Southern Flounder

Season in Outer Banks

Peak months: Sep, Oct.

NCDMF: southern flounder are found throughout NC estuaries and the ocean, spawning offshore in fall and winter (the fall push out the inlets). Fall flounder in the Hatteras surf mix (Surf or Sound). Months follow the Myrtle Beach chart shortened by colder Outer Banks winters (NCEI). (Our inference)

Season by region

Where to find them

Inlets and sound edges, the surf sloughs in the fall push.

On the bottom along trough edges, close to shore, and near inlets.

What to look for

Sand edges and drop-offs where bait gets swept, mullet schools moving along the beach. Southern flounder have no distinct eyespots; summer flounder show five and Gulf flounder three.

What to throw

Bucktail or jighead with a 4 to 5 in paddle tail1/2 to 1 oz, 4 to 5 in tail. Slow hops along the bottom: lift, drop, let it touch, repeat.

Jighead with a scented soft-plastic shrimp or mullet (Gulp style)1/4 to 1/2 oz, 3 to 4 in. Slow drag and hop on the bottom with pauses; scent does the work.

Gold spoon (weedless style)1/2 to 3/4 oz, 2.5 to 3 in. Slow to medium wobble with occasional pauses near the bottom of the trough.

Bait

Live finger mullet (4 to 6 in), Mud minnows. Carolina rig, 1 to 2 oz egg sinker, 18 to 24 in of 20 to 30 lb fluorocarbon, 1/0 to 3/0 hook.

Leader

20 to 30 lb fluorocarbon, 18 to 24 in.

Common mistakes

• Setting the hook immediately on bait (give it a few seconds)
• Fishing too fast; drag it slowly along the bottom
• Losing the fish at the edge; net or slide it, do not lift

Landing

Do not lift a flounder by the line; slide it up on a wave.

Handling

• Sharp teeth

Use pliers; they can cut fingers or line.

Keep or release

Good eating. NC has a short, changing flounder season; check NCDMF.

Recipes for southern flounder

Typical: 12 to 14 in, 1 to 2 lb. Large: 5 lb and up ('doormats'). SC record 17 lb 6 oz (1974).

Limits

FishOS has not checked the NC limits yet. Check the size, bag and season rules with the NC Division of Marine Fisheries before you keep a fish.

Sources

• NC Division of Marine Fisheries: flounder (Gulf, southern, summer) (Official source)
• Surf or Sound Realty: Hatteras Island surf fishing seasons (Angler knowledge)
• NOAA NCEI Coastal Water Temperature Guide: monthly average water temperatures, all stations (Official source)
• SCDNR species profile: southern flounder (Official source)
• Fisherman's Post North Myrtle Beach / Little River reports 2025-2026 (Angler knowledge)
• SCDNR species profile: summer flounder (Official source)

All the fish of Outer Banks