Flounder are a prized catch along North Carolina’s coast and a vital part of the state’s fisheries. Our coast is home to three distinct species, each with unique traits, ranges, and spawning habits. Understanding the differences among these species is key to shaping smarter, more effective conservation and management strategies—so let’s break them down.
Southern Flounder
The most common type found in North Carolina, Southern Flounder are typically found in shallow estuaries, bays, and even some freshwater areas. Unlike other flounder, they don’t have eye-like spots, just faint, irregular blotches that help them blend into sandy or muddy bottoms.
They’re a favorite catch for both commercial and recreational fishers, valued for their mild flavor and firm, white meat. On average, adult males reach about 15 inches in length and weigh around 1.5 pounds, while females grow larger, often exceeding 20 inches and weighing 3 to 5 pounds.
Summer Flounder
Often called fluke, Summer Flounder are typically found in ocean waters near inlets, sandy bottoms, and along the nearshore coastline. They’re easy to identify thanks to the 5 to 14 eye-like black spots scattered across their body, which help distinguish them from other flounder species.
They are more common along North Carolina’s northern coast and are especially popular among offshore and surf anglers. Males typically reach 15 to 18 inches and weigh 1 to 2 pounds, while females can grow significantly larger—up to 26 inches and over 6 pounds.
Gulf Flounder
Less common in North Carolina waters, Gulf Flounder are easy to recognize by the three distinct ocellated spots on their back, arranged in a triangle pattern. These spots set them apart from the blotchier Southern Flounder and the many-spotted Summer Flounder.
They prefer warmer waters and are most often found around offshore reefs, rocky bottoms, and shipwrecks, making them a more likely catch for anglers fishing near structure farther from shore. They are also the smallest of the three flounder species found in North Carolina. Males and females alike typically range from 12 to 16 inches in length and weigh less than 2 pounds.
Spawning Cycle
All three flounder species spawn offshore in the fall and winter. Their larvae and juveniles drift into protected, resource-rich estuaries, like the Albemarle and Pamlico Sound where they grow for up to two years before returning to the ocean to continue the reproductive cycle. While summer flounder range between estuaries, inlets, and nearshore ocean waters, southern and gulf flounder tend to remain in shallow estuarine areas with hard sand bottoms and lower salinity.
Extent of Range
Each of North Carolina’s three flounder species has a distinct range along the Atlantic and beyond. Fully-grown Southern Flounder may migrate from North Carolina waters as far north as Virginia and as far south as southeast Florida. Summer Flounder have a broader range, stretching from Massachusetts to Florida, though they are most concentrated between Delaware and Cape Lookout, North Carolina. Gulf Flounder tend to head in the opposite direction, favoring warmer waters as they move south toward the Caribbean Sea and Gulf of Mexico, where they are more commonly found. Understanding where each species travels helps researchers track spawning, migration, and habitat use across seasons.
Economic Importance
Flounder are a highly valued species that support both recreational and commercial fisheries along the U.S. East Coast. Despite strict regulations, eastern North Carolina continues to benefit economically from the fishery. In 2023, the state’s commercial fleet harvested 374,079 pounds of Southern Flounder valued at $832,334, and 2,096,508 pounds of Summer Flounder worth $3,462,012.
Beyond direct landings, flounder also drive local recreation and tourism through tackle sales, food and beverage purchases, hotel stays, pier and charter fishing, and other expenditures. While recreational harvests aren’t assigned a dollar value, anglers kept an estimated 192,168 pounds of Southern Flounder and 34,192 pounds of Summer Flounder in 2023. During the same year, anglers targeted flounder on 100,000 trips—just 0.6% of the state’s 16 million total recreational fishing trips.
The Future of Flounder In North Carolina
Stronger flounder populations could lead to longer seasons and greater economic benefits for eastern North Carolina. Rebuilding North Carolina’s flounder fishery starts with meeting management targets for fishing mortality and spawning stock biomass, while constantly looking for ways to improve the data collection programs used in the assessment model. The framework for the 2025 flounder harvest season should be announced soon, following the recent decision by the Marine Fisheries Commission to allocate the annual harvest quota equally between commercial and recreational sectors.
Our foundation remains committed to increasing the economic value of this fishery as efforts work to balance conservation goals with the needs of both industries. Want to stay informed about how Southern Flounder are managed and how we can help improve their status? Explore our Southern Flounder FINDEX for the latest updates, insights, and science-backed progress.