Frequently Asked Questions about Southern Flounder Management

Southern flounder is an extremely popular fish in North Carolina for commercial and recreational fishermen. The Division of Marine Fisheries has heard from many fishermen with questions about the management measures adopted in the Southern Flounder Fishery Management Plan Amendment 2. Here are the answers to those most frequently asked.

What reductions in southern flounder harvest were approved by the Marine Fisheries Commission?
The Marine Fisheries Commission adopted the Southern Flounder Fishery Management Plan Amendment 2, which included a southern flounder harvest reduction of 62% in 2019 and 72% beginning in 2020 for both the recreational and commercial fisheries.

Why do we need these reductions?
Reductions in harvest are required because a 2019 South Atlantic Southern Flounder Stock Assessment found that southern flounder is overfished and overfishing is occurring throughout the region (North Carolina through the eastern coast of Florida). Overfished means the population is too small. Overfishing means the removal rate is too high. North Carolina law mandates that fishery management plans include measures to end overfishing within two years of adoption and rebuild the stock to achieve sustainable harvest within 10 years of adoption of a fishery management plan. Additionally, fisheries biologists at the Division of Marine Fisheries believe the reductions are necessary to avoid further declines in stock abundance.

What are the southern flounder regulations for 2019?
The recreational and commercial southern flounder seasons closed Sept. 4. The recreational season will not reopen in 2019. Later proclamations were issued reopening the commercial season on the following schedule:

Northern Area (waters north of Pamlico Sound) – Sept. 15 to Oct. 13;
Central Area (Pamlico Sound and its tributaries) – Oct. 1 to Oct. 26;
Southern Area (waters from Core Sound to the South Carolina line) – Oct. 1 to Nov. 15
Additionally, all commercial gears that target southern flounder, such as large mesh gill nets, and flounder pound nets, must be removed from the water when the season is closed (or made inoperable in the case of flounder pound nets). The catfish and shad fisheries, which use large mesh gill nets, will be allowed in areas where interactions with southern flounder are unlikely.

What will the seasons be in 2020?
The 2020 southern flounder seasons have not yet been decided. The commercial and recreational seasons will remain closed (including gear removal) until opened by proclamation.

Why is the commercial season reopening while the recreational season remains closed?
The goal of the Southern Flounder Fishery Management Plan Amendment 2 is to achieve the necessary harvest reductions while allowing the fishery to operate during peak season. The recreational southern flounder fishery peaks in July and August, which had passed when the season closed Sept. 4. The commercial season peaks in September and October. The Division of Marine Fisheries projects that the 2019 season closures will equate to a slightly higher percent reduction for the commercial fishery.

What good does it do for North Carolina to implement restrictive management measures if the other four states included in the 2019 South Atlantic Southern Flounder Stock Assessment do nothing?
North Carolina fisheries officials have been meeting with fisheries authorities in South Carolina, Georgia, and Florida regarding implementation of more restrictive management measures in these states. Regardless of what other states do, North Carolina’s combined commercial and recreational harvest of southern flounder makes up 57% of the total removals, so it is likely that any successful management strategy implemented by North Carolina will help the overall stock.

Recreational fishermen hardly catch any flounder, so they cannot be impacting the southern flounder stock to any great extent. Wouldn’t you agree?
On average in North Carolina, a recreational fisherman releases nine flounder for every flounder he keeps. An estimated 9% of those released flounder die. Multiply this discard mortality by the 2.1 million flounder fishing trips that recreational fishermen take each year, and the impact is significant.

Is the recreational season still open for other species of flounder?
No. Since all species of flounder are managed under the same recreational regulations, the recreational season closure applies to all flounder fishing in the ocean, sounds, and coastal rivers.

Are charter boats, head boats and guide boats allowed to keep four fish per vessel when the season is closed?
No. The Marine Fisheries Commission asked the director of the Division of Marine Fisheries to consider allowing the for-hire charter boats to keep four flounder per vessel per day when the recreational season is closed. After consideration, the division director decided not to grant this request. The director cited limited statistical data from the for-hire fleet and stated that the division needs more time to determine whether to separate the for-hire seasons from other recreational fishing seasons.

Can I still catch and release flounder?
Yes, but to encourage conservation, the N.C. Saltwater Fishing Tournament (Citation Program) will not issue citations for flounder during the recreational season closure. The Division of Marine Fisheries estimates a 9% discard mortality rate in the recreational southern flounder hook and line fishery, so any catch and release fishing can still have a negative impact on the stock.

How long will these regulations stay in place?
The management measures Amendment 2 to the Southern Flounder Fishery Management Plan will remain in place until adoption and implementation of Amendment 3 to the Southern Flounder Fishery Management Plan, scheduled for completion in 2021. Amendment 3 will examine more robust management strategies, such as quotas, slot limits, size limit changes, gear changes, and species-specific management.