The North Carolina Department of Environmental Quality’s Division of Marine Fisheries has announced the opening dates for the 2025 commercial flounder season in Internal Coastal and Joint Fishing Waters.
According to the division, landings will be divided by Flounder Management Area and Gear categories as described in Amendment 4 to the Southern Flounder Fishery Management Plan (FMP). Season opening dates will differ depending on these categories. The harvest period for each area and gear type will close when allowable landings are reached, with closures to be announced by proclamation if needed during the season.
For pound net management areas, all regions will open for flounder harvest with initial trip limits. These limits may be reduced later in the season based on remaining quota.
The Northern Pound Net Management Area, covering waters north of Pamlico Sound, opens Monday, September 15 with a 500-pound trip limit. The Central area, which includes Pamlico Sound and its tributaries, opens Wednesday, October 1 with a 1,000-pound trip limit. The Southern area from Core Sound to the South Carolina line also opens October 1 with a 500-pound trip limit.
Mobile gears—defined as all gear types other than pound nets—are split into two management areas: Northern (from south of the North Carolina/Virginia border to a line in Core Sound) and Southern (from that line south to the South Carolina border). Large-mesh gill nets (with mesh greater than or equal to four inches stretched) in both areas may be used one day per week starting Wednesday, October 1. Nets can be set no earlier than one hour before sunset on Tuesday, September 30 and every subsequent Tuesday evening while quota remains available.
All other mobile gears for harvesting flounder in both management areas will be permitted seven days per week beginning October 1 until closure is announced by proclamation.
The minimum size limit for southern flounder is set at 15 inches total length.
“These management measures comply with requirements of Amendment 4 to the N.C. Southern Flounder Fishery Management Plan and maintain harvest within the total allowable landings,” according to the department’s statement.
Further details are expected in an upcoming proclamation from the Division of Marine Fisheries.
