Recreational anglers can donate flounder carcasses for science and a chance to win prizes
The NC Department of Environmental Quality’s Division of Marine Fisheries will collect flounder carcasses from recreational fishermen during the 2026 season, held Sept. 1-14 in joint and coastal waters. The carcasses will be used for research purposes.
Recreational anglers who donate flounder carcasses and complete the required catch card (one person per fish per card) will be entered to win one of five tackle bags filled containing fishing line, lures and swag (limit one per person). Catch cards and donation supplies are located at each donation site, and anglers must complete the entire catch card legibly and truthfully to be eligible.
The division has set up five temporary donation locations in addition to the seven carcass collection locations available throughout the year, where recreational fishermen can donate flounder carcasses:
- Carolina Beach Municipal Docks, Carl Winner Dr, Carolina Beach
- Chasin' Tails Outdoors Bait & Tackle, 709 Atlantic Beach Causeway, Atlantic Beach
- Intracoastal Angler, 6332 Oleander Dr, Wilmington
- Ocean Isle Fishing Center, 65 Causeway Dr, Ocean Isle Beach
- Quarter Deck, 503 Carteret St, Bath
The year-round locations are (map):
- Cape Pointe Marina, 1390 Island Road, Harkers Island
- Clem’s Seafood, 4351 Long Beach Road SE, Southport
- Eastern Outfitters, 21241 Suite 01 US-17, Hampstead
- Eastside Bait & Tackle, 1218 John Small Avenue, Washington
- Frisco Rod & Gun, 53610 NC-12, Frisco
- Jennette’s Pier, 7223 S. Virginia Dare Trail, Nags Head
- N.C. Division of Marine Fisheries Headquarters, 3441 Arendell St, Morehead City
When cleaning the fish, anglers should leave the head and tail intact and, if possible, leave the guts and reproductive organs in the fish. Anglers who fished on a charter boat or head boat should inform the fish cleaner that the carcass will be donated.
Division biologists will measure the fish, determine the sex if possible and remove the otoliths (ear bones) for age determination. DMF will use the information to inform future flounder stock assessments.
The 2026 recreational flounder season officially opens at 12:01 a.m. Sept. 1 and closes at 11:59 p.m. Sept. 14. Anglers may keep one fish per person per day. The minimum size limit is 15 inches total length. For more information, see Proclamation FF-27-2026.
Division biologists will obtain data from commercially caught flounder at fish houses. Commercially caught carcasses should not be left in the Carcass Collection Program freezers.
Read more about North Carolina’s Carcass Collection program here, or, for more information, contact Amanda Macek, division sportfishing specialist, at 252 515-5537 or Amanda.Macek@deq.nc.gov.
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