2026 regulation year
Texas Southern flounder (saltwater) 2026 — Season, Bag Limit, Size Rules
Paralichthys lethostigma
Last updated
Southern flounder are Texas's signature flatfish — ambush feeders that lie on sandy and muddy bay bottoms and stage near the passes and the Gulf each late fall for their spawning migration. That migration is why flounder is the rare Texas saltwater species with a true closed season: all harvest is closed statewide every year from November 1 through December 14. Outside that window the rule is a 5-fish daily bag and a 15 in minimum, and gigging is the classic Texas method.
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Season
Open most of the year; harvest closed statewide Nov 1 – Dec 14 for the fall spawning migration.
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Open season — reopens Dec 15 after the Nov 1 – Dec 14 spawning-migration closure and runs through the following Oct 31.
Bag & possession
- Daily bag
- 5 / day
- Possession
- 5 in possession (equal to the daily bag — not doubled)
Size, slot, trophy rules
- Size
- 15 in minimum
Gear restrictions
- Pole-and-line and flounder gig both legal outside the closure
- No harvest by any method Nov 1 – Dec 14 (daily bag is zero)
- Saltwater stamp required in addition to the fishing licence
Named water-body overrides
Where statewide rules differ on specific Texas waters:
Galveston Bay system
Statewide 5 / day, 15 in minimum and the Nov 1 – Dec 14 closure apply; a marquee fall flounder-run gigging water
Sabine Lake
Shared TX/LA — TX rule (including the Nov 1 – Dec 14 closure) on TX waters; LA flounder rules differ on the LA side
Lower Laguna Madre
Statewide rule; flounder stage toward the Gulf passes through October before the closure
Official source
Texas Parks and Wildlife Department publishes the authoritative 2026 Texasfishing regulations. Always verify the current rule before fishing — emergency closures and in-season changes can override what's published here.
The southern flounder (saltwater) rules on this page are sourced from Texas Parks and Wildlife Department's official southern flounder (saltwater) regulation page.
Visit official Texas fishing regulations →
Emergency-order channel
Southern flounder (saltwater) closures, slot-limit changes, and harvest pauses are posted to Texas Parks and Wildlife Department's emergency-order feed — check it before any Texas trip during the active season.
Frequently asked questions
- When is southern flounder (saltwater) season in Texas?
- Open most of the year; harvest closed statewide Nov 1 – Dec 14 for the fall spawning migration. Those are the 2026 Texas dates; always confirm against Texas Parks and Wildlife Department before a trip, because an emergency order can shift an opener with little notice.
- What is the Texas bag limit for southern flounder (saltwater)?
- The Texas daily bag limit for southern flounder (saltwater) is 5 / day. The possession limit is 5 in possession (equal to the daily bag — not doubled). Some named waters set a different limit — check the water-body overrides above.
- What size southern flounder (saltwater) can you keep in Texas?
- The Texas size rule for southern flounder (saltwater) is 15 in minimum.
- Do you need a license to fish for southern flounder (saltwater) in Texas?
- Yes. Texas requires a valid fishing license to fish for southern flounder (saltwater), 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 Texas license — compare resident and non-resident Texas fees on the state regulations page below.
- Are there gear restrictions for southern flounder (saltwater) in Texas?
- Yes. In Texas, southern flounder (saltwater) fishing carries these gear rules: Pole-and-line and flounder gig both legal outside the closure; No harvest by any method Nov 1 – Dec 14 (daily bag is zero); Saltwater stamp required in addition to the fishing licence.
- Do specific Texas waters have different southern flounder (saltwater) rules?
- Yes. 3 named Texas waters carry rules that override the statewide southern flounder (saltwater) regulation, including Galveston Bay system, Sabine Lake, Lower Laguna Madre. See the named water-body overrides above for the exact rule on each.