The recreational flounder fishing season, like last year, is only two weeks long, and the number of fish anglers can catch remains small.
With biologists still concerned about the status of the fishery, despite what some fishermen say they see out on the water, the 2026 season will be severely curtailed compared to what it was even just a few years ago.
But for fans of North Carolina's most popular saltwater sport fish, the upcoming recreational flounder season is always something to look forward to every year − when there is one. The 2024 season was completely canceled by state regulators worried about overfishing pressures, a move that prompted massive negative feedback from fishermen and coastal officials.
Recreational season details
The upcoming season will mirror the
rules and regulations of the 2025 season.
“North Carolina's decision to open the 2026 recreational season to match last year’s season stems from a review of recreational data from 2025 and deliberate management actions aimed at balancing sustainability with angler access.” said Kathy Rawls with the N.C. Division of Marine Fisheries in a news release announcing the 2026 season. “Whenever we can, we aim to provide some consistency in the recreational flounder seasons from year to year.”
- Season: Runs from 12:01 a.m. Sept. 1 to 11:59 p.m. Sept. 14.
- Amount: Anglers are allowed to catch one fish per day.
- Size: Flounder must be at least 15 inches in length, from snout to tip of the tail.
- Equipment: Flounder can only be caught with hook-and-line gear or via gig.
- Reporting: As with other popular N.C. sport fish, all catches must be reported to marine fisheries. Reporting methods include an online form and an iPhone App.
Aligning the rules
While the vast majority of flounder are caught in salt waters managed by marine fisheries, some flounder also are caught in brackish, upstream waters managed by the N.C. Wildlife Resources Commission. To help minimize any confusion among anglers, the two agencies will run their recreational flounder seasons over the same two weeks and with the same rules.
Reporter Gareth McGrath can be reached at GMcGrath@usatodayco.com or @GarethMcGrathSN on X/Twitter. This story was produced with financial support from Journalism Funding Partners. The USA TODAY Network maintains full editorial control of the work.
This article originally appeared on Wilmington StarNews: NC recreational flounder season returns Sept. 1 under tight limits
