Rhode Island state waters, out to 3 miles
Harvest prohibited in Narragansett Bay north of the Colregs line and in Potter Pond, Point Judith Pond, and the Harbor of Refuge.
RI DEM 2026 · checked · the official rulebook is the final word
Often mistaken for
Summer flounderLeft-facing with a big toothy mouth. Tell them apart
Windowpane flounderThin enough to see through. Tell them apartKeep the wrong fish and its rule applies.
Rhode Island state record
RI DEM Saltwater Sportfish Records · checked 2026-08-23
How to tell it
RIGHT-facing thick flatfish with a small mouth and straight lateral line; muddy black-brown. More on the winter flounder page: every state’s rule, the records, and how anglers catch it.
Winter flounder in other states8 rulebooks
Questions anglers ask5
What is the size limit for winter flounder in Rhode Island?
12" min. Measured as total length: snout to the tip of the tail, tail lobes squeezed together.
How many winter flounder can you keep in Rhode Island?
2/person/day.
When is winter flounder season in Rhode Island?
Mar 1 - Dec 31. As of Sep 21, 2026 it is open.
What is the Rhode Island record winter flounder?
6 lb 7 oz, Galilee (1990).
How current is this Rhode Island winter flounder rule?
Source: RI DEM 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.
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