Louisiana southern flounder closed Oct. 15–Nov. 30 for all sectors

Louisiana’s annual closed season for southern flounder runs Oct. 15 through Nov. 30 for both recreational and commercial harvest. It applies to all sectors and gear types, including flounder caught as bycatch in any other fishery.

The stock is currently considered overfished, and shrimping bycatch exemptions that were previously available are still not applicable. The fall closure lets mature female flounder move offshore to spawn. The Louisiana Wildlife and Fisheries Commission has legislative authority to modify the shrimping bycatch exemption when the stock is overfished and/or undergoing overfishing.

Houma Times reported the annual closure on Oct. 10, 2026. Standing recreational saltwater finfish rules are posted by the Louisiana Department of Wildlife and Fisheries.

This is a The Gillnet news desk summary, not a reprint.

Source: Houma Times — Closed season for southern flounder begins October 15 (Oct. 10, 2026). Standing rules: LDWF recreational saltwater finfish.