Virginia state waters, out to 3 miles
Minimum size is 16 in Jan 1 - May 31 and 17.5 in Jun 1 - Dec 31.
VMRC 2026 · checked · the official rulebook is the final word
Past 3 miles: federal waters Different rule
Federal measures are waived — anglers in Mid-Atlantic federal waters follow the rules of the state where they land. Check your state's entry.
NOAA GARFO / MAFMC 2026 · checked 2026-09-20
Often mistaken for
Southern flounderNo eye-like spots, plain mottle. Tell them apartNot listed by Virginia: the default applies (No size limit, no bag limit).
Keep the wrong fish and its rule applies.
Virginia state record
VMRC Saltwater Fishing Tournament, 2025 brochure · 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.
Questions anglers ask5
What is the size limit for summer flounder in Virginia?
17.5 in min (16 in Jan 1 - May 31). Measured as total length: snout to the tip of the tail, tail lobes squeezed together.
How many summer flounder can you keep in Virginia?
4 per person.
When is summer flounder season in Virginia?
Open year-round.
What is the Virginia record summer flounder?
17 lb 8 oz, Baltimore Channel (1971).
How current is this Virginia summer flounder rule?
Source: VMRC 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 summer flounder in Virginia and this rule is on the screen before you take the picture. No signal needed.
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