Summer Flounder

Season in Delmarva

DNREC: in coastal and estuarine waters spring to fall, typical 14 to 20 in. Delaware surf: fluke occasionally in fall, around Herring Point and rock edges. Ocean City: sandy bottom inside the north jetty and the south jetty drop-off. Virginia Eastern Shore ocean-side citations spread April to November. (Our inference)

Season by region

Where to find them

Inside the Ocean City north jetty when the current slows at the tide change, the south jetty drop-off with live spot or mullet, Delaware bays, beach edges by the rocks at Herring Point.

On the bottom along jetty walls, inlet edges and trough edges.

What to look for

Five large eyespots on the back half of the body tell it from southern flounder (no distinct spots) and Gulf flounder (three spots).

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.

Sand eel teaser (dropper ahead of a plug)Weightless; the plug behind it gives casting weight oz, Small sand eel or spearing imitation: fly, Red Gill or soft plastic. Fished with the plug; slow.

Bait

Live mud minnows (spring), Live finger mullet (as water warms). Carolina rig: 3/4 to 1 1/2 oz egg sinker, about 12 in leader, No. 2 to 1/0 hook; let the current move it.

Leader

About 12 in of leader on a Carolina rig.

Common mistakes

• Setting the hook too fast on live bait
• Reeling the bait along instead of letting the current move it

Landing

Net it; do not lift a flounder by the line.

Handling

• Sharp teeth

Use pliers to unhook.

Keep or release

Good eating. Check the rules of the state you are in (DE, MD or VA).

Recipes for summer flounder

Typical: 14 to 20 in. Large: unknown. Delaware flounder record 17 lb 15 oz (1974).

Limits

FishOS has not checked the DE and MD and VA limits yet. Check the size, bag and season rules with the Delaware DNREC Fish and Wildlife before you keep a fish.

Sources

• DNREC Delaware Fish and Shellfish Facts: Summer Flounder (Official source)
• The Fisherman: Delaware Surf, Small Wonder, Big Options (Angler knowledge)
• FishTalk Magazine: fishing the Ocean City, MD inlet hotspots (Angler knowledge)
• VMRC Virginia Saltwater Fishing Tournament: 2024 Citations Year To Date (every trophy citation with species, catch date, area, technique) (Official source)
• VMRC Virginia Saltwater Fishing Tournament: 2025 Citations Year To Date (printed May 8 2026) (Official source)
• NOAA Technical Memorandum NMFS-NE-151: summer flounder essential fish habitat (Official source)
• SCDNR species profile: summer flounder (Official source)

All the fish of Delmarva