Summer flounder rules in Massachusetts
Size, bag and season for recreational summer flounder in Massachusetts waters, as published by Massachusetts Division of Marine Fisheries.
- Size
- 17.5" minimum (vessel-based); 16.5" minimum (shore-based)
- Bag
- 5 fish
- Season
- May 24 – September 23
Also on the agency page: For-hire poster: 17.5", 5 fish.
Stale: this row was last checked Oct 8, 2026, past our 30-day limit. Treat it as history and go to the agency page.
Rules change in season, sometimes by emergency notice. This page summarizes the agency page on the date shown. If this summary and the agency page disagree, the agency page controls.
What to know before you keep one
Fluke seasons close in the fall in most states, and minimum sizes differ from one state line to the next, sometimes by a half inch.
State water or federal water
Massachusetts rules apply in state waters, generally out to 3 nautical miles. Summer flounder are jointly managed by ASMFC and the Mid-Atlantic Fishery Management Council. Federal recreational measures for federal waters are set by NOAA Fisheries and can differ from state rules. NOAA Fisheries · summer flounder ↗
Across the state line
Rules for the same fish change at the state line. If you run across it or land in the next state, those rules apply.
| State | Size | Bag | Status as of Oct 13, 2026 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Maine | 20" minimum total length | 2 fish per angler per day | Openas of Oct 13 |
| Massachusetts | 17.5" minimum (vessel-based); 16.5" minimum (shore-based) | 5 fish | Closedas of Oct 13 |
| Rhode Island | 19" minimum (special shore sites: up to 2 of the 6 may be 17"+) | 6 fish per person per day | Openas of Oct 13 |
| Connecticut | 19" minimum (May 4–Aug 1); 19.5" minimum (Aug 2–Oct 15) | 3 fish per angler per day | Openas of Oct 13 · Open through Oct 15 |