Winter Flounder regulations
Massachusetts · Curated reference from cited public sources · listings, not permission to fish or retain a catch · This selected Massachusetts saltwater reference subset is not a complete rulebook.
SPECIES LINKS
FIELD GUIDE
Pseudopleuronectes americanus
speciesBASICThe black back, a right-eyed flatfish native from Labrador to Georgia, less common south of Delaware Bay. The most common near-shore flounder from Newfoundland through Massachusetts Bay.
HABITAT
Near-shore western north Atlantic from Labrador to Georgia.
SIZE
up to ~61 cm and 2.25 kg; larger on Georges Bank
TEXT CONDENSED FROM WIKIPEDIA, AVAILABLE UNDER CC BY-SA 4.0
Winter Flounder identification is educational; species identification does not establish legal applicability for Massachusetts.
- LAST LISTED/REFERENCE LIMITS
- 8 fish. · minimum 12 inches
- APPLICABILITY
- Gulf of Maine only (north of Cape Cod).
- SOURCE AUTHORITY
- Massachusetts DMF recreational finfish table and groundfish notes; 322 CMR is the official code.
UPDATED April 28, 2026 · CHECKED Aug 10, 2026, 12:00 PM UTC · EFFECTIVE YEAR 2026
Massachusetts DMF source table ↗The DMF page is an unofficial summary; 322 CMR is the official code.
LAUNCH SITES
Curated launch sites in Massachusetts (5)
Gulf of Maine · MARINA
Gulf of Maine · DOCK
Gulf of Maine · MARINA
Gulf of Maine · MARINA
Gulf of Maine · MARINA
This reference does not grant permission to fish or retain a catch. Location, method, vessel, species identification, and emergency closures can change what applies. Verify the applicable official rules.