Spring Gulf Flounder Season Frequently Asked Questions
Two weeks from March 9-22, 2026
From the North end of Portsmouth Island to the South Carolina Border in ocean waters only. See MAP for more detailed information.
The spring Gulf Flounder season will only open in the central and southern ocean waters of the state to decrease the probability of catching Summer and Southern flounder. The sounds and coastal rivers are closed to decrease the probability of catching Southern Flounder and because Gulf Flounder are not commonly found in estuarine waters in March. North Carolina waters represent the northern extent of the Gulf Flounder distribution range. Gulf Flounder population density increases as you move southward in the state. In North Carolina, Summer Flounder are most abundant north of Cape Hatteras.
The spring Gulf Flounder season will be limited to hook-and-line only.
Minimum 15 inches total length and one fish per person per day
No, you may only keep Gulf Flounder. Harvest of Summer and Southern flounder is prohibited outside of the fall open season due to regulations designed to prevent overfishing of both stocks and rebuild the Southern Flounder stock.
The division has a helpful identification guide here. It is best to acquaint yourself with proper identification before you go fishing to minimize handling time after the catch.
If you cannot confidently identify the fish as a Gulf Flounder, then you should release it. The responsibility for species identification is on the angler. Any misidentified harvested flounder could result in a ticket.
Incidental harvest of Southern Flounder during spring 2026 will count towards the annual quota and may affect future season openings. Correct identification will be key in minimizing any effects on a future Southern Flounder season.
The latest stock assessment indicates that Southern Flounder is overfished and overfishing is occurring. Overfished means the population is too small. Overfishing means the removal rate is too high. For this reason, the state has placed strict regulations on Southern Flounder catch.
Amendment 4 to the Southern Flounder Fishery Management Plan does include a provision allowing for a spring recreational Gulf and Summer flounder season for hook-and-line fishing in the ocean. However, North Carolina cannot open a spring season for Summer Flounder, which is jointly managed by the Mid-Atlantic Fishery Management Council and the Atlantic States Marine Fisheries Commission. Summer flounder range in distribution from Massachusetts to Florida, but are most abundant from southern New England to Hatteras Island, N.C.
Yes. State law requires anglers to report their harvest of all species of flounder, as well as Striped Bass, Spotted Seatrout, Weakfish (gray trout), and Red Drum to the Division. Learn more about this harvest reporting requirement. This reporting requirement does not place the Marine Recreational Information Program (MRIP). MRIP is still the best available scientific method of collecting recreational fishing information in a representative manner, and anglers are strongly encouraged to participate in the interviews.
The fall season will be announced later in the year. The 2025 catch data are provided by MRIP and are not finalized until late spring or early summer.
No. Transiting closed areas without fishing is allowed, but fishing in closed areas when you possess Gulf flounder harvested from the open areas of the ocean is not allowed.
Please contact our flounder species leads Anne Markwith or Charleton Godwin. Their contact information is listed in the species lead section here.