Summer flounder across North Carolina
Creel rules, records and waters for summer flounder.
- 1 a daydaily creel
Photo of Archdale: Jerrye & Roy Klotz, MD, CC BY-SA 3.0
About North Carolina summer flounder
Summer flounder (Paralichthys dentatus) is listed among the state’s saltwater species. Anglers may keep 1 a day under NCWRC (inland and joint fishing waters (ncwrc, hook and line)); size 15 in minimum.
NCDMF citation: No award given for these species.
NCDMF notes on summer flounder
“A flat, disc-shaped fish that is white on the right side and brown, gray or olive on the left side. The colored side has three distinct ocellated dark brown spots near the tail that form a triangle pointing to the head. There are usually other spots on the side nearer to the head.”
- SizeSummer flounder grow to 32 inches, but catches typically range from 10 to 16 inches.
- HabitatSummer flounder are found from Massachusetts to Florida, but are most abundant from Delaware to Cape Lookout, N.C. They inhabit high-salinity coastal and estuarine waters in the spring and summer but move offshore in the winter. They often camouflage themselves under a thin layer of sand.
- DietSummer flounder are active predators that swim vigorously to chase their prey. They feed on shrimp, crabs and other fish.
- Fishing tipsAnglers catch summer flounder with standard bottom rigs or specialized flounder rigs using cut bait, shrimp or live minnows. Anglers have also had luck with small bucktail lures and jigs. Summer flounder can be caught by surf fishing, drifting in inlets, trolling or fishing from piers. New ocean flo
- Also calledfluke, flounder
- Confused withSouthern flounder, gulf flounder.
Quoted from the NCDMF species profile, checked October 2026.
The summer flounder creel
| Agency | Where | Daily creel | Size | Season |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| NCWRC | Inland and joint fishing waters (NCWRC, hook and line) | 1 a day | 15 in minimum | Sept. 1-14 (2026) |
| NCDMF | Internal coastal and joint fishing waters and Atlantic Ocean | 1 a day | 15 in minimum | Sept. 1-14, 2026 |
NCWRC 2026-27 digest and NCDMF proclamations. All North Carolina limits.
Fish that pair with summer flounder
- Red drumsalt
- Spotted seatroutsalt
- Southern floundersalt
- Gulf floundersalt
- Weakfishsalt
- Black drumsalt
- Sheepsheadsalt
- Atlantic croakersalt
- Spotsalt
- Kingfishessalt
- Bluefishsalt
- Cobiasalt
- King mackerelsalt
- Spanish mackerelsalt
Before you target summer flounder
What is the creel limit on summer flounder?
1 a day (Inland and joint fishing waters (NCWRC, hook and line)), size 15 in minimum.
What is the biggest summer flounder caught in North Carolina?
Neither record book carries it.
Which lakes hold summer flounder?
Summer flounder are found from Massachusetts to Florida, but are most abundant from Delaware to Cape Lookout, N.C. They inhabit high-salinity coastal and estuarine waters in the spring and summer but move offshore in the winter. They often
Are summer flounder on the stocking list?
It is not on the 2026 warmwater list.
What is summer flounder confused with?
Summer flounder grow to 32 inches, but catches typically range from 10 to 16 inches.
When does the summer flounder season run?
Sept. 1-14 (2026)
Which North Carolina license do I need for summer flounder?
Coastal waters take a Coastal Recreational Fishing License from age 16 ($20 resident, $40 nonresident).
Can I hire a trip that targets summer flounder?
Every operator appears on the guides page.
Map out a summer flounder trip
Each listed water has its own page.