The Fishing Report
Fishing seasons & conditions by region
Flounder Paralichthys lethostigma
Flounder Size, Range & Diet
| Typical size | 12–20 in, 1–3 lb |
|---|---|
| Maximum | up to 33 in and 20 lb |
| Lifespan | up to 8 years |
| Range | Atlantic coast from Virginia south through Florida and west along the Gulf of Mexico to Texas. |
| Habitat | Sand and mud bottom in estuaries, tidal creeks and inlets, lying against dock pilings, oyster edges and channel drop-offs. |
| Diet | Ambushes shrimp, small crabs and baitfish such as mullet and mud minnows off the bottom. |
Sizes are typical rod-and-reel and documented maximum figures, not size limits — see the regulations links below for the rules where you fish.
How to Identify a Flounder
- Flat, oval body lying on one side
- Both eyes on the same (upper) side of the head
- Brown mottled upper side with scattered ocellated spots, white blind underside
- Large mouth with sharp teeth
- Continuous dorsal and anal fins fringing the body margin
Tell it apart: A flat fish with both eyes on the same side, lying on its blind white underside, is unmistakably a flounder; no other regional gamefish is laterally compressed onto one side.
How to Catch Flounder
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- Drag a jighead with a mud minnow or Gulp! along sandy edges and inlets — the fall run (Oct–Nov) as they stage to leave is the window.GearSoft-plastic jigheadsGulp! soft baitsFlounder rigs
- Best in the fall run as fish stage near passes leaving the bays; drag soft plastics or finger mullet slowly along sandy bottom.GearCurl-tail soft plastics1/4 oz jigheadsCarolina rigs
When & Where Flounder Are in Season
Peak Good Fair Slow
| Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May | Jun | Jul | Aug | Sep | Oct | Nov | Dec | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Southeast Atlantic Inshore | ||||||||||||
| Gulf of Mexico Inshore |
Flounder Regulations
GeorgiaGeorgia Department of Natural Resources, Coastal Resources DivisionSouth CarolinaSouth Carolina Department of Natural Resources, Marine Resources DivisionNorth CarolinaNorth Carolina Department of Environmental Quality (NC DEQ), Division of Marine FisheriesSouth Atlantic Fishery Management CouncilSAFMCAtlantic States Marine Fisheries CommissionASMFCFloridaFlorida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission (FWC)AlabamaAlabama Department of Conservation and Natural Resources, Marine Resources Division (Outdoor Alabama)MississippiMississippi Department of Marine Resources (DMR)LouisianaLouisiana Department of Wildlife and Fisheries (LDWF)TexasTexas Parks & Wildlife Department (TPWD)Gulf of Mexico Fishery Management Council (Gulf Council)GMFMC
Always check local regulations — seasons, size, and bag limits vary by state and species, and change year to year. When in doubt, release.