Summer flounder rules in North Carolina
Size, bag and season for recreational summer flounder in North Carolina waters, as published by NC Division of Marine Fisheries.
- Size
- 15" total length minimum
- Bag
- 1 flounder per person per day (all flounder species)
- Season
- Sept 1–Sept 14, 2026 only; closed all other dates in 2026
Also on the agency page: NC manages all flounder species (southern, summer, Gulf) together under the Southern Flounder FMP Amendment 4. Applies to internal coastal, joint and Atlantic Ocean waters. Harvest with a Recreational Commercial Gear License prohibited. Harvest must be reported to DMF. 2026 season is over; next season will be set by proclamation.
Stale: this row was last checked Oct 10, 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
North Carolina 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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Maryland | 16" (Jan 1–May 31); 17.5" (Jun 1–Dec 31) | 4 per day | Openas of Oct 13 |
| Virginia | 16" (Jan 1–May 31); 17.5" (Jun 1–Dec 31) | 4 per person | Openas of Oct 13 |
| North Carolina | 15" total length minimum | 1 flounder per person per day (all flounder species) | Closedas of Oct 13 |
| South Carolina | 16" total length minimum | 5 per person per day, not to exceed 10 per boat per day | Openas of Oct 13 |
| Georgia | 12" total length minimum | 15 per person per day | Openas of Oct 13 |