UTERWinter flounder fishing in New Jersey saltwater fishing
In New Jersey saltwater fishing, winter flounder peak March–April and are around March–May and November, according to Fish Scouter's month-by-month season calendar. March: Back-bay flounder on the sun-warmed mud — chum pots and bloodworms in Shark River and Barnegat; NJ season is spring only, check NJDEP.
Not in New Jersey saltwater fishing this month.
Winter flounder in New Jersey saltwater fishing, month by month
- JanuaryNot here
- FebruaryNot here
- MarchPeakBack-bay flounder on the sun-warmed mud — chum pots and bloodworms in Shark River and Barnegat; NJ season is spring only, check NJDEP.
- AprilPeakRaritan Bay comes alive; tog and weakfish. Bunker schools in Raritan Bay — snag-and-drop and chunk for stripers, big blues right behind them; crabs on the jetties for tog; tiderunner weakfish late in the month.
- MayAround
- JuneNot here
- JulyNot here
- AugustNot here
- SeptemberNot here
- OctoberNot here
- NovemberAround
- DecemberNot here
Where to fish winter flounder near Cape May, Atlantic City, Barnegat Light
A 130-mile barrier-island coast of surf beaches and rock jetties, cut by inlets (Cape May, Townsends, Absecon, Barnegat, Manasquan, Shark River) into shallow back bays — Barnegat Bay, Great Bay, the Cape May wetlands — with Raritan Bay at the north end; offshore, a field of artificial reefs, ridges and wrecks out to the Hudson, Toms, Wilmington and Spencer canyons.
What to use for winter flounder
- BloodwormsA piece threaded on a #2 to 2/0 hook on a hi-lo or fish-finder rig — the striper, spot, croaker and white perch bait of the Chesapeake and the surf.
- Leader20–40 lb fluorocarbon
- Hook#1–4/0
- Jig head1/8–1/2 oz
- Braid10–30 lb
Feeds in 38–64°F water, best at 44–58°F.
Questions anglers ask
When is the best time to catch winter flounder in New Jersey saltwater fishing?
Peak season is March–April. Winter flounder are in New Jersey saltwater fishing March–May and November. March: Back-bay flounder on the sun-warmed mud — chum pots and bloodworms in Shark River and Barnegat; NJ season is spring only, check NJDEP.
Where do winter flounder hold in New Jersey saltwater fishing?
Look on channel edge, grass flat, fishing pier — around Cape May, Atlantic City, Barnegat Light, Point Pleasant, Belmar, Sandy Hook.
What is the best bait for winter flounder in New Jersey saltwater fishing?
Live bait: bloodworms. Bloodworms: A piece threaded on a #2 to 2/0 hook on a hi-lo or fish-finder rig — the striper, spot, croaker and white perch bait of the Chesapeake and the surf. Tackle: leader 20–40 lb fluorocarbon, hook #1–4/0, jig head 1/8–1/2 oz, braid 10–30 lb.
What are the rules for winter flounder in New Jersey saltwater fishing?
Size and bag limits and closed seasons are set by the New Jersey Division of Fish and Wildlife (NJ Fish and Wildlife) and change — read the current rule at https://dep.nj.gov/njfw/fishing/marine/ before you keep a fish. A licence is sold at https://dep.nj.gov/njfw/licenses-and-permits/.
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