Who would have thought that the relaxing, contemplative pastime of summer flounder fishing would ever be transformed into a maze of regulations that defy understanding, let alone common sense?

Gone are the days when one could leisurely ply the waters from Maryland to New Jersey, enjoy the thrills of landing a handful of flatfish, whether from beach or boat -- and arrive home with the makings of a delicious dinner or two. State and federal state agencies that regulate coastal fisheries used what they term “science” to determine season duration, bag limits and size limits. The fishery has shown great growth in recent years, but that science reflects data collected 15 years ago.

The only difference is that recreational anglers are forced to kill increased numbers of summer flounder by releasing all fish under specific minimum-size limits.

In New Jersey alone, anglers must catch and release upwards of 15,334,500 summer flounder in order to retain the state’s 766,350-pound quota. Of those released, mortality is estimated to be at least 10 percent -- 1,533,450 summer flounder will become food for crabs and dogfish.

The more fish you must release to catch a keeper, the more will die. Much the same statistics hold for Maryland and Delaware, where the regulations are still harsher.

In New York State, the numbers become more insane. Coincidentally, and reflective of the flawed system, commercial fishermen are able to retain 14-inch fluke, just as they’ve been doing for the past 15 years!

This comes about as a result of a quota being established and of scientists refusing to work “outside the box” in determining the regulations. As such, each state is being given extended seasons, a higher daily bag limit, and a size limit that targets the killing of all breeding-sized flounder -- the very fish that could help build up the population.

The easiest way to catch flounder is to employ a 3-foot-long leader with a 2/0 long-shank Carlisle or beak-style hook, with a leader tied to a three-way swivel, and a bank-style sinker sufficiently heavy to hold bottom.

One of your best baits is a 3-inch-long strip of squid, along with a killifish or minnow, or a single spearing threaded onto the hook.

Drift this rig over sandy ocean bottom near shore, or in the waters of Jersey’s Raritan Bay, the Delaware Bay, or the Isle of Wright Bay or Indian River Bay, and you’re likely to catch summer flounder until becoming arm-weary. I mention this because in combination, these rigs and places are the wrong way to go in today’s regulatory crisis.

Summer flounder in the 3- to 10-pound class -- which will be the bulk of the size fluke you’re able to keep -- are accustomed to feeding on big forage. Hence that old adage of “Big baits catch big fish,” comes into play.

This not only means big baits, but also rigs big enough to accommodate them.

As the size limits have escalated the past couple of seasons, one favorite rig I’ve been using consists of either a chromed ball or torpedo-shaped jig, a leadhead bucktail skirted jig, a soft-plastic swim shad, or the newer style Butterfly, Sacrifice and Braid jigs, all in the 3- or 4-ounce sizes -- or even heavier, should water depth and current dictate.

I rig each of these lures with an assist hook, or stinger, which I attach to the bend of the J-style hook in the lure. I then slip a single 6- to 10-inch long strip bait on the lure’s primary hook, and slip the stinger into the middle of the bait.

The bait can be a strip of squid, dogfish, salmon belly from the fish market, cunner, sea robin or any other firm-fleshed fish not covered by regulations. I’ve also used strips of Berkley Gulp! synthetic bait and enjoyed fine results.