The North Carolina Department of Environmental Quality’s Division of Marine Fisheries has updated its list of freezer sites for collecting Gulf Flounder carcasses from recreational anglers during the 2026 spring season. The collection period runs from March 9 to March 22 in ocean waters stretching from Portsmouth Island to the South Carolina border. The donated fish will be used for research.
Recreational fishermen who donate legally harvested Gulf Flounder carcasses and complete a required catch-card will be entered into a drawing for one of five tackle bags containing fishing gear and other items. Each participant can win only one prize, and each fish must have a separate catch-card filled out legibly, completely, and truthfully to qualify.
There are eight designated freezer locations for donations: Cape Pointe Marina in Harkers Island; Chasin Tails Outdoors Bait & Tackle in Atlantic Beach; Division of Marine Fisheries Headquarters in Morehead City; Pelagic Hunter in Sneads Ferry; Intracoastal Angler in Wilmington; Carolina Beach Municipal Docks; Clem’s Seafood in Southport; and Ocean Isle Fishing Center.
When preparing fish for donation, anglers are asked to leave the head and tail intact and avoid removing the guts or reproductive organs if possible. Those fishing on charter or head boats should inform their fish cleaner about the intended donation.
Division biologists will use these samples to measure the fish, determine sex when possible, and extract otoliths (ear bones) to assess age. “The information collected will be used to improve our understanding of Gulf Flounder in North Carolina.”
The 2026 recreational Gulf Flounder season opens at 12:01 a.m. on March 9 and closes at 11:59 p.m. on March 22. Regulations allow anglers to keep one fish per person per day with a minimum size limit of 15 inches total length. Fish brought from federal waters must comply with North Carolina’s rules regarding season dates, size, and possession limits.
For further details about regulations or identifying Gulf Flounder compared to similar species, resources are available on the Division’s Flounder Identification webpage as well as the Spring Gulf Flounder Season Frequently Asked Questions page.
A new state law requires all donated carcasses still be reported to the Division, along with harvests of flounder, Striped Bass, Spotted Seatrout (Speckled Trout), Weakfish (Gray Trout), and Red Drum.
The Department of Environmental Quality is responsible for regulating air, land, water, and coastal environments across North Carolina through services such as air quality regulation, permit issuance, environmental law enforcement, waste management, and water resource oversight according to its official website. The agency aims to provide science-based stewardship that promotes public health and prosperity while supporting education efforts statewide.
An announcement regarding a fall fishing season is expected later this year.
