New Jersey, Delaware and Maryland all have several well-known hotspots for catching winter flounders. All of these unique places produce some of their state's biggest winter flounders, year after year.

Come March, two rivers in the Garden State stand out as top spots to check out. Both rivers are relatively close to one another, so it's safe to bet that the surrounding areas are loaded with flatties for a most of the season. The Manasquan River, with its easily accessible boat launches and highly successful party-boat services, is a definite hotspot.

When flounders enter the river from the ocean in late February, they find an active river with plenty of spawning locations.

Since the river is neither too shallow nor too deep, water temperatures stay relatively the same from the inlet to the back of the river.

This provides ample habitat and conditions for an otherwise picky fish, which will spawn only when the temperature is right.

The other hotspot to check out is located to the south of the Manasquan River near Waretown. It's called the Oyster Creek Channel, where plenty of big flounders are taken each year. This section of the river is known for its power plant discharge, which keeps the water temperature several degrees warmer. Flounders often seek out this river for its nutrient-rich warm water, which is ideal for both feeding and spawning at the right time of year.

Some of the shallower parts of the river are accessible only from land, so boaters are limited to the channel section. Due to the water levels rising throughout the day, anglers are advised to check local tide charts for the areas close to the bridges.

To the south, the state of Maryland also holds its fair share of winter flounder hideouts. Perhaps one of the most debated spots to catch big flounder would have to be Ocean City. This quaint summer tourist town is home to a diverse number of fishing opportunities for anglers of any age or experience level.

Places to the north like Rehoboth Beach also produce their fair share of flatfish. But for Free State flounders, Ocean City is ground zero.

In the very early spring, flounder take full advantage of sea worm blooms and usually stay in Ocean City's waters until the end of April.

One drawback to Ocean City is the amount of competition there for winter flounders. It's a good idea to check out what charter services seek winter flounders, since they'll know where the best fishing spots are.

When flounder enter the river from the ocean in late February, they find an active river with plenty of spawning locations.

Delaware has a unique situation on its hands. It's home to premier winter flounder fishing for most of the season, but only a few places can be argued as being flounder hotspots.

In recent years, Indian River Inlet has turned out a consistently big flounder bite from the season's beginning to end. With ample spawning grounds for flounders, this river/inlet has both great accumulations of bait and access for almost any size boat.

With its good sandy bottom, flounders can easily inhabit this area and spawn in great numbers. Indian River provides a good camouflage bottom for evading predators and wide-open areas of sand, which are perfect for baitfish and sandworm presentation.

As with all recreationally fished species, the key to success is conservation mixed with education.

The more we know about this species, the better off we will be as anglers. Finding the common ground between acceptable fishing limits and a workable conservation plan may be debated for generations to come. The days of boats filled with massive flatfish may be long gone, but catching and keeping just enough to eat may be all the options we have left.

Be sure to check -- and abide by -- the local flounder limits anywhere you fish. Otherwise, our fishing privileges may be lost forever. As fishermen, our job is to save the winter flounder fishery from becoming only a fond memory.