It's a Fishing Day

Species

Summer Flounder

Paralichthys dentatus · family Paralichthyidae

Locally called "fluke." Flatfish that ambushes bait off sandy and mixed bottom. Drifting bucktails tipped with Gulp! or live minnows through Ocean City and Chincoteague inlets is the classic method.

Preferred conditions

Water temp
58–75°F (ideal 65°F)
Tide
outgoing
Moon
either
Depth
10–100 ft
Active months
May, Jun, Jul, Aug, Sep

Best summer flounder conditions today

  1. Solomon's Island Fishing Pier Calvert, MD
    96/100
  2. Point Lookout State Park St. Mary's, MD
    96/100
  3. Kent Narrows — Public Fishing Pier Queen Anne's, MD
    84/100
  4. Chesapeake Beach — Rod N' Reel Pier Calvert, MD
    84/100
  5. Chincoteague NWR — Fishing Access Accomack, VA
    80/100
  6. Rudee Inlet — Virginia Beach Virginia Beach, VA
    80/100
  7. Kiptopeke State Park Northampton, VA
    68/100
  8. Cape Charles Town Pier Northampton, VA
    68/100
  9. Assateague Island — MD Surf Worcester, MD
    27/100
  10. Ocean City Inlet — North Jetty Worcester, MD
    27/100
  11. Cape Henlopen State Park Sussex, DE
    27/100
  12. Indian River Inlet Sussex, DE
    27/100
  13. Lewes Canal Sussex, DE
    27/100
  14. Fenwick Island — Surf Fishing Sussex, DE
    27/100
  15. Delaware Seashore State Park Sussex, DE
    27/100
  16. Slaughter Beach Sussex, DE
    27/100

Regulations by jurisdiction

Maryland (tidal)

tidal bay

Min size
16"
Creel
4

Chesapeake Bay: size minimum steps up from 16 in (Jan 1–May 31) to 17.5 in (Jun 1–Dec 31). Creel is 4/day year-round. Flounder quotas are re-negotiated annually through ASMFC/MAFMC — re-verify before each season.

Source · verified 2026-04-22

atlantic

Min size
16"
Creel
4

Atlantic coast and coastal bays: 16 in (Jan 1–May 31) / 17.5 in (Jun 1–Dec 31), 4 per day. Summer flounder regulations are ASMFC-managed and typically re-set annually; verify before the season.

Source · verified 2026-04-22

Delaware (tidal)

tidal delaware

Min size
16"
Creel
4

Delaware Bay and tidal tributaries: size minimum steps up from 16 in (Jan 1–May 31) to 17.5 in (Jun 1–Dec 31). Creel is 4/day year-round. ASMFC/MAFMC-managed — re-verify annually. Matches the MD minimum exactly.

Source · verified 2026-04-22

atlantic

Min size
16"
Creel
4

Delaware Atlantic Ocean and Inland Bays (Rehoboth, Indian River, Little Assawoman): 16 in (Jan 1–May 31) / 17.5 in (Jun 1–Dec 31), 4 per day. ASMFC-managed.

Source · verified 2026-04-22

Virginia (tidal — VMRC)

tidal bay

Min size
16"
Creel
4

Virginia tidal waters (lower Chesapeake Bay): 16 in (Jan 1–May 31) / 17.5 in (Jun 1–Dec 31), 4 per day. 4VAC20-620. Matches MD and DE coastwide ASMFC allocation, which is re-negotiated annually.

Source · verified 2026-04-22

atlantic

Min size
16"
Creel
4

Virginia Atlantic coast: 16 in (Jan 1–May 31) / 17.5 in (Jun 1–Dec 31), 4 per day. ASMFC-managed; same season step-up as the rest of the mid-Atlantic. Classic VA fluke fisheries: CBBT tunnel islands, Rudee Inlet, Lynnhaven.

Source · verified 2026-04-22