Southern Flounder in Louisiana
Louisiana rules and water for southern flounder.
- 10 a daylimit
- 13.06 lbrecord
Pick for flounderPiscifun Alloy S inshore spinning reelCheck price at PiscifunPhoto of the species, not a Louisiana water: Mick Johnson, CC BY 3.0
southern flounder in the Pelican State
Look for southern flounder on the saltwater page of the pamphlet, under “Southern flounder”. Statewide the line sets 10 daily per person and a season of open year-round except no possession allowed from oct. 15 – nov. 30.
Gary Hargis holds the rod and reel mark at 13.06 lb, landed on W. of South Pass in 1998.
For the flounder herePiscifun NautiX saltwater spinning reel14% OFFSale $94.99 How many southern flounder a Louisiana angler may keep
| Pamphlet row | Waters | Daily limit and size | Season |
|---|---|---|---|
| Southern flounder | Louisiana state waters | 10 daily per person | Open year-round except no possession allowed from Oct. 15 – Nov. 30 |
Possession: Same as daily bag limit unless otherwise noted (pamphlet p.28)
Limits and seasons as printed in the 2026 Louisiana Recreational Fishing Regulations (LDWF pamphlet, updated September 21, 2026), page 28 (pamphlet PDF); confirmed on the LDWF saltwater finfish page October 28, 2026.
The 2026 calendar for Louisiana southern flounder
| From | To | Notice |
|---|---|---|
| October 15, 2026 | November 30, 2026 | Closed to commercial and recreational harvest |
LDWF news releases (LDWF news release Oct. 7, 2026), read October 28, 2026.
Record southern flounder weights from Louisiana
| Division | Method | Weight | Angler | Water | Date |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| saltwater | Rod & Reel | 13.06 lb | Gary Hargis | W. of South Pass | June 1998 |
| saltwater | Fly Fishing | 7.21 lb | Dr. James J. LaNasa | not printed | Dec. 1994 |
The rest of the leading southern flounder
- 12.13 lb, Clarence Craig, Feb. 1969
- 11.50 lb, Jeff Patout, August 1981
- 11.15 lb, Karl L Credeur SrPointe Au Chein, Nov 2015
- 11.06 lb, Clarence Craig, Nov 1967
Louisiana Outdoor Writers Association (LOWA), LOWA "Louisiana State Fish Records Official Copy", records current through the record awarded September 25, 2026 (PDF created 2026-09-25); read October 28, 2026.
Bayou and lake country around Southern Flounder, photographed
Photo: Infrogmation, CC BY-SA 4.0
Photo: Cyril Fluck, CC BY 2.0
Photo: Billy Hathorn, CC BY-SA 3.0
Photo: William L. Farr, CC BY-SA 4.0
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What Pelican State anglers ask about southern flounder
What creel limit covers southern flounder in Louisiana?
Statewide: 10 daily per person; season open year-round except no possession allowed from oct. 15 – nov. 30.
Where did the record southern flounder in Louisiana come from?
It weighed 13.06 lb, from W. of South Pass in 1998; angler Gary Hargis (rod and reel).
Where do southern flounder live in Louisiana?
No lake, bayou or bay page carries it yet.
Does LDWF stock southern flounder?
LDWF hatchery records do not include it.
Is the southern flounder limit the same everywhere in Louisiana?
No water-body exception lists it.
Is the southern flounder season open now in Louisiana?
Its 2026 season reads Open year-round except no possession allowed from Oct. 15 – Nov. 30. See the 1 dated notice above.
What should a visitor buy to fish for southern flounder?
South of the LDWF saltwater line an angler 18 or older carries a Basic Fishing License plus a Saltwater License: $17 and $15 for residents, $68 and $60 for nonresidents.
Who keeps the Louisiana record for southern flounder?
Claims go to LOWA, with a biologist checking the identification.
Chase southern flounder across the Pelican State
Every water listed has its own Louisiana page.