Maryland Summer
Flounder Season Update; New Size And Creel Limits Announced For 2005
ANNAPOLIS — The Maryland Department of Natural Resources (DNR)
Fisheries Service today announced the 2005 Maryland minimum sizes and
creel limits for summer flounder. In the Atlantic and coastal bays, the
minimum size will be 15.5 inches with a four-fish creel limit; in the
Chesapeake Bay, the minimum size will be 15.0 inches with a two-fish creel
limit. These sizes and limits take effect at 12:01 a.m. on Friday, April
1, 2005.
“The Fisheries Service thanks the many stakeholder groups and individuals
who provided comment to DNR through public meetings and the survey on the
Department's website,” said Howard King, Director of DNR’s Fisheries
Service. “This stakeholder participation and process enables the
Department to provide the best fishing opportunities for all members of
Maryland’s recreational and commercial fishing communities.”
Recreational anglers and commercial harvesters of summer flounder have
continued to enjoy the benefits of this rapidly rebuilding flounder stock
along the Atlantic seaboard. These benefits are a direct result of the
work of DNR’s fisheries biologists and others to conserve flounder, while
still providing for angler enjoyment and economic return to Maryland.
The allowance for a smaller minimum size and lower creel limit for summer
flounder caught recreationally in the Maryland portion of the Chesapeake
Bay was approved by the Atlantic States Marine Fisheries Commission (ASMFC)
Policy Board at their February meeting, after the Summer Flounder
Technical Committee and Management Board had approved the 2005 options
presented by Maryland. The Summer Flounder Interstate Fishery Management
Plan allocates approximately 2 percent of the total allowable Atlantic
coastal catch of summer flounder to the Maryland fishery, based upon the
historical long-term catch.
Anglers are encouraged to visit DNR Online at any time for current minimum
sizes and creel limits for all finfish and crabs,
http://www.dnr.maryland.gov/fisheries/regulations/regindex.html.
The Maryland Department of Natural Resources (DNR) is the state agency
responsible for providing natural and living resource-related services to
citizens and visitors. DNR manages more than 446,000 acres of public lands
and 17,000 miles of waterways, along with Maryland's forests, fisheries
and wildlife for maximum environmental, economic and quality of life
benefits. A national leader in land conservation, DNR-managed parks and
natural, historic and cultural resources attract 11 million visitors
annually. DNR is the lead agency in Maryland's effort to restore the
Chesapeake Bay, the state's number one environmental priority. Learn more
at www.dnr.maryland.gov