SlotGaugeCheck a catchSouthern Flounder regulations in Virginia
· Freshwater · 2026 season
Is it a keeper? A southern flounder is a keeper today if it measures at least 15 inches, with a daily limit of 6.
Southern Flounder size limit, season and daily limit
| Where | Season | Size limit | Daily limit |
|---|---|---|---|
| Back Bay and tributaries incl. Lake Tecumseh, and North Landing River and tributaries | Open year-round | 15 inch minimum | 6 per day |
Notes
- Applies only in Back Bay, Lake Tecumseh and the North Landing River system (DWR waters).
- Elsewhere in Virginia tidal waters follow the VMRC summer flounder rule (4 per person; 16 in Jan-May, 17.5 in Jun-Dec).
Exact Virginia Marine Resources Commission wording
- Season
- Open year-round
- Size
- No fish less than 15 inches
- Limit
- 6 per day
- Back Bay and tributaries incl. Lake Tecumseh, and North Landing River and tributaries — as printed
- “Southern Flounder - Back Bay and tributaries, including Brinson's Inlet Lake (Lake Tecumseh), and the North Landing River and its tributaries: 6 per day, no fish less than 15 inches”
Source: Virginia Marine Resources Commission, captured 2026-09-21 (2026 season).
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About the southern flounder
Group of flatfish species
Flounders are a group of flatfish species. They are demersal fish, found at the bottom of oceans around the world; some species will also enter estuaries.
Read more about Flounder on Wikipedia →
Text from Wikipedia, CC BY-SA 4.0. Regulations on this page come from Virginia Marine Resources Commission, not Wikipedia.
Frequently asked
What is the size limit for Southern Flounder in Virginia?
15 inch minimum in Virginia state waters.
How many Southern Flounder can you keep per day in Virginia?
6 per day.
When is Southern Flounder season in Virginia?
Open year-round.
Is my Southern Flounder a keeper today?
A southern flounder is a keeper today if it measures at least 15 inches, with a daily limit of 6.