Fishing enthusiasts, mark your calendars. The N.C. Wildlife Resources Commission has officially set the dates for the 2025 recreational flounder season. From Sept. 1 to Sept. 14, anglers can take to the Inland Fishing Waters and Joint Fishing Waters armed with hook and line to seek out the Southern flounder. This year, there's a cap at one fish per angler per day, with a strict minimum size of 15 inches. NCWRC has confirmed these measures align with the existing conservation strategies laid out in the Southern Flounder Fishery Management Plan Amendment 3 and the proposed Amendment 4.
Expect to share the waters, as the N.C. Division of Marine Fisheries is also opening its season for recreational fishing during the same two-week period. NCWRC Inland Fisheries Chief Corey Oakley has publicly emphasized the importance of these regulations. "Wildlife Commission fisheries biologists examined recent N.C. Division of Marine Fisheries’ Flounder Harvest reporting and accounted for the potential 50/50 reallocation. They determined that the NCWRC’s current season, creel limit and size limit for Southern flounder would be in accordance with the management plan and allow for a limited harvest of flounder while protecting the fishery from further overfishing," he stated in a release obtained by NCWRC. His team's diligence ensures anglers can enjoy their catch without tipping the scales toward overfishing.
These conservation efforts come in the midst of a broader dialogue about resource management and fish population sustainability. In the proposed Amendment 4, a slight shift is put forward to evenly distribute flounder harvest between commercial and recreational sectors. The Wildlife Commission's latest announcement suggests a conscious stride towards realizing a 50/50 split in the reallocation of flounder resources for 2025.
For those looking to participate in this year's flounder season, it's crucial to remember the N.C. Division of Marine Fisheries will be enforcing the same dates, size restrictions, and catch limits across different jurisdictions.
