Winter Flounder

Season in North Shore MA

Peak months: May.

OTW May 7 2026: flounder a more frequent catch around Sheep, Hangman's and Rainsford islands, inside the Dogbar Breakwater and off the Granite Pier in Rockport. OTW July 30 2026: winter flounder caught by headboats off the Essex River. (Our inference)

Season by region

Where to find them

Boston Harbor islands (Sheep, Hangman's, Rainsford), inside the Dogbar Breakwater in Gloucester and off the Granite Pier in Rockport in May (OTW).

On soft bottom in bays and harbors, often buried.

What to look for

Soft bottom in bays and harbors with moving water near channels.

Bait

Blue mussels (early season), Bloodworms, Sandworms. Small-hook bottom rig with a sinker to hold the bait on the bottom..

Leader

NY Sea Grant: 10 to 15 lb mono on a medium spinning rod; heavier where current is strong.

Common mistakes

• Fishing slack water away from the current
• Hooks too large for the small mouth

Landing

Lift it in with a steady pull or a small net.

Handling

Unhook gently; return short fish quickly.

Keep or release

Highly prized as food.

Recipes for winter flounder

Typical: unknown. Large: Some near 19 in on Cape Cod Bay charters (May 2026).

Limits

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

Sources

• On The Water: Massachusetts Fishing Report, May 7 2026 (Angler knowledge)
• On The Water: Massachusetts Fishing Report, July 30 2026 (Angler knowledge)
• NOAA Tech. Memo. NMFS-NE-138: EFH source document, winter flounder (1999) (Official source)
• New York Sea Grant fish profile: Winter Flounder (Cornell, 2001) (Official source)

All the fish of North Shore MA