Summer Flounder

Common Name:

Summer Flounder

Scientific Name:

Paralichthys dentatus

Market Name(s):

Northern fluke, Plaice

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Sourcing Summary

2-3 ft.

Summer flounder, often called "fluke," is considered a good lowfat source of B vitamins and niacin. It has edible skin, and flaky white meat with a delicate flavor and fine texture. It is sold whole, in fillets, and is available fresh or frozen. Fillets are usually available in one to three ounces to six to eight ounce size ranges, alternatively small, medium, large, and jumbo sizes are offered by some suppliers. Landings are heaviest in the summer, which is generally considered to be the best time to get a deal on the fish. Some buyers say the best quality summer flounder comes from pound nets in the mid-Atlantic region. Live summer flounder is exported to Japan for sashimi. Summer flounder may be easily substituted for other flounders.

Harvest Methods

Wild

Handline
Gillnet
Trawl

Product Forms

Fresh

  • Fillet
  • Whole
Fresh Seasonal Availability
Jan
Feb
Mar
Apr
May
Jun
Jul
Aug
Sep
Oct
Nov
Dec
Culinary Composition

Flavor

Mild
Sweet
Strong

Texture

Delicate
Medium
Firm

Health & Nutrition

Nutrition facts

Serving size: 100 Grams
Amount per serving
  • Calories
    91.00
  • Total Fat
    1.20
    g
  • Cholesterol
    48.00
    mg
  • Sodium
    81.00
    mg
  • Carbohydrates
    0.00
    g
  • Protein
    18.80
    g
  • Omega-3
    0.20
    g

Recommended Servings per Month

  • Men
    1
  • Women
    1
  • Women
    1
  • Kids 0-5
    0

Cooking Methods

Advisory Concern

PCBs
Biology

Summer flounder grow fast with males reaching lengths of 2 feet and females 3 feet. The fish reach maturity between 2 & 3 and life expectancy on average of 12 to 14 years. Summer flounder spawn several times in the fall and early winter when water temperatures change and plankton productivity peaks. Summer flounder prey on both fish and invertebrates throughout their life, but are mostly opportunistic feeders. Summer flounder are a food source for spiny dogfish, monkfish, cod, sharks, and rays. 

Species Habitat

Summer flounder are found from Nova Scotia to the east coast of Florida and are most common in the U.S. between Cape Cod and Cape Fear. Juvenile summer flounder inhabit marshes, seagrass, mud flats, and open bays. This important life stage takes place notably in Chesapeake Bay and Pamlico Sound, and because of these populated urban areas, water quality is critical for survival of juvenile fish. Adult summer flounder are found mostly on sandy sea bottoms and migrate inshore (late spring and summer) and offshore (late fall through early spring) seasonally with changes in water temperature. 

Science & Management:
  • Science: 

    Summer flounder stock abundance is estimated from annual bottom trawl surveys, along with data from state agencies and university research. Management measures set aside part of the summer flounder quota to be used for research that furthers the understanding of the summer flounder fishery.

    Management: 

    Because summer flounder is caught in both state and federal waters, summer flounder is managed by the Atlantic States Marine Fisheries Commission (0-3 miles offshore) and NOAA Fisheries' Mid-Atlantic Fishery Management Council (3-200 miles offshore). The allocation for summer flounder is split between the commercial fishery (60%) and recreational fishery (40%). States divide the commercial share based on % share of landings from the 1980s. Currently there is a moratorium on entry into the commercial fishery and there are special monitoring requirements for sea turtles in the southern portion of the fishery. Measures are also taken as a management precaution on mesh size requirements on fishing nets to prevent bycatch of both juvenile summer flounder and other species.

Wild

Impact on Stock

Summer flounder is a bottom-dwelling type of flatfish found along the Northwest Atlantic that is most prevalent in the U.S. Mid-Atlantic region. Despite characteristics such as high fecundity and early maturation, summer flounder is moderately vulnerable to fishing pressure overall, according to Seafood Watch. Following low population levels in the 1980s and 1990s, the stock has been rebuilding in the United States. A 2015 stock assessment showed that summer flounder are not overfished, but are subject to overfishing. Seafood Watch reports from 2016 gave summer flounder an avoid rating with the exception of the North Atlantic handline fishery, which received a good alternative rating.

Habitat Impacts

Most summer flounder are caught with bottom trawls although bottom gillnets, trap nets, and handlines are also used. The bottom trawls that target flatfish can cause significant damage to the seafloor, but the sandy bottom areas that summer flounder prefer tend to recover faster. In addition, areas of these fishing grounds are off-limits to trawl gears, Seafood Watch reported in 2016. The handlines, trap nets, and bottom gillnets used for summer flounder have much less impact on sensitive marine habitats, causing low concern, according to Seafood Watch.

Bycatch

Summer flounder are primarily caught using bottom trawls, which carries a risk of sea turtle bycatch. Since 1992, bottom trawl vessels off the coasts of North Carolina and Virginia have been required to use NOAA-approved turtle extruder devices in their nets to minimize bycatch. Seafood Watch reported concern about incidental catches of bottlenose dolphin in the trap net fisheries. Several protected, threatened, and endangered species such as Atlantic sturgeon, sea turtles, and marine mammals have been caught in gillnet fisheries.  

Management Effectiveness

Since summer flounder are found in both state and federal waters, they are managed by the Atlantic States Marine Fisheries Commission, the Mid-Atlantic Fishery Management Council, and NOAA Fisheries. Management measures include catch limits, reporting requirements, permit requirements, mesh size limits, scientific monitoring and a moratorium on entry into the commercial fishery. Sea turtle catches are also monitored in the southern part of the fishery. A rebuilding plan introduced in 1993 aimed to help stocks recover from overfishing. While summer flounder abundance has greatly increased since then, a 2015 stock assessment showed that abundance remained below the target level, Seafood Watch reported. Generally, Seafood Watch found the management measures for this vulnerable species to range from moderately to highly effective.

Farmed
Origin Harvest Method Sustainability Ratings
Unassessed Origin Unassessed Fishing Methods
Seafood Watch- Unrated
Ocean Wise- Unrated
Good Fish Guide - Unrated
USA - Atlantic Set Gillnets
Seafood Watch- Avoid
Ocean Wise- Not Recommended
Good Fish Guide - Unrated
NOAA FSSI- 3 out of 4
USA - Atlantic Barriers, Fences, Weirs, Corrals, etc.
Seafood Watch- Good Alternative
Ocean Wise- Recommended
NOAA FSSI- 3 out of 4
Good Fish Guide - Unrated
USA - Atlantic Unassessed Fishing Methods
Seafood Watch- Unrated
Ocean Wise- Unrated
NOAA FSSI- 3 out of 4
Good Fish Guide - Unrated
USA - Atlantic Bottom Trawls
Seafood Watch- Good Alternative
Ocean Wise- Not Recommended
NOAA FSSI- 3 out of 4
Good Fish Guide - Unrated
USA - Atlantic Handlines and Hand-Operated Pole-and-Lines
Seafood Watch- Best Choice
Ocean Wise- Recommended
NOAA FSSI- 3 out of 4
Good Fish Guide - Unrated
Name Country State/Province
Cape Canaveral Shrimp Co. United States Florida
Catanese Classic Seafood United States Ohio
DiCarlo Seafood Company United States California
Dock-to-Dish United States New York
Empire Fish Company United States Wisconsin
Fisherman's Market International Inc. Canada Nova Scotia
John Nagle Co. United States Massachusetts
Maine Shellfish Company United States Maine
Narragansett Bay Lobsters United States Rhode Island
Profish Ltd. United States District of Columbia
Raw Seafoods United States Massachusetts
Red's Best United States Massachusetts
Royal Hawaiian Seafood United States California
Sam Rust Seafood United States Virginia
Samuels & Son Seafood Company, Inc. United States Pennsylvania
Sea to Table, USA United States New York
Stavis Seafoods United States Massachusetts
The Fish Guys Inc. United States Minnesota
The Lobster Place Wholesale Seafood United States New York
True Fin United States Maine

Acknowledgements

  • Environmental Defense Fund
  • NOAA Fisheries
  • Seafood Watch Program
  • SeafoodSource
Last Updated: 8/7/2020