2024 North Carolina Southern Flounder Season Closed

Southern Flounder | Credit: NOAA Fisheries

To preserve the resource, the North Carolina recreational season for southern flounder will not open in 2024, according to the North Carolina Department of Environmental Quality Marine Fisheries Commission.

In order to preserve the southern flounder resource, the North Carolina recreational flounder season will not open for harvest in 2024.

Estimates from 2023 indicate the recreational catch exceeded the quota allowed under a stock rebuilding plan that was included in Amendment 3 to the Southern Flounder Fishery Management Plan and adopted by the N.C. Marine Fisheries Commission.

The Commission lists the status of southern flounder as overfished and overfishing is occurring. 

Amendment 3 to the Southern Flounder Fishery Management Plan, adopted by the Commission in 2022, set quotas for the recreational and commercial fisheries, based on scientific data, to end overfishing and rebuild the stock. There is a pound-for-pound payback if either sector goes over its quota. 

During it's quarterly business meeting, the Marine Fisheries Commission received an update on the recreational quota available for a recreational founder season.

After subtracting the recreational overage from 2023, the recreational quota remaining for 2024 is not large enough to allow for a season opening. The leftover quota will be used to account for the anticipated dead discards that will occur due to incidental catch and release.

The Commission discussed holding a special meeting to consider alternatives to not holding a 2024 recreational season but ultimately did not move forward with that approach.  

Fisheries managers predict that, following Amendment 3 and not opening the 2024 recreational flounder season, combined with the increased recreational quota in 2025, should allow enough quota for a recreational season next year. 

North Carolina’s southern flounder fisheries are managed under the Southern Flounder Fishery Management Plan Amendment 3.

For more information on the management measures, visit the N.C. Marine Fisheries Commission website (www.deq.nc.gov/about/divisions/marine-fisheries) and see the Southern Flounder Information Page under Hot Topics.

New Jersey State Record Winter Flounder (Spearfishing Category)

The NJDEP Division of Fish and Wildlife recently announced that Chris Kahler speared a New Jersey state record winter flounder (spearfishing category).

Chris was free diving near a jetty in Manasquan Inlet when he speared the 3 pound, 5 ounce winter flounder which measured 20 inches in length.

In 2014, the NJ Record Fish Program was expanded with the addition of a Spearfishing category for saltwater.

Seventeen (17) species commonly sought after by spear fishers are included in the category.

For more information, visit www.njfishandwildlife.com

NJDEP Division of Fish and Wildlife

Washington Pacific Halibut Season 2016

The 2016 Washington Pacific halibut season includes several changes, although the state’s 2016 halibut catch quota is the same as last year's.

The Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife (WDFW) establishes halibut seasons using catch quotas adopted by the International Pacific Halibut Commission (IPHC) for coastal fisheries from California to Alaska.

This year’s quota for recreational halibut fisheries in Washington state is 214,110 pounds.

As in years past, the growing popularity of recreational halibut fishing will require adjustments in this year’s season, said Heather Reed, WDFW coastal policy coordinator.

One result, according to Reed, is that the halibut catch in Puget Sound has exceeded the area harvest quota for the past four years.

In response, this year’s halibut season in Marine Areas 6-10 in central Puget Sound will be reduced to eight days from 11 days last year.

That fishery will run concurrently with the one in Marine Area 5 (Sekiu), where the season has been limited to eight days since 2013, Reed said.

The other major change this year is in Marine Areas 3 and 4 (La Push and Neah Bay), which will open May 7, May 12 and May 14, then close for a catch assessment.

“Last year, we scheduled four days of fishing before the catch assessment, but we had to cancel the fourth day on short notice, because the quota was taken sooner than ever before,” Reed said. “This year’s season is designed to avoid that situation.”

This year’s fishery in Marine Areas 3 and 4 will reopen in late May if sufficient capacity remains under the quota.

In Marine Area 1 off the mouth of the Columbia River, anglers also reached last year’s quota earlier than expected, although not until early June. That fishery is scheduled to run four days a week this year from May 1 until the quota is taken, or Sept. 30, whichever occurs first.

Anglers fishing the nearshore area of that fishery will again be allowed to retain bottomfish such as flounder and sole as well as halibut on days when the rest of the area is closed to halibut fishing.

In all marine areas open to halibut fishing, there is a one-fish daily catch limit and no minimum size restriction. Anglers may possess a maximum of two fish in any form and must record their catch on a WDFW catch record card.

Anglers should check the WDFW website for complete information on recreational halibut regulations and seasons at http://wdfw.wa.gov/fishing/creel/halibut/

2016 Puget Sound Halibut Seasons

Marine Area 5-10: May 7, 12, 13, 14, and May 26-29. The quota is 57,393 pounds for the season.

Marine Areas 11, 12, 13: These areas will remain closed to halibut fishing to protect threatened and endangered rockfish species.

2016 Pacific Coast Halibut Seasons

Marine Area 1 (Columbia River): The fishery opens May 1 and runs four days per week (Thursday-Sunday) until the subarea quota is taken, or Sept. 30, whichever occurs first. The nearshore area opens to fishing May 2 on a Monday-through-Wednesday schedule, which are the days the all-depth halibut fishery is closed. Coordinates for the nearshore fishery are available online at http://wdfw.wa.gov/fishing/creel/halibut/   The all-depth quota is 10,509 pounds; the nearshore quota is 500 pounds.

Marine Area 2 (Westport): The fishery opens May 1 and runs two days per week (Sundays and Tuesdays) for three consecutive weeks, unless the quota is reached sooner. The primary fishery is closed May 22 and 24, but could reopen May 29 or 31 if sufficient quota remains. The northern nearshore area will open May 1 and continue seven days per week until Sept. 30, or until the nearshore quota is reached. The quota for the primary fishery is 40,739 pounds; the quota for the northern nearshore fishery is 2,000 pounds.

Marine Areas 3 and 4 (La Push and Neah Bay): The fishery in both areas will open May 7 (Saturday), May 12 (Thursday) and May 14 (Saturday), as long as there is sufficient quota. Both areas will be closed May 19 and 21. If there is available quota, the fishery will re-open May 26 and/or 28. Additional days could be added (Thursdays and Saturdays), depending on the amount of quota available. The combined quota for both areas is 108,030 pounds.

Fishing regulations include depth restrictions and area closures designed to reduce encounters with yelloweye and canary rockfish, which must be released under state and federal law. Anglers are encouraged to use a descending device to release any rockfish they don’t intend to retain.

Information about descending devices can be found on WDFW’s webpage at http://wdfw.wa.gov/fishing/bottomfish/rockfish/mortality.html


source: Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife

Maryland State Record Winter Flounder

Winter Flounder

The Maryland state record for winter flounder was broken in June with the catch of a five-pound, two-ounce fish.

Twilley set the mark while bottom fishing in 140 feet of water, 26 miles east of Ocean City aboard the charter boat Fish Bound with Captain Kane Bounds.

Captain Bounds called a friend onshore to check the record, which was a four-pound, seven-ounce fish caught by Jeremy Kuhn in 2006.

Back at Bahia Marina, they weighed the fish on a certified scale and called DNR’s coastal fisheries biologist Steve Doctor to confirm the species and the weight.

Marylanders most often catch summer flounder, which have both eyes on the left side. Winter flounder are more prevalent in the Northeast and feature eyes on the right side.

A complete list of Maryland state record fish can be found on the DNR Fisheries website.

source: Maryland Department of Natural Resources

2014 Alaska Pacific Halibut Regulations

New Pacific halibut regulations are in effect in Alaska as a result of actions by the International Pacific Halibut Commission (IPHC). The Alaska Pacific halibut commercial fishery season will run from March 8 through November 7, 2014.

At its annual meeting in January, the IPHC recommended to the governments of Canada and the United States catch limits for 2014 totaling 27,515,000 pounds. The IPHC adopted area-specific catch limits for 2014 that were lower than 2013 in all of its management areas except Area 2C (Southeast Alaska).

In 2014, advised by the Catch Sharing Plan recommended by the North Pacific Fishery Management Council, the IPHC set combined charter and commercial catch limits for Areas 2C and 3A (Southcentral Alaska).

Voluntary annual transfers of commercial halibut individual fishing quota to charter halibut permit holders in Areas 2C and 3A will be available as “guided angler fish” for additional harvest opportunities in the charter fishery.

The charter fishery will fish under revised regulations which include:

Area 2C (Southeast Alaska)

The charter fishery will be subject to a one-fish daily bag limit with a “reverse slot limit.” Charter anglers may only keep a halibut that is less than 44 inches or greater than 76 inches in length.

If halibut are filleted at sea, the carcass must be retained onboard until landing.

Area 3A (Southcentral Alaska):

Charter fishery two-fish daily bag limit: one any size / one less than or equal to 29 inches total length

Trip limit for charter vessels: vessels are limited to one charter halibut fishing trip in which halibut are retained per calendar day (if no halibut retained, vessel may take an additional trip to catch and retain halibut that day). Applies to vessels only, not charter halibut permits.

If halibut are filleted at sea, the carcass of the halibut that is less than or equal to 29 inches must be retained onboard until landing.
Halibut operators must also observe other new regulations implemented this year under the CSP.

Unguided halibut fishers in Alaska will observe a daily bag limit of 2 fish any size per person per day.

For more information, visit NOAA Fisheries Alaska Regional website: http://alaskafisheries.noaa.gov/

source: NOAA Fisheries

Best Baits For Flounder Fishing

Choosing the correct bait for flounder fishing can make or break a trip. The best baits for catching summer flounder (fluke) vary by location, season, and other factors.

In the Mid Atlantic states, top flounder baits typically include live minnows, frozen squid, frozen silversides, strip baits, saltwater baitfish, shrimp, soft-shelled crabs, peeler crabs, and other baits.

Most coastal tackle shops offer a variety of  live and frozen baits for catching flounder. Live minnows such as mummichogs, killifish, and sheepshead minnows are among the most popular baits in many locations.


Most tackle shops and suppliers also stock frozen baits, including squid, silversides, finger mullet, and spearing. Many of these baits have a specific season or area where they are most effective.

In some areas, specialized baits are used to catch flounder. This is especially true in locations where trophy-class flounder are known to congregate.

In some areas, tackle shops or marinas offer larger live baits such as spot, pinfish, or other small fish species. Fish suitable for use as live bait can also be caught with cast nets or sabiki rigs.

Large strip baits are another popular bait for catching trophy sized flounder. Strip baits are usually cut from croakers, spot, bluefish, or other fresh caught fish.

Although less common, anglers sometimes make bait strips from shark belly, mahi mahi, false albacore, mackerel, or other light-colored fish parts.

When targeting large flounder, size, texture and color matters when it comes to cutting strip baits. Fish species such as croaker work exceptionally well as because of their large size, silvery color and firm meat.

For species with softer flesh, such as bluefish, strip baits can be prepared in advance and toughened with a liberal coating of kosher salt. Ideal strip baits should be shaped like a trolling spoon and trimmed to a uniform thickness.

In southern areas, shrimp is popular for catching flounder. Shrimp has long been a popular flounder bait in North Carolina, where native shrimp are abundant.

Live shrimp are usually fished under a popping cork. Dead shrimp baits can be fished on traditional 2 hook flounder rigs, Carolina rigs, or threaded onto jig heads.

In recent years, the use of shrimp as a flounder bait has increased as anglers are finding shrimp in the stomachs of flounder as far north as Maryland.