A recreational spring season for ocellated flounder will not occur in…
A recreational spring season for ocellated (Gulf and summer) flounder will not occur in 2023, as preliminary data from the 2022 recreational flounder season (Sept. 1-30, 2022) indicates that removals of southern flounder exceeded the Total Allowable Catch (TAC) by 25,000 pounds. The 2023 recreational quota and season must be adjusted based on the previous year’s data. The current recreational TAC is based on the most recent stock assessment that indicated southern flounder is overfished with overfishing occurring.
In North Carolina, the recreational flounder fishery is managed as left-eyed flounder, consisting of three main flounder species: southern, summer, and Gulf. Southern flounder are the only species of the three left-eyed flounder without ocellated spots. Ocellated spots are eye-like dark marks enclosed by a band of another, lighter color.
For more information on how to identify the three main flounder species that occur in North Carolina, see the Flounder Identification Guide.
