2026 regulation year
New Jersey Summer flounder (fluke) 2026 — Season, Bag Limit, Size Rules
Paralichthys dentatus
Last updated
Summer flounder — locally always called 'fluke' — is the Atlantic mid-coast's most-targeted bottom-fish. NJ's fluke fishery runs from Raritan Bay through the Atlantic surf + 3-mile state water from Sandy Hook to Cape May Point, plus the Delaware Bay on the southern coast. NJ regulates fluke under the ASMFC interstate plan with size + bag rules set annually by NJDEP Marine Fisheries — the standard ocean + bay rule is 18-inch minimum + 3 fish per day during the open season (typically May 2 – September 27, varies by year). Island Beach State Park carries a distinctive separate slot of 16-inch minimum + 2 fish per day. Delaware Bay carries 16-inch minimum + 3 fish per day on its own season (typically June 17 – August 4). Always confirm current-year NJDEP notices — fluke regs change every spring with the ASMFC stock assessment.
Compare summer flounder (fluke) regulations across all states →
Get change alerts
Watch New Jersey Summer flounder (fluke) and we'll email you when a season, bag limit, slot, or closure changes. Free while in beta.
Season
Per annual NJDEP Marine Fisheries notice — typical ocean + bays May 2 – Sep 27; Delaware Bay June 17 – Aug 4. Confirm current year.
– Atlantic coast + Raritan + Sandy Hook bays
Typical NJDEP season — confirm current year
– Delaware Bay (separate season + rules)
Typical Delaware Bay season — confirm current year
Bag & possession
- Daily bag
- 3 / day per angler (ocean + bays); 3 / day Delaware Bay; 2 / day Island Beach State Park
- Possession
- Same as daily bag
Size, slot, trophy rules
- Size
- 18 in min ocean + bays (typical); 17 in min Island Beach State Park / 16 in min Delaware Bay (typical) — confirm current-year NJDEP notice
Gear restrictions
- Hook-and-line; gigs prohibited
- NJ Saltwater Recreational Registry (free, annual) required
- Confirm current-year NJDEP Marine Fisheries notices — ASMFC-driven rule changes annually
- Circle hooks recommended on natural-bait bottom rigs
Named water-body overrides
Where statewide rules differ on specific New Jersey waters:
Raritan Bay
18 in min, 3 / day per current NJDEP notice
Atlantic Coast surf + 3-mile state water (Monmouth to Cape May Counties)
18 in min, 3 / day per current NJDEP notice
Sandy Hook + Cape May Point
18 in min, 3 / day; surf + jetty fluke spring + summer
Delaware Bay
16 in min, 3 / day per current NJDEP notice; separate season + slot
Mullica River + Great Bay
18 in min, 3 / day; bay fluke May – September
Official source
New Jersey Division of Fish & Wildlife (freshwater) + NJ Marine Fisheries Administration (saltwater) publishes the authoritative 2026 New Jerseyfishing regulations. Always verify the current rule before fishing — emergency closures and in-season changes can override what's published here.
The summer flounder (fluke) rules on this page are sourced from New Jersey Division of Fish & Wildlife (freshwater) + NJ Marine Fisheries Administration (saltwater)'s official summer flounder (fluke) regulation page.
Visit official New Jersey fishing regulations →
Emergency-order channel
Summer flounder (fluke) closures, slot-limit changes, and harvest pauses are posted to New Jersey Division of Fish & Wildlife's emergency-order feed — check it before any New Jersey trip during the active season.
Frequently asked questions
- When is summer flounder (fluke) season in New Jersey?
- Per annual NJDEP Marine Fisheries notice — typical ocean + bays May 2 – Sep 27; Delaware Bay June 17 – Aug 4. Confirm current year. Those are the 2026 New Jersey dates; always confirm against New Jersey Division of Fish & Wildlife (freshwater) + NJ Marine Fisheries Administration (saltwater) before a trip, because an emergency order can shift an opener with little notice.
- What is the New Jersey bag limit for summer flounder (fluke)?
- The New Jersey daily bag limit for summer flounder (fluke) is 3 / day per angler (ocean + bays); 3 / day Delaware Bay; 2 / day Island Beach State Park. The possession limit is Same as daily bag. Some named waters set a different limit — check the water-body overrides above.
- What size summer flounder (fluke) can you keep in New Jersey?
- The New Jersey size rule for summer flounder (fluke) is 18 in min ocean + bays (typical); 17 in min Island Beach State Park / 16 in min Delaware Bay (typical) — confirm current-year NJDEP notice.
- Do you need a license to fish for summer flounder (fluke) in New Jersey?
- Yes. New Jersey requires a valid fishing license to fish for summer flounder (fluke), with the usual exemptions for young children, state free-fishing days, and some senior or disabled-veteran categories. A license is valid only in the state that issued it, so non-residents need a New Jersey license — compare resident and non-resident New Jersey fees on the state regulations page below.
- Are there gear restrictions for summer flounder (fluke) in New Jersey?
- Yes. In New Jersey, summer flounder (fluke) fishing carries these gear rules: Hook-and-line; gigs prohibited; NJ Saltwater Recreational Registry (free, annual) required; Confirm current-year NJDEP Marine Fisheries notices — ASMFC-driven rule changes annually; Circle hooks recommended on natural-bait bottom rigs.
- Do specific New Jersey waters have different summer flounder (fluke) rules?
- Yes. 5 named New Jersey waters carry rules that override the statewide summer flounder (fluke) regulation, including Raritan Bay, Atlantic Coast surf + 3-mile state water (Monmouth to Cape May Counties), Sandy Hook + Cape May Point, and 2 more. See the named water-body overrides above for the exact rule on each.