DNREC’s Division of Fish & Wildlife announced that the summer flounder minimum size has been reduced to 16.5 inches for recreational anglers, half an inch less than the previous 17-inch minimum size. Summer flounder season remains open year round and the possession limit remains at four summer flounder per person per day.
The minimum size was reduced to comply with the Atlantic States Marine Fisheries Commission’s Addendum XXVIII to the Summer Flounder Fishery Management Plan. The size change was adopted through an emergency regulation due to insufficient time to adopt the regulation through the standard regulatory process before flounder move into Delaware waters this spring. The required standard regulatory process to adopt the regulation, including a public hearing and comment period, is being initiated.
For more information on summer flounder regulations, call the Fisheries Section at 302-739-9914 or visit www.dnrec.delaware.gov/fw/Fisheries.