The Secretary of Maryland Department of Natural Resources, pursuant to Code of Maryland Regulations 08.02.05.12E, announces the 2005 summer flounder minimum sizes and daily catch limits for Maryland waters.

Effective 12:00 am April 1, 2005, the new minimum sizes for the commercial hook and line fishery are 15 ½ inches in the Atlantic Ocean, its coastal bays, and their tributaries and 15 inches in the Chesapeake Bay and its tributaries.

Effective 12:00 am April 1, 2005, the new minimum sizes and creel limits for the recreational summer flounder fishery are: In the Atlantic Ocean, its coastal bays and their tributaries the minimum size is 15 ½ inches with a daily catch limit of 4 fish per person per day. In the Chesapeake Bay and its tributaries, the minimum size is 15 inches with a daily creel limit of 2 fish per person per day.

The recreational summer flounder fishery will remain open all year. These measures are established to stay within mandated coastwide recreational harvest limits for summer flounder. This action is consistent with recommendations from the Atlantic States Marine Fisheries Commission and the Chesapeake Bay Summer Flounder Management Plan.