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North Carolina Marine Fisheries Proclamation FF-6-2022 opened the Atlantic Ocean commercial flounder season at 12:01 a.m. on Saturday, Jan. 1, 2022 and establishes a 20,000-pound offload limit for the harvest period. Vessels can possess landing limits for other states, but it is unlawful to offload those fish in North Carolina.

The fishery will close by proclamation once the annual North Carolina quota is reached or at 6 p.m. on Monday, Jan. 31, 2022, whichever occurs first.

During the period beginning at 12:01 a.m. on Jan. 1, 2022 and ending at 6 p.m. on Jan. 31, 2022, a commercial fishing operation, regardless of the number of people involved, cannot offload more than 20,000 pounds of flounder taken from the Atlantic Ocean.

Vessels can possess landing limits for other states, but it is unlawful to offload those fish in North Carolina.

It is unlawful for a commercial fishing operation to possess flounder from the Atlantic Ocean Waters if taken by any method other than trawl and in accordance with N.C. Marine Fisheries Commission Rule 15A NCAC 03M .0503.

In accordance with N.C. Marine Fisheries Commission Rule, it is unlawful to possess flounder less than 14 inches total length taken from the Atlantic Ocean in a commercial fishing operation.

Atlantic Ocean Flounder Dealer Permits are available at no cost from all Division of Marine Fisheries License Offices.

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