Flounder regs/ocmd/del

[loosegoose]

Interesting question... I fish in assowaman bay behind ocean city, maryland. However the boat is docked in fenwick delaware on the state line, whose regulations regarding size and creel limits do you legally have to follow? I ask because my wife and I caught 2 decent flounder a week ago 18" and 19.5" in oc and filleted them upon docking in fenwick, and this weekend we found a note from a neighbor saying the have turned us into the dnr for catching illegal sized fish (md is 18", del is 19.5"). Just curious what the law would be regarding transporting fish across state line? Kind of aggravating the neighbor would not have just confronted me while I was filleting the fish up, instead of leaving a note, but I guess some people are like that!!!

[gottaflylee]

Best thing that I could tell you is to call DNR in Maryland and in Delaware and ask them for a ruleing...

[BuffaloHunter]

I'd say move, your neighbor is a D**k.

[neilinov]

It doesn't matter where you caught them. If you have them in your possesion while in DE waters they have to meet the DE regulations. It's the same thing as if you were fishing in the ocean beyond the three mile limit. You are no longer in DE waters, but you will be returning there so your catch has to be DE legal.

I agree that it was a jerk move by your neighbor though.

[Sweet Caroline]

You need to abide by the rules where you possess the fish. Let's flip flop the scenerio for a minute. If you are docked in OCMD and the limit is 18" but fish in DE waters where the limit is 19.5", you better only have fish 19.5" or larger on board, while in DE waters. You can be checked at any time, on the water or at your dock and the argument that you caught the fish where the size limit is smaller does not fly. This is a big pet peeve of mine that these neighboring states should try to get ont he same page to make the size and creel limits the same. We have the same issue in the Delware Bay.

[fowlscay]

I think that if you were landing the fish in MD you were Ok but as soon as you enter in to DE you got to follow there rules too . I never see the DE fish and game guys up there so I doubt that you would ever get checked . In DE you need a fish Lic now too . At least DE still does not have any sales tax .
Tommy

[loosegoose]

I called both maryland and DE dnr this morning, neither had a straight answer. Both however said that it is only illegal to actually fish in delaware without the license/or catch undersized fish not to transport, both dnr said that I was perfectly legal to catch and transfer legal fish in maryland to DE. Definately a gray area though. It would definately be nice if they would match size/creel limits. On a side note delaware is changing the size limit from 19.5" to 18.5" effective May 11for those that fish around here.

[Bert Rodgers]

So your nieghbor can look over your shoulder and determine the difference of an 1 1/2". Besides being a total asshole, he's a genius.

Bert