American Plaice
Hippoglossoides platessoides
Also called Dab, Canadian plaice, Sand dab.
How to tell it
Right-eyed flounder with a large mouth reaching below the eye and a nearly straight lateral line; rough reddish-brown to gray-brown back.
Often mistaken for
Two fish that get called American plaice, and what gives each one away.
- Winter flounder: Small mouth, lateral line curved over the pectoral. Tell them apart
- Summer flounder: Left-eyed, big-toothed. Tell them apart
Rules for
Every state
| State | Size | Bag | Season | Today |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Massachusetts | 14" min | No bag limit | Year-roundMA DMF 2026 · checked | Open |
| New Hampshire | 14" TL min | No bag limit | Year-roundNH F&G 2026 · checked | Open |
| Rhode Island | 14" min | No bag limit | Year-roundRI DEM 2026 (size table Rev. 9/14/2026) · checked | Open |
Not specifically regulated in Alabama, Connecticut, Delaware, Florida (Atlantic), Florida (Gulf), Georgia, Louisiana, Maine, Maryland, Mississippi, New Jersey, New York, North Carolina, South Carolina, Texas, Virginia: each state’s rule for unlisted species applies there (on its page).
On the table
Good — mild, thin fillets; the New England market 'dab'.
In the app
Point the camera at an American plaice and the name appears before you take the picture, with these rules for the water you’re standing in. No signal needed, and every catch goes in the log.
Get the appQuestions anglers ask about American plaice
What is the size limit for American plaice?
It depends on the state. Massachusetts: 14" min; New Hampshire: 14" TL min; Rhode Island: 14" min.
How do you tell American plaice from winter flounder?
American Plaice: Right-eyed flounder with a large mouth reaching below the eye and a nearly straight lateral line; rough reddish-brown to gray-brown back. Winter flounder: small mouth, lateral line curved over the pectoral.