Southern flounderin North Carolina
Paralichthys lethostigma
Also called Flounder.
The rule in North Carolina
North Carolina’s own rule for southern flounder in state waters, out to 3 nautical miles.
FF-27-2026 (June 3, 2026) sets the all-species flounder season, superseding the January guide's closure.
Counts toward an aggregate limit: Flounder (all species).
Measured as total length (TL): snout to the tip of the tail, with the tail lobes squeezed together.
NC DMF 2026· checked Closed
Mandatory harvest reporting
Every red drum, flounder, speckled trout, striped bass, or weakfish you keep in North Carolina waters must be reported to NC DMF — state law since Dec 1, 2025. Report as soon as the trip is over (the moment the boat reaches shore) in the NC DMF iPhone app or the online form; paper report cards are due by midnight the next day.
How to report · NC DMF · checked 2026-09-04
Often mistaken for, and their North Carolina rules
Keep the wrong fish and the rule that applies is the other one’s.
| Fish | Size | Bag | Season |
|---|---|---|---|
| Southern flounderThis page. | 15 in TL min | 1/day | Sep 1 - Sep 14, 2026 |
| Summer flounderHas 5+ eye-like spots toward the tail.Tell them apart | 15 in TL min | 1/day | Sep 1 - Sep 14, 2026 |
North Carolina state record
20 lb 8 oz, Carolina Beach, 1980. NCDMF State Saltwater Records · checked 2026-08-22
How to tell it
Left-facing flatfish, no eyed ocelli — plain mottled brown. More on the southern flounder page: every state’s rule, the records, and how anglers catch it.
Southern flounder in other states
In the app
Point the camera at a southern flounder in North Carolina and this rule is on the screen before you take the picture. No signal needed.
Get the appSouthern flounder in North Carolina: the questions
What is the size limit for southern flounder in North Carolina?
15 in TL min. Measured as total length: snout to the tip of the tail, with the tail lobes squeezed together.
How many southern flounder can you keep in North Carolina?
1/day. It counts toward an aggregate: Flounder (all species).
When is southern flounder season in North Carolina?
Sep 1 - Sep 14, 2026. As of Sep 21, 2026 it is closed.
Do I have to report southern flounder in North Carolina?
Yes. Every red drum, flounder, speckled trout, striped bass, or weakfish you keep in North Carolina waters must be reported to NC DMF — state law since Dec 1, 2025. Report as soon as the trip is over (the moment the boat reaches shore) in the NC DMF iPhone app or the online form; paper report cards are due by midnight the next day.
What is the North Carolina record southern flounder?
20 lb 8 oz, Carolina Beach (1980).
How current is this North Carolina southern flounder rule?
Source: NC DMF 2026, last checked Sep 20, 2026. A watchman re-reads the agency's pages nightly. Rules change mid-season by proclamation; the official rulebook is the final word.