The North Carolina Department of Environmental Quality’s Division of Marine Fisheries has announced changes to the upcoming commercial flounder season. Pound net trip limits have been removed for all management areas at the start of the season. The division noted that, “Trip limits for one or more management areas may be implemented during the season to minimize the risk of exceeding the respective allowable landings (quota).”
The allowable landings for commercial quotas are divided by Flounder Management Area and Gear Categories, with opening dates varying depending on category.
For pound net management areas, harvests will begin as follows:
– Northern area (waters north of Pamlico Sound): Monday, September 15
– Central area (Pamlico Sound and its tributaries): Wednesday, October 1
– Southern area (waters from Core Sound to the South Carolina line): Wednesday, October 1
Mobile gears—defined as all gear types other than pound nets—are split into two management areas: Northern and Southern. The northern mobile gear area includes waters south of the North Carolina/Virginia border down to a specific line in Core Sound, while the southern area covers waters from that line south to the South Carolina border.
Harvesting flounder with gill nets in both mobile gear areas will be allowed one day per week starting Wednesday, October 1. Nets can be set no earlier than one hour before sunset on Tuesday, September 30. Subsequent weekly openings will occur each Wednesday if quota remains available.
All other mobile gears for harvesting flounder in both northern and southern management areas may operate seven days per week beginning Wednesday, October 1.
A minimum size limit for flounder is set at 15 inches total length. Each area’s open harvest period will close when allowable landings are approached to keep within sub-allocation limits. Closures will be announced by proclamation as needed during the season.
According to the division, “These management measures comply with requirements of Amendment 4 to the N.C. Southern Flounder Fishery Management Plan and maintain harvest within the total allowable landings.”
Further details are available in Proclamation FF-29-2025.
