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New fishing regulations in Delaware and New Jersey

February 20, 2016

It looks like the fishing regulations for flounder and sea bass will remain the same in 2016 as they were in 2015. While states to our north overfished both species in 2015, the Delaware, Maryland and Virginia region did not. Therefore, our black sea bass regulation will remain at a 12.5-inch minimum size with a 15-fish bag limit, while our summer flounder regulation will stay at four fish per day with a 16-inch size limit.

One big change will be in the Delaware Bay. Last year, New Jersey had an 18-inch minimum size limit in the bay, while Delaware had a 16-inch size limit. This year, New Jersey’s minimum size limit in the bay will drop to 17 inches. The regulations on the Delaware side of the bay will remain at four fish and a 16-inch minimum size. The Atlantic States Marine Fisheries Commission decided to create a Delaware Bay region since New Jersey complained that its head boats were losing business to Delaware.

The only other regulation change is for tilefish. The new rules allow each angler to retain a total of seven tilefish, either golden or blueline. While little is known about these fish, the National Marine Fisheries Service decided to err on the side of caution and put this regulation in place until more studies can be completed.

Slack tide

If this time of year were compared to saltwater fishing it would be slack tide. The weather has been pretty much horrible with gale-force winds, subfreezing temperatures and just about every type of precipitation known to man. This wouldn’t be too bad if we had good waterfowl hunting, but from what I hear the birds just haven’t made it this far south. Of course, snow geese are the only birds in season, and even with regulations that would gladden an old market hunter’s heart, the take has not equaled expectations.

Last weekend, just to get out of the house and associate with fellow fishermen, Mike Pizzolato and I traveled over to Pasadena, Md., to attend the Pasadena Sportfishing Group’s Annual Flea Market. It was packed, and for the first time in my memory, they ran out of pit beef sandwiches. I was kidding when I told Mike around 11:30 a.m. that with a crowd this size we had better get ours before they ran out, and darned if they didn’t around 12:30.

Of course, both of us bought a few things that neither of us needed, but the lures were cute and the price was right. You may remember the weather was bitterly cold Saturday, and most of the outside booths had packed up and gone when we left around 1 p.m.

I have no information on the outdoor show in Felton that was pretty good last year. Perhaps they will put out some information if they are going to hold it again this year. I really miss the Assateague Mobile Surf Fishermen Show that ran first in Ocean City and then in Salisbury.

I do have a few fishing projects that I should do before the flounder arrive. I got a new tackle bag from Bass Pro Shops in January, and I need to change over the stuff in my old bag to the new one. The problem has been the cold weather that has turned my unheated garage into an icebox.

I also need to swap out the freshwater hooks on some small plugs I received so I can use the lures for flounder, blues and rockfish. I did a couple of these lures last fall and, while I didn’t catch anything with the plugs, they sure looked pretty in the water, and I just know if I can place one in front of a big blue or rockfish he won’t be able to resist eating it.

I bought some newfangled flounder teasers last Saturday, so I now have to tie up a few rigs to use them. They are made with a plastic mesh and look alive. I will use them ahead of the four- and five-ounce bucktails I also bought to tempt those big flounder at A Buoy.

And then there is my poor, old boat. It is a 1996 Starcraft with a 40-horse Mercury motor and has had a hard life.

Last fall, when I went to take it out of the water after a trip on Red Mill Pond, the bow roller on the trailer collapsed, so I have that to replace. The boat is on a bunk trailer, and I want to put a set of those plastic slides on the bunks so the boat will launch much easier. Then the wheel bearings need to be cleaned and lubed, the lower unit needs new oil, and my lights don’t work. With luck, I will have everything done by Labor Day.


Eric Burnley is a Delaware native who has fished and hunted the state from an early age. Since 1978 he has written countless articles about hunting and fishing in Delaware and elsewhere along the Atlantic Coast. Eric can be reached at Eburnle@aol.com.


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