What to look for

  • Both eyes on the left side of the head when viewed from above (a 'left-eyed' flatfish)
  • Brown/gray/drab above with at least 5 dark spots arranged in an X pattern, white below; can change color to match the bottom
Seasonal starting point

Late spring through fall, best during the fall migration toward the ocean.

Regional field notes. Timing varies with the year and water; this is not a current bite report or a legal harvest season.

Where it belongs

Sandy or muddy bottom in coastal water and estuaries; movement offshore and inshore changes through the year.

How to start

Keep a jig or appropriate bait presentation near the bottom, using short lifts and controlled descents. If current carries it too quickly to track, adjust the presentation or move.

Handle with care

Support the fish while unhooking. Check the specific state and waterbody rules; this guide does not establish an open harvest season.

Check before you go

NOAA Fisheries · summer flounderVMRC · current recreational saltwater rulesNC Marine Fisheries · current size, bag and season rulesVMRC · handling and releasing fish

Source review: September 11, 2026. Access and regulations can change. These are field notes, not a live conditions feed.