2023 Recreational Flounder Season Announced

2023 Recreational Flounder Season Announced

Article by: Mark Mayo

2023 Announcement

The N.C. Division of Marine Fisheries has announced the 2023 recreational flounder season will run from September 15th to 29th. The season’s regulations stipulate a one-fish per person per day limit and a 15-inch minimum size limit. Harvesting flounder with a Recreational Commercial Gear License will not be permitted.

The restrictions are implemented to keep the fishery within the approved recreational quota, which for 2023 is set at 114,315 pounds. This quota includes an adjustment for the 2022 season’s overage, where the Total Allowable Catch (TAC) was exceeded by 56,340 pounds.

The Division is discouraging catch-and-release practices after the one-fish limit is reached or when the season is closed, as well as high grading, due to the contribution of such practices to the total removals from the fishery and the overage in the TAC.

The regulations for the commercial southern flounder season will be announced separately.

What is a Southern Flounder (Paralichthys lethostigma)?

Southern Flounder

The Southern Flounder, scientific name Paralichthys lethostigma, is a species of flatfish native to the coastal waters of the western Atlantic Ocean and Gulf of Mexico. They are a popular species for commercial and recreational fishing due to their size and the quality of their meat.

Characteristics of the Southern Flounder include:

  1. Body Structure: Like all flatfish, Southern Flounders have a unique body structure where both eyes are located on the same side of their head, allowing them to lay flat on the ocean floor.
  2. Color: They are typically brownish-gray on their upper side with a white or lighter-colored underbelly, aiding in camouflage from both predators and prey.
  3. Size: They are one of the larger species of flounder, often reaching lengths of 15 to 20 inches, but some specimens have been known to reach up to 30 inches.
  4. Habitat: Southern Flounder inhabit a variety of environments, including brackish waters, estuaries, and near-shore coastal waters. They are bottom-dwellers and use their natural coloration to blend with sandy or muddy substrates.
  5. Diet: They are carnivorous, with a diet primarily composed of fish and invertebrates such as shrimp and crabs.

The Southern Flounder is subject to commercial fishing regulations to manage and preserve their populations due to concerns over overfishing.

2023 Recreational Flounder Season Announced

Frequently Asked Questions

The 2023 recreational flounder season is scheduled to open at 12:01 a.m. on September 15th and close at 11:59 p.m. on September 29th.
Anglers are limited to a one-fish per person per day creel limit and the fish must be a minimum of 15 inches in total length (from the tip of the snout to the tip of the tail).
No, the use of a Recreational Commercial Gear License for the harvesting of flounder is prohibited during the 2023 recreational flounder season.
The TAC for the recreational flounder season in 2023 is set at 114,315 pounds.
The TAC for 2023 has been reduced due to an overage in the 2022 season. The 2022 recreational TAC was exceeded by 56,340 pounds, and the overage was subtracted from the following year’s allowable harvest as per the management plan.
The Division discourages catch-and-release after the one-fish limit is reached or outside of the flounder season due to its contribution to the total removals from the fishery and the overage in the TAC. The practice of high grading (retaining a fish until a larger one is caught) is also discouraged, as it increases post-release mortality leading to additional dead discards.
The regulations for the commercial southern flounder seasons will be announced in a separate news release. Stay tuned for updates.
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