The flatfish of the bay shorelines and channel edges. Southern flounder lie on their right side, so
both eyes end up on the left — the reliable field mark separating this group from right-eyed
flatfishes. Larvae hatch as ordinary upright fish with an eye on each side; as the juvenile grows,
the right eye migrates over the top of the head, a transformation finished at about half an inch
long. Colour changes to match the bottom. Males rarely exceed 12 inches; females often reach 25.
Adults spawn at two years old in 50 to 100 feet of water in the Gulf, and the buoyant eggs and
larvae ride back into the bays.
The fall movement out of the bays is the reason this species is regulated the way it is. Concentrated
migrating flounder are easy to catch, and Texas closes the fishery entirely from 1 November to 14
December, with a five-fish daily bag and a 15-inch minimum for the rest of the year (as published by
TPWD, checked 2026-09-01). See "Conservation and status" below for how those rules came about.
Source-backed field notes
- TPWD lists red drum, spotted seatrout, flounder, common snook, fat snook, jack crevalle, gray snapper and ladyfish as the fish of the South Bay paddling trail. (South Bay Paddling Trail (TPWD))
- TPWD lists spotted seatrout, redfish, flounder, snook and tarpon as the species anglers pursue in the Arroyo Colorado depending on season. (Visiting the Arroyo Colorado - Texas Parks and Wildlife Department)
- Fishing rules at Padre Island National Seashore: a valid Texas fishing license package is required (children under 17 exempt), a maximum of 6 poles per person kept at the surf's edge, cast nets up to 14 feet in diameter and dip nets up to 3 feet for baitfish only, sail-lines permitted from sunset to sunrise, and gigging allowed for non-game, non-protected species such as flounder, black drum, whiting and sheepshead. (Fishing - Padre Island National Seashore (NPS))
- Flounder in Texas: daily bag 5, minimum 15 inches, no maximum length; the possession limit equals the daily bag rather than twice it. (TPWD Pocket Guide to Bag and Size Limits of Saltwater Fishes and Crabs (PWD CD V3400-100B 7/26))
Observe responsibly
Wildlife, tides and access conditions change. Keep a respectful distance, do not feed wildlife, stay out of dunes and marked nesting areas, and use current official rules before fishing or handling any catch.