jersey in just about three weeks, and though the elusive cold water flatfish has been down to a two-fish limit for some time now, anglers along the Barnegat Bay and parts north are preparing... grabbin' the yellow sinkers, yellow grubs, and cans of corn (Yellow!) to go out and chase their fair (or unfair) share of a small fishery that still exists along our shores.

The author enjoys a limit of flounder on a cold opening day.

Econo-Fishing for Flatties 101

With the boys up top just now taking comments from anglers on the increase of a limit on winter flounder in New Jersey, many locals think the numbers haven’t changed since days of old.  Here's one... the commercial netter who has caught the same number of fish over the years, now being forced to deal with painful cuts that make the word “commercial” inappropriate. And two... the recreational angler who still catches dozens of fish per trip but are limited to two per person. The recreational anglers use a lot if chum, as flounder can rarely be caught without it. Chum is costly, and to boot, blood worms are typically essential for taking flatties as well...and they’re up to almost a buck a worm! No disrespect at all intended to the shop owners, they have to sell a product based on what they pay, and blood worms are a desirable commodity this time of year, as is chum. So, some anglers are improvising. They use cans of cat food or yellow corn for chum now, and though this hurts the small business owner, an increased limit would perhaps get folks buying chum blocks again. Others have taken to using night crawlers, sand worms and clam bits for bait; but honestly, the blood worm holds no prisoners when it comes to flounder bait. I personally bite the bullet and buy both chum and worms, but I do it as economically as I can. I never let my chum blocks thaw, so any un-used blocks can go home...and blood worms can be used again as well; provided you don’t, and probably won’t, use a dozen in a trip. I always get a look of disgust when my special someone looks in that little white box of blood worms in the fridge next to the milk, but hey... I have to baby them...they’re not cheap! There has been some buzz about kernels of corn being detrimental to the flounder’s digestive system, but I haven’t seen any scientific proof of that yet. So, the winter flounder will be targeted this month, and many will reap the benefit of fresh salt water fish early in the year, myself included.

A double limit of flounders that need filleting to get ready for the fryer

Hey, it's something to do...

Unfortunately, it seems as though the winter flounder’s favorite areas are the bays and inlets to the north, beginning at Barnegat Bay and heading northwards from there. In recent years the flounder has ventured south, but the numbers aren’t big enough for targeting them. They seem to be mostly single, accidental catches. Barnegat Bay is my stomping grounds, and I grew up in the bay and on its shorelines. There, the winter flounder fishing is relished by many to this day... no matter the cost. Every March, the little rods come out and we go hit it (only an ultra-light is needed) and many times the shores of Oyster Creek or the Toms River are all one needs, simply fishing from the bank to bucket two flatties. Small little hooks and light sinkers are part of arsenal, and I make sure that my hook is near or on the bottom to present my bloody offering. I change my bait often, so it stays red and fresh. The Mantoloking Bridge is also a popular “flounder hangout”. Good numbers of fish seem to congregate in these areas each season. Dennis Palmiere of Murphy’s Hook House has his annual flounder tournament every season, and shops like the Hook House always get folks up off the couch, putting line on those rods and grabbing a dozen fat bloodies and going out to “break the ice”. The boaters pack up at the "flounder grounds" on sunny weekends and much chum is dispersed. On windy days, anglers will need two anchors to hold them steady over the chum slick. And, just like the "infamous" puffer, it seems when the chum runs out, so do the flounder. Remember, any flounder under 12 inches must be returned to the water. Only winter flounder 12" or larger may be kept. As of the writing of this article, the season will run from March 23, 2014 through May 21, 2014. Daily limit is TWO fish! Always check your regulations at our "NJ Regs" link at the top of this page to be sure.

Easy "Pickins"...

Though I do own a small boat, I rarely get in in the water until the second or third week of flounder season. So, until then, I have no problem fishing off the bank, as no chum is usually needed. Chum is typically used in the bay where the current is slower, but folks do use it up in the creeks as well. I have noticed, however that the creeks that have faster tidal flows, especially the ultra-warm Oyster Creek in Forked River, eat up chum like a stump grinder chewing an oak. Off the bank no chum is required, and a good sunny day along with a sand spike and a lawn chair makes for a great day of flounder fishing. I have caught limits of flounder in Shark River; Point Pleasant Canal (though I’ve noticed they’re a bit spotty there); the Toms River; and all over Barnegat Bay and Mantoloking. So go on, shine up your stuff, change that line (you may as well do it now) and go grab some blood worms. Then take a seat... pick a sunny day...grab the kids (they too, can catch a limit, making it a little less painful on the wallet); go sit and break in the season. Turn down the thermostat, turn off the tube, get out of that easy chair and go catch some flatties! It may only be a two fish limit, but it's always lots of fun and also offers some GREAT eating. You'll just have to head out a few extra days with your leftover chum and worms to fill up the freezer! Good luck and great fishing.