Fall, spring flounder seasons have been recommended
Editor’s note: NC’s 2022 recreational flounder season was set after this article was published. Click here for the 2022 season dates and creel limits.
North Carolina’s Marine Fisheries Commission has set the flounder season dates and limits for 2022. They named a spring season as well as a fall season. Quotas which could impact future seasons were also set.
The fall season will run sometime between Aug. 16 – Sept. 30. Anglers may keep one southern flounder per day. With a yearly quota of 166,000 pounds, any overages will be subtracted from the next season’s allocation. This means if recreational anglers catch more than 166,000 pounds of flounder during this year’s season, the 2023 allocated amount will be reduced by this year’s overage.
For example, if DMF determines recreational anglers keep 196,000 pounds of southern flounder during this fall’s season, the 2023 season will be adjusted to account for the 30,000 pounds of overage. So in 2023, the quota will be 136,000 pounds. DMF will determine what changes to make during that season to keep the quota in check. This could mean a shorter season, no season, or a season-limit imposed on anglers rather than a daily limit.
Editor’s note: NC’s 2022 recreational flounder season was set after this article was published. Click here for the 2022 season dates and creel limits.
A spring season is possible for March 1 – April 15, 2023 for only summer and gulf flounder in the ocean. Anglers can keep one summer or gulf flounder during this season. Southern flounder caught during this timeframe will be subtracted from the state’s fall flounder quota.
Click here for information on distinguishing different species of flounder
Amendments to the allocation of flounder between commercial and recreational anglers were set to take place, but those changes have been delayed. Currently set at 70/30 in favor of commercial anglers, this allocation will remain in place through 2024. In 2025, it moves to 60/40, followed by a 50/50 split in 2026.
The N.C. Marine Fisheries Commission’s news release on the ruling follows:
The N.C. Marine Fisheries Commission this week adopted a new schedule for changes to sector allocations for allowable harvest under Amendment 3 to the Southern Flounder Fishery Management Plan. Otherwise, the commission adopted the Division of Marine Fisheries’ recommendations as its preferred management options for the draft amendment.
The commission voted to delay the transition to a 50/50 commercial/recreational allocation by two years so that it will remain at 70% commercial and 30% recreational in 2023 and in 2024, then adjust to 60% commercial and 40% recreational 2025, and to 50% commercial and 50% recreational 2026. The delay was proposed to allow time for the fishery to stabilize before additional management changes are implemented.
The commission had voted in March 2021 to gradually equalize allocations between the commercial and recreational fisheries beginning with changes in 2023. The 70% commercial and 30% recreational allocation is similar to the harvest landed by each sector in 2017, the terminal year of the stock assessment on which draft management measures in Amendment 3 are based.
Division of Marine Fisheries Amendment 3 recommendations approved by the commission include:
- Annual harvest quotas for the commercial fisheries divided by gear categories and by harvest areas.
- Commercial trip limits.
- A one-fish per person per day recreational flounder bag limit.
- Prohibited harvest of flounder with a Recreational Commercial Gear License.
- A March 1 to April 15 recreational Gulf and summer flounder season in the ocean.
- An adaptive management framework with accountability measures to implement paybacks if the total allowable landings is exceeded.
- Maintaining the current commercial gear requirements, including limitations on the use of large mesh gill nets outside of the commercial flounder season.
Editor’s note: NC’s 2022 recreational flounder season was set after this article was published. Click here for the 2022 season dates and creel limits.
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