Winter Flounder

Season in North Jersey

DNREC: winter flounder move inshore into shallow estuaries and bays when the water is cold and offshore when it warms. Summer NJ catches came on head boats and offshore bottom trips (2017, 2026). Shore window inferred as late fall to spring. (Our inference)

Season by region

Where to find them

Shallow back bays and estuaries in the cold months; bloodworms, grass shrimp, mussel or clam.

On soft bottom in bays and harbors, often buried.

What to look for

Soft bottom in bays and harbors with moving water near channels.

Bait

Blue mussels (early season), Bloodworms, Sandworms. Small-hook bottom rig with a sinker to hold the bait on the bottom..

Leader

NY Sea Grant: 10 to 15 lb mono on a medium spinning rod; heavier where current is strong.

Common mistakes

• Fishing slack water away from the current
• Hooks too large for the small mouth

Landing

Lift it in with a steady pull or a small net.

Handling

Unhook gently; return short fish quickly.

Keep or release

Good eating. Seasons are short and limits small; check state rules.

Recipes for winter flounder

Typical: unknown. Large: Sea flounder or snowshoes about 5 lb. NY record 7.22 lb (1997).

Limits

FishOS has not checked the NJ limits yet. Check the size, bag and season rules with the New Jersey Fish and Wildlife before you keep a fish.

Sources

• DNREC Delaware Fish and Shellfish Facts: Winter Flounder (Official source)
• On The Water: South Jersey Fishing Report, July 27 2017 (Riptide, Fin-Atics, Tony's, Creekside) (Angler knowledge)
• On The Water: Southern New Jersey Fishing Report, June 11 2026 (Angler knowledge)
• NOAA Tech. Memo. NMFS-NE-138: EFH source document, winter flounder (1999) (Official source)
• New York Sea Grant fish profile: Winter Flounder (Cornell, 2001) (Official source)
• NYSDEC Marine Recreational Angler Records Program (Official source)

All the fish of North Jersey