2026 regulation year
Massachusetts Summer flounder (fluke) 2026 — Season, Bag Limit, Size Rules
Paralichthys dentatus
Last updated
Summer flounder — universally called 'fluke' on the MA coast — is one of the most-targeted recreational bottom-fish in Cape Cod Bay + Buzzards Bay + Nantucket Sound + Vineyard Sound. MA regulates fluke under the ASMFC interstate Summer Flounder Fishery Management Plan with size + bag rules set annually by DMF — the standard ocean + bay rule for 2025-26 is 17.5-inch minimum + 5 fish per angler per day during the open season (typical May 22 – October 9, varies by year). Buzzards Bay + the Cape Cod-side of Vineyard Sound (Falmouth + Woods Hole + the Elizabeth Islands) and the southern Cape Cod Bay (Sandwich + Plymouth) hold the densest summer fluke populations; trophy doormat fluke 7+ lb come from the deep edges along Stellwagen Bank + the offshore Cape Cod Bay reefs. Always confirm current-year DMF notices — fluke regs are reset every spring with the ASMFC stock assessment.
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Season
Per annual DMF Marine Fisheries notice — typical ocean + bays May 22 – Oct 9. Confirm current year.
– MA ocean + bays + sounds
Typical DMF season — confirm current year
Bag & possession
- Daily bag
- 5 / day per angler (recreational, ASMFC harmonized)
- Possession
- 5 in possession (recreational)
Size, slot, trophy rules
- Size
- 17.5 in min ocean + bays (typical 2025-26 DMF rule) — confirm current year
Gear restrictions
- Hook-and-line; gigs prohibited
- MA Saltwater Fishing Permit ($10 / year, ages 16+; free for 60+ or disabled) required
- Confirm current-year DMF Marine Fisheries notices — ASMFC-driven rule changes annually
- Circle hooks recommended on natural-bait bottom rigs
Named water-body overrides
Where statewide rules differ on specific Massachusetts waters:
Buzzards Bay
17.5 in min, 5 / day per current DMF notice; densest MA fluke population
Vineyard Sound
17.5 in min, 5 / day; Falmouth + Woods Hole + Elizabeth Islands deep edges
Nantucket Sound
17.5 in min, 5 / day; Cape Cod side + Nantucket Shoals
Cape Cod Bay
17.5 in min, 5 / day; Sandwich + Plymouth + Stellwagen edges
Cape Cod Canal
17.5 in min, 5 / day; canal flats + jetty drift
Boston Harbor
17.5 in min, 5 / day; harbor + harbor-island fluke May – September
Official source
Massachusetts Division of Fisheries & Wildlife (freshwater) + MA Division of Marine Fisheries (saltwater) publishes the authoritative 2026 Massachusettsfishing regulations. Always verify the current rule before fishing — emergency closures and in-season changes can override what's published here.
The summer flounder (fluke) rules on this page are sourced from Massachusetts Division of Fisheries & Wildlife (freshwater) + MA Division of Marine Fisheries (saltwater)'s official summer flounder (fluke) regulation page.
Visit official Massachusetts fishing regulations →
Emergency-order channel
Summer flounder (fluke) closures, slot-limit changes, and harvest pauses are posted to Massachusetts Division of Fisheries & Wildlife's emergency-order feed — check it before any Massachusetts trip during the active season.
Frequently asked questions
- When is summer flounder (fluke) season in Massachusetts?
- Per annual DMF Marine Fisheries notice — typical ocean + bays May 22 – Oct 9. Confirm current year. Those are the 2026 Massachusetts dates; always confirm against Massachusetts Division of Fisheries & Wildlife (freshwater) + MA Division of Marine Fisheries (saltwater) before a trip, because an emergency order can shift an opener with little notice.
- What is the Massachusetts bag limit for summer flounder (fluke)?
- The Massachusetts daily bag limit for summer flounder (fluke) is 5 / day per angler (recreational, ASMFC harmonized). The possession limit is 5 in possession (recreational). Some named waters set a different limit — check the water-body overrides above.
- What size summer flounder (fluke) can you keep in Massachusetts?
- The Massachusetts size rule for summer flounder (fluke) is 17.5 in min ocean + bays (typical 2025-26 DMF rule) — confirm current year.
- Do you need a license to fish for summer flounder (fluke) in Massachusetts?
- Yes. Massachusetts requires a valid fishing license to fish for summer flounder (fluke), with the usual exemptions for young children, state free-fishing days, and some senior or disabled-veteran categories. A license is valid only in the state that issued it, so non-residents need a Massachusetts license — compare resident and non-resident Massachusetts fees on the state regulations page below.
- Are there gear restrictions for summer flounder (fluke) in Massachusetts?
- Yes. In Massachusetts, summer flounder (fluke) fishing carries these gear rules: Hook-and-line; gigs prohibited; MA Saltwater Fishing Permit ($10 / year, ages 16+; free for 60+ or disabled) required; Confirm current-year DMF Marine Fisheries notices — ASMFC-driven rule changes annually; Circle hooks recommended on natural-bait bottom rigs.
- Do specific Massachusetts waters have different summer flounder (fluke) rules?
- Yes. 6 named Massachusetts waters carry rules that override the statewide summer flounder (fluke) regulation, including Buzzards Bay, Vineyard Sound, Nantucket Sound, and 3 more. See the named water-body overrides above for the exact rule on each.