New Jersey state waters, out to 3 miles
NJ DEP 2026 · checked · the official rulebook is the final word
Often mistaken for
Summer flounderLeft-facing with a big toothy mouth. Tell them apart
Windowpane flounderThin enough to see through. Tell them apartNot listed by New Jersey: the default applies (No size limit, no bag limit).
Keep the wrong fish and its rule applies.
New Jersey state record
NJ DEP Fish & Wildlife State Record Saltwater Fish · checked 2026-09-04
How to tell it
RIGHT-facing thick flatfish with a small mouth and straight lateral line; muddy black-brown. More on the winter flounder page: every state’s rule, the records, and how anglers catch it.
Winter flounder in other states8 rulebooks
Questions anglers ask5
What is the size limit for winter flounder in New Jersey?
12 in min. Measured as total length: snout to the tip of the tail, tail lobes squeezed together.
How many winter flounder can you keep in New Jersey?
2.
When is winter flounder season in New Jersey?
Mar 1 - Dec 31. As of Sep 21, 2026 it is open.
What is the New Jersey record winter flounder?
5 lb 11 oz, Off Barnegat Light (1993).
How current is this New Jersey winter flounder rule?
Source: NJ DEP 2026, last checked Sep 7, 2026. A watchman re-reads the agency's pages nightly. Rules change mid-season by proclamation; the official rulebook is the final word.
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