Southern flounder Paralichthys lethostigma
14 of 44worth the trip today
Best right now at Orange Beach, Alabama. Water is inside the 58–82° range southern flounder like at 40 of the 40 spots with a live reading.
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About southern flounder
The flounder of the Gulf and South Atlantic marshes: an ambush feeder on mud and sand flats, creek mouths and passes, taken on mud minnows, finger mullet and soft plastics dragged slowly along the bottom, and gigged at night in the shallows. Adults run out through the passes to spawn offshore in late fall, which is when most states close the season.
Paralichthys lethostigma, family Paralichthyidae.
Southern flounder, spot by spot
All 29 spots with southern flounder in season, scored for southern flounder, best first.
74° water · 15 mph wind · outgoing tide
74° water · 15 mph wind · outgoing tide
74° water · 15 mph wind · outgoing tide
75° water · 15 mph wind · outgoing tide
77° water · 15 mph wind · outgoing tide
80° water · 10 mph wind · outgoing tide
69° water · 15 mph wind · outgoing tide
69° water · 15 mph wind · outgoing tide
69° water · 15 mph wind · outgoing tide
69° water · 15 mph wind · outgoing tide
74° water · 20 mph wind · outgoing tide
67° water · 12 mph wind · incoming tide
70° water · 10 mph wind · low slack tide
69° water · 10 mph wind · low slack tide
77° water · 13 mph wind · outgoing tide
79° water · 10 mph wind · outgoing tide
76° water · 14 mph wind · outgoing tide
67° water · 13 mph wind · incoming tide
67° water · 13 mph wind · incoming tide
67° water · 13 mph wind · incoming tide
67° water · 15 mph wind · incoming tide
68° water · 16 mph wind · incoming tide
79° water · 10 mph wind · outgoing tide
67° water · 21 mph wind · incoming tide
Not scored today
15 other spots where people fish for southern flounder: 15 closed to southern flounder or out of season today.
The water they want
Southern flounder feed from about 58° to 82°F and best near 70°. Each pin is one spot’s water right now, from NOAA and USGS gauges; 40 of 40 are inside the range.
How they feed
- Water58–82°F, best near 70°
- TideOutgoing
- MoonEither
- DepthUsually 1–20 ft
- Active monthsMar–Nov
Scored against their own temperature range and tide preference first, then wind, weather and warnings. Solunar periods only break ties. How the score works
Keep or release
- Alabama14" minimum · 5 a day14" minimum, 5/person/day. Closed Nov 1–30.Gulf waters · verified Oct 21, 2026 · source
- Florida14" minimum · 5 a dayFlorida flounder: 14" minimum, 5 per person a day. Closed Oct 15–Nov 30.Atlantic waters · verified Oct 23, 2026 · source
- Florida14" minimum · 5 a dayFlorida flounder: 14" minimum, 5 per person a day. Closed Oct 15–Nov 30.Gulf waters · verified Oct 23, 2026 · source
- Georgia12" minimum · 15 a dayFlounder: 12" minimum, 15/person/day.Atlantic waters · verified Oct 21, 2026 · source
- Louisiana10 a dayNo minimum size, 10/person/day. Closed Oct 15–Nov 30 in state waters.Gulf waters · verified Oct 21, 2026 · source
- Mississippi12" minimum · 10 a day12" minimum, 10/person/day.Gulf waters · verified Oct 21, 2026 · source
- South Carolina16" minimum · 5 a dayFlounder (southern, summer and gulf): 16" minimum, 5/person/day, 10 per boat.Atlantic waters · verified Oct 21, 2026 · source
- Texas15" minimum · 5 a day15" minimum, 5/person/day. Closed Nov 1–Dec 14 (bag 0).Gulf waters · verified Oct 21, 2026 · source
Rules change, and they differ by state and often by water. Each spot page shows the limits for its own water. Southern flounder are fished at spots in 7 states: Alabama, Florida, Georgia, Louisiana, Mississippi, South Carolina, Texas.
Fished in the same water
Species people target at the same spots as southern flounder, and how they’re doing today.
Red drumSciaenops ocellatus15 of 103 spots worth the trip
Best now at Venice, LA100
Bites in 65–85° water
Spotted seatroutCynoscion nebulosus51 of 118 spots worth the trip
Best now at Venice, LA100
Bites in 60–85° water
SheepsheadArchosargus probatocephalus16 of 65 spots worth the trip
Best now at Cape Henlopen, DE90
Bites in 60–82° water
Black drumPogonias cromis17 of 39 spots worth the trip
Best now at Venice, LA100
Bites in 55–85° water