Summer Flounder
Paralichthys dentatus
Also called Fluke.
How to tell it
Left-facing flatfish with 5 or more dark eye-like spots, several near the tail.
- Not a southern flounder? That one no eye-like spots, plain mottle. (Southern Flounder)
Rules for
Every state
| State | Size | Bag | Season | Today |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Alabama | 14 in total length minimum | 5 per person | Open year-round except Nov 1-30 (take or possession prohibited in November)AL MRD 2026 · likely · checked | Open |
| Connecticut | 19" (May 4-Aug 1), 19.5" (Aug 2-Oct 15); 17" at Enhanced Opportunity Shore Fishing Sites | 3 per angler | May 4 - Oct 15CT DEEP 2026 · checked | Open |
| Delaware | 17.5 in min (16 in Jan 1-May 31) | 4 per day | Open year-roundDE DNREC 2026 · checked | Open |
| Florida (Atlantic) | 14 in TL min | 5 per person (all flounder species combined) | Closed Oct 15-Nov 30FWC 2026 · checked | Open |
| Florida (Gulf) | 14 in TL min | 5 per person (all flounder species combined) | Closed Oct 15-Nov 30FWC 2026 · checked | Open |
| Georgia | 12 in total length | 15 per person per day | Open year-roundGA DNR CRD 2026 · checked | Open |
| Maine | 20" min | 2 per day | Open year-roundME DMR 2026 · checked | Open |
| Maryland | 16 in TL Jan 1-May 31; 17.5 in TL Jun 1-Dec 31 | 4 | Open year-roundMD DNR 2026 · checked | Open |
| Massachusetts | 17.5" vessel / 16.5" shore | 5 fish | May 24 - Sep 23MA DMF 2026 · checked | Open |
| New Hampshire | 15 in TL min | No bag limit | Open year-roundNH F&G 2026 · checked | Open |
| New Jersey | 18 in min | 3 | May 4 - Sep 25NJ DEP 2026 · checked | Open |
| New York | 19" (May 4-Aug 1), 19.5" (Aug 2-Oct 15) | 3 | May 4 - Oct 15NY DEC 2026 · checked | Open |
| North Carolina | 15 in TL min | 1/day | Sep 1 - Sep 14, 2026NC DMF 2026 · checked | Closed |
| Rhode Island | 19" min | 6/person/day | Apr 1 - Dec 31RI DEM 2026 · checked | Open |
| South Carolina | 16 in total length | 5/day, max 10/boat | Open year-roundSC DNR 2026 · checked | Open |
| Virginia | 17.5 in min (16 in Jan 1 - May 31) | 4 per person | Open year-roundVMRC 2026 · checked | Open |
Not specifically regulated in Louisiana, Mississippi, Texas: each state’s rule for unlisted species applies there (on its page).
State records
| State | Weight | When, where | Source |
|---|---|---|---|
| Connecticut | 15 lb 4.8 oz | 2023 · Niantic Bay | CT DEEP Saltwater State Record Fish (Harvested) · checked 2026-08-23 |
| Delaware | 17 lb 15 oz | 1974 | DNREC Delaware Fishing Records · checked 2026-08-23 |
| Maryland | 17 lb | 1974 · Assateague Island | MD DNR Sport Fish State Records · checked 2026-08-23 · MD Atlantic division record |
| Massachusetts | 21 lb 8 oz | 1980 · Nomans Island | MA DMF Saltwater Game Fish Records · checked 2026-09-04 |
| New Jersey | 19 lb 12 oz | 1953 · Off Cape May | NJ DEP Fish & Wildlife State Record Saltwater Fish · checked 2026-09-04 |
| New York | 22 lb 7 oz | 1975 | NYSDEC Marine Recreational Angler Records · checked 2026-09-04 |
| Rhode Island | 17 lb 8 oz | 1962 · Narrow River | RI DEM Saltwater Sportfish Records · checked 2026-08-23 |
| South Carolina | 3 lb 8 oz | 1982 · Murrells Inlet | SCDNR Saltwater Game Fish Records · checked 2026-08-23 |
| Virginia | 17 lb 8 oz | 1971 · Baltimore Channel | VMRC Saltwater Fishing Tournament, 2025 brochure · checked 2026-09-04 |
On the table
Excellent — mild, white, hard to beat.
In the app
Point the camera at a summer flounder 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 summer flounder
What is the size limit for summer flounder?
It depends on the state. Alabama: 14 in total length minimum; Connecticut: 19" (May 4-Aug 1), 19.5" (Aug 2-Oct 15); 17" at Enhanced Opportunity Shore Fishing Sites; Delaware: 17.5 in min (16 in Jan 1-May 31); Florida (Atlantic): 14 in TL min; Florida (Gulf): 14 in TL min; Georgia: 12 in total length; Maine: 20" min; Maryland: 16 in TL Jan 1-May 31; 17.5 in TL Jun 1-Dec 31; and more in the table above.
How many summer flounder can you keep?
Alabama: 5 per person; Connecticut: 3 per angler; Delaware: 4 per day; Florida (Atlantic): 5 per person (all flounder species combined); Florida (Gulf): 5 per person (all flounder species combined); Georgia: 15 per person per day; Maine: 2 per day; Maryland: 4; and more in the table above.
When is summer flounder season?
Alabama: Open year-round except Nov 1-30 (take or possession prohibited in November); Connecticut: May 4 - Oct 15; Florida (Atlantic): Closed Oct 15-Nov 30; Florida (Gulf): Closed Oct 15-Nov 30; Massachusetts: May 24 - Sep 23; New Jersey: May 4 - Sep 25; New York: May 4 - Oct 15; North Carolina: Sep 1 - Sep 14, 2026; and more in the table above.
How do you tell summer flounder from southern flounder?
Summer Flounder has this: Left-facing flatfish with 5 or more dark eye-like spots, several near the tail.. Southern Flounder no eye-like spots, plain mottle.
What is the record summer flounder?
22 lb 7 oz in New York (1975). Other states’ records are in the table.