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- Flounder fishing in North Carolina
Types of Flounder in North Carolina
Flounder fishing spots in North Carolina
Best baits and lures for Flounder in North Carolina
According to catch data from over 20 million anglers on Fishbrain, these are the best baits used to catch Flounder.
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Biggest Flounder catches
Latest Flounder fishing reports in North Carolina
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Regulations for Flounder in North Carolina
Disclaimer: Always check local fishing regulations, water access rights and land ownership before fishing, regardless of any catches logged in that area by the Fishbrain community. Fishbrain has mapped millions of acres of government-owned land across the USA to help you identify potential fishing access, but you are responsible for ensuring compliance with all legal requirements.
Fishing regulations in North Carolina can change throughout the year. Make sure to check this page before fishing for the most up to date rules and regulations for the current season. Local regulations govern when you can fish, the max size of the fish you can keep, how many fish you can keep, and more.
Below you will see fishing regulations for catching Summer flounder as of June 26th, 2026. To view regulations for a different fish species, please click on your preferred species in the drop-down.
Seasons
Bag limit
Min size
Measurement
Restrictions & requirements
Required licenses
Additional information
The N.C. Department of Environmental Quality's Division of Marine Fisheries today announced that the 2026 recreational flounder season will open in Coastal and Joint waters of the state Sept. 1 at 12:01 a.m. and close Sept. 14 at 11:59 p.m.
The two-week season will open with the following provisions for both the recreational hook-and-line and gig fisheries:
- A one-fish per person per day creel limit.
- A 15-inch total length minimum size limit (from the tip of the snout to the tip of the tail).
Harvest of flounder with a Recreational Commercial Gear License will be prohibited.
- Season: Opens Sept. 1 at 12:01 a.m. and closes Sept. 14 at 11:59 p.m.
- Bag Limit: One-fish per person per day.
- Minimum Size Limit: 15-inch total length (from the tip of the snout to the tip of the tail).
- Mandatory Harvest Reporting Requirement: All flounder that are kept must be reported to the Division of Marine Fisheries through an online form or iPhone App. Learn more.
- Gears: Hook and line and gig fisheries only. Harvest of flounder with a Recreational Commercial Gear License prohibited.
The season, size and bag limits comply with provisions of the N.C. Southern Flounder Fishery Management Plan Amendment 4. The N.C. Wildlife Resources Commission's flounder season will open Sept. 1-14 as well, so the season, size limit and daily bag limit will be consistent across jurisdictions.
For more specifics on the recreational flounder season in Coastal and Joint Fishing Waters, see Proclamation FF-27-2026.
The commercial flounder season for internal Coastal and Joint Fishing Waters (rivers, creeks and sounds) will be announced in the coming weeks through a separate news release and proclamation.
Edibility
Regulations for
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FAQ
🎣 What Flounder species can you catch in North Carolina?
These species can be found in many lakes, rivers and streams, coastal waters throughout the area. If you are targeting a specific species, you can use the to filter catches by species and see where anglers are catching them and which baits they are using.
📍 Where are the best places to catch Flounder in North Carolina?
The allows anglers to see exact catch locations shared by other members, helping you discover productive fishing spots where Flounder have recently been caught.