Texas state waters, out to 9 miles
Retention closed Nov 1 - Dec 14; flounder possession limit equals the daily bag (not doubled).
TPWD 2026 · checked · the official rulebook is the final word
Often mistaken for
Summer flounderHas 5+ eye-like spots toward the tail. Tell them apartNot listed by Texas: the default applies (No size limit, no bag limit).
Keep the wrong fish and its rule applies.
Texas state record
TPWD State Records (Saltwater, Rod & Reel) · checked 2026-08-23
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 states9 rulebooks
Questions anglers ask5
What is the size limit for southern flounder in Texas?
15 in total length. Measured as total length: snout to the tip of the tail, tail lobes squeezed together.
How many southern flounder can you keep in Texas?
5. Counts toward the Flounder: all species, their hybrids and subspecies aggregate.
When is southern flounder season in Texas?
Open year-round except closed Nov 1 – Dec 14. As of Sep 21, 2026 it is open.
What is the Texas record southern flounder?
13 lb, Sabine Lake (1976).
How current is this Texas southern flounder rule?
Source: TPWD 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.
In the appPoint the camera at a southern flounder in Texas and this rule is on the screen before you take the picture. No signal needed.
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