2020 Recreational Flounder Season

Article by: Mark Mayo

The 2020 recreational flounder season opens at 12:01 a.m. Sunday, Aug. 16, in North Carolina internal and ocean waters. The season will close at midnight Sept. 30.

The minimum size limit will remain at 15 inches total length and the creel limit will remain at four fish per person per day during the open recreational season. There is no vessel limit. Recreational flounder gigging is allowed.

All species of flounder are managed under the same recreational regulations.

Recreational fishermen using gill nets with a Recreational Commercial Gear License may set nets only when both the commercial and recreational seasons are open (Sept. 15 to Sept. 30 in the Northern Management Area, which includes Albemarle, Roanoke, and Croatan sounds and their tributaries). Recreational size and creel limits apply.

Additionally, anglers are encouraged to donate the carcasses of any flounder meeting the legal minimum size limit to the division’s Carcass Collection Program. Division biologists will measure the fish, determine the sex, if possible, and remove the otoliths (ear bones) to determine the age of the fish. The information collected will be used in future stock assessments.

For more information please visit this website.

Mark Mayo

I research and report on fishing, fishing gear/equipment, survival topics, and marketing for outdoors related businesses. I assist here on CB Fishing as the editor. Articles may contain AI researched content. All content is published for education and entertainment purposes only, NOT LIFE, HEALTH, SURVIVAL, FINANCIAL, BUSINESS, LEGAL OR ANY OTHER ADVICE. Learn more about Mark Mayo