2026 regulation year
Summer flounder (fluke) Fishing Regulations by State (2026)
Paralichthys dentatus
Last updated
Summer flounder (fluke) is regulated separately by each state. This page compares the open-season window, daily bag limit, and size or slot rule for summer flounder across the 6 states fishregs covers deeply for 2026. Rules vary by state and often by individual water body, so confirm on the linked state page before fishing. New to bag, slot, and size limits? The glossary explains every term.
Summer flounder regulations comparison by state
| State | Open season | Daily bag | Size / slot |
|---|---|---|---|
| Connecticut | – · Long Island Sound + Connecticut River tidal section | 4 / day per angler (recreational, ASMFC harmonized) | 18 in min Long Island Sound (typical 2025-26 DEEP rule) — confirm current year |
| Delaware | – · DE ocean + bays – · DE ocean + bays | 4 / day per angler (recreational, DNREC 2026 ASMFC-allotted) | 16 in min Jan 1 – May 31; 17.5 in min Jun 1 – Dec 31 (DNREC 2026 seasonal minimum) |
| Maryland | – · Chesapeake Bay + Atlantic Ocean / Coastal Bays | 4 / day per angler (recreational, ASMFC harmonized — confirm current-year MD DNR notice) | 16.5 in min Chesapeake Bay; 17 in min Atlantic Ocean / Coastal Bays (typical 2025-26 — confirm current-year DNR notice) |
| Massachusetts | – · MA ocean + bays + sounds | 5 / day per angler (recreational, ASMFC harmonized) | 17.5 in min ocean + bays (typical 2025-26 DMF rule) — confirm current year |
| New Jersey | – · Atlantic coast + Raritan + Sandy Hook bays – · Delaware Bay (separate season + rules) | 3 / day per angler (ocean + bays); 3 / day Delaware Bay; 2 / day Island Beach State Park | 18 in min ocean + bays (typical); 17 in min Island Beach State Park / 16 in min Delaware Bay (typical) — confirm current-year NJDEP notice |
| Rhode Island | – · RI ocean + bays + sounds | 6 / day per angler (recreational, RI 2025-26 ASMFC-allotted) | 19 in min (typical 2025-26 RIDEM rule) — confirm current year |
Figures are statewide defaults for 2026. Specific lakes, rivers, and coastal zones can carry their own summer flounder rules — open any state row for the full season map, gear restrictions, and named water-body overrides.
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Frequently asked questions
- Is there a nationwide summer flounder season or bag limit?
- No. Each US state sets its own summer flounder rules. Across the 6 states covered here, every one defines a season window or harvest restriction, and daily bag and size limits differ from state to state. Use the table above to compare, then open a state page for the exact current rule.
- Does my fishing license cover summer flounder in every state?
- No. A fishing license is valid only in the state that issued it, apart from a few border-water reciprocity agreements. To fish summer flounder in another state you generally need that state's non-resident license — compare non-resident fees on the license-fees page and check the reciprocity page for shared-water exceptions.
- Why do summer flounder rules vary so much between states?
- Summer flounder (fluke) (Paralichthys dentatus) is a saltwater species, and each state manages it for its own water temperatures, spawning timing, population health, and fishing pressure. Many states also set tougher rules on specific lakes or rivers, so the statewide figure shown here can be overridden on a named water body — always confirm on the linked state page before fishing.
- Why does one state show more than one summer flounder season?
- Several states split summer flounder into management zones — different coasts, river drainages, or regions open and close on different dates. Where that happens the table shows each zone's window; the state page lists the full zone map.