Massachusetts state waters, out to 3 miles
Minimum size is 16.5 in when fishing from shore.
MA DMF 2026 · checked · the official rulebook is the final word
Often mistaken for
Southern flounderNo eye-like spots, plain mottle. Tell them apartNot listed by Massachusetts: the default applies (No limit, no bag limit).
Keep the wrong fish and its rule applies.
Massachusetts state record
MA DMF Saltwater Game Fish Records · checked 2026-09-04
How to tell it
Left-facing flatfish with 5 or more dark eye-like spots, several near the tail. More on the summer flounder page: every state’s rule, the records, and how anglers catch it.
Summer flounder in other states16 rulebooks
Questions anglers ask5
What is the size limit for summer flounder in Massachusetts?
17.5" vessel / 16.5" shore. Measured as total length: snout to the tip of the tail, tail lobes squeezed together.
How many summer flounder can you keep in Massachusetts?
5 fish.
When is summer flounder season in Massachusetts?
May 24 - Sep 23. As of Sep 21, 2026 it is open.
What is the Massachusetts record summer flounder?
21 lb 8 oz, Nomans Island (1980).
How current is this Massachusetts summer flounder rule?
Source: MA DMF 2026, last checked Sep 7, 2026. A watchman re-reads the agency's pages nightly. Rules change mid-season by proclamation; the official rulebook is the final word.
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