Summer 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
Paralichthys dentatus
speciesREVIEWEDThe fluke, a marine flatfish of the East Coast of the United States and Canada, especially abundant from North Carolina to Massachusetts.
HABITAT
Coastal and shelf waters off the northeast US and eastern Canada.
SIZE
typically 15–20 in and 1–3 lb
IDENTIFY
Summer flounder are left-eyed flatfish: both eyes are on the left side when viewed from above with the dorsal fin up. Dark spots include a distinctive group of at least five arranged in an X pattern.
LOOK-ALIKES
Confirm the left-eyed orientation and the group of at least five dark spots in an X pattern rather than color alone, and compare with the official species profile.
WHERE
Adults spend much of their time on or near sandy seafloor, with juveniles using marsh creeks, seagrass, mud flats, and open bays. Adults move between offshore and inshore habitat with water temperature.
WHEN
Summer flounder generally move inshore in late spring and early summer and offshore in fall; spawning occurs offshore in fall and early winter. This is a migration pattern, not a best-time promise.
TECHNIQUE
The species is demersal, so a presentation worked near the bottom is a reasonable technique category. Adjust for current and depth, and use the official rule for any gear or retention limits.
HANDLE
NOAA recommends quick, wet-handed handling, avoiding the eyes and gills, dehooking in the water when possible, and supporting a fish along its body if lifted.
CONSERVATION
NOAA's profile reports the stock as not overfished and not subject to overfishing in the referenced assessment, while noting that some bottom gear can affect habitat. Status and habitat impact are source-dated context.
RULES
Read the current state or federal rule for the exact water boundary, method, vessel, season, and size or possession measure. The field guide is not the official rule listing.
SOURCE
FACT-CHECKED 2026-09-03 · REVIEWER fact-check-lane
TEXT CONDENSED FROM WIKIPEDIA, AVAILABLE UNDER CC BY-SA 4.0
Summer Flounder identification is educational; species identification does not establish legal applicability for Massachusetts.
- LAST LISTED/REFERENCE LIMITS
- 5 fish. · minimum 17.5 inches
- LISTED SEASON WINDOWS
- May 24, 2026 through Sep 23, 2026 · 5 fish listed
- APPLICABILITY
- Vessel-based recreational fishing; shore-based rules use a different minimum size.
- SOURCE AUTHORITY
- Massachusetts DMF recreational finfish table; 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.