Summer Flounder
Paralichthys dentatus
Also known as Flounder, Fluke, Northern fluke, Hirame
Culinary Profile
Skin is edible. Meat has a delicate flavor.
Flaky and fine.
Flounder is a good low-fat source of B vitamins and niacin.
Gastronomic Specifications
Biology & Habitat
Appearance
Summer flounder have flat bodies. They are white below and some shade of brown, gray, or drab above. They’re nicknamed “chameleons of the sea” because they’re able to change their coloring to blend in with the texture and color of the bottom where they live. They also have spots on their back and can be distinguished because at least five of these dark spots are arranged in an "X" pattern.
Biology
Summer flounder grow fast and have a relatively short life, about 12 to 14 years. Males grow to more than 2 feet in length and females grow up to 3 feet. They are able to reproduce when they reach age 2 or 3. Summer flounder spawn in the fall and early winter when they migrate offshore. They spawn several times throughout the spawning season.
Where They Live
Range Summer flounder are found in the Atlantic Ocean from Nova Scotia to the east coast of Florida. In U.S. waters, summer flounder are most common in the mid-Atlantic region from Cape Cod, Massachusetts, to Cape Fear, North Carolina. Habitat Larval summer flounder live in estuaries and coastal lagoons.
How to Buy & Source
Availability
Year-round. Summer flounder is sold whole and in fillets and is available fresh or frozen.
Source
U.S. wild-caught from Maine to North Carolina.
Commercial Fishery & Harvest
Commercial fishery: In 2024, commercial landings of summer flounder totaled 6.6 million pounds and were valued at approximately $22.4 million, according to the NOAA Fisheries commercial fishing landings database . Gear types, habitat impacts, and bycatch: Commercial fishermen mainly use bottom trawls to harvest summer flounder, fishing offshore in the winter and inshore in the summer. Bottom trawls contact the bottom and can impact bottom habitats. However, summer flounder are most common on sandy ocean bottoms, which are more resilient than other habitat types to the impacts of fishing gear. Bottom trawls can unintentionally catch sea turtles.
Nutritional Benchmarking Across 65 Species
Where Summer Flounder ranks against the rest of the catalogue on each of USDA FoodData Central's per-100 g nutrient measures.
| Nutrient | Value | Rank | Percentile |
|---|---|---|---|
| Choline | 65 mg | 12 / 65 | 82% |
| Phosphorus | 252 mg | 16 / 111 | 86% |
| Vitamin D | 2.8 IU | 25 / 54 | 54% |
| Omega-3 EPA | 137 mg | 47 / 104 | 55% |
| Omega-3 DHA | 108 mg | 76 / 104 | 27% |
| Vitamin B12 | 1.13 µg | 80 / 106 | 25% |
| Selenium | 26.6 µg | 95 / 106 | 10% |
| Iron | 0.18 mg | 98 / 111 | 12% |
| Protein | 12.41 g | 100 / 111 | 10% |
| Zinc | 0.32 mg | 102 / 111 | 8% |
Other New England/Mid-Atlantic Fisheries
Sustainable species managed out of the same regional fishery council as Summer Flounder.
Atlantic Bigeye Tuna
Thunnus obesus
Bigeye tuna has a mild, meaty flavor, with a higher fat content than yellowfintuna. Sashimi lovers prefer it.
Atlantic Blacktip Shark
Carcharhinus limbatus
Sweet, meaty taste.
Atlantic Cod
Gadus morhua
Atlantic cod has a mild clean flavor. It is sweeter than Pacific cod.
Atlantic Common Thresher Shark
Alopias vulpinus
Mild flavor.
Atlantic Herring
Clupea harengus
Small fresh herring have a more delicate flavor, while larger herring have a fuller, oilier flavor.
Atlantic Mackerel
Scomber scombrus
Mackerel has a rich, pronounced flavor. For a milder flavor, cut out the outer bands of dark meat along the midline.
Atlantic Mahi Mahi
Coryphaena hippurus
Mahi mahi has a sweet, mild flavor. For a milder flavor, trim away darker portions of the meat.
Atlantic Sharpnose Shark
Rhizoprionodon terraenovae
Reported to be quite tasty.
Atlantic Skipjack Tuna
Katsuwonus pelamis
Skipjack tuna has the most pronounced taste of all of the tropical tunas.
Atlantic Spiny Dogfish
Squalus acanthias
Mild and sweet.
Similar by Flavour: Other Delicate-Tasting Species
If you enjoy the delicate flavour profile of Summer Flounder, these other species in the catalogue will feel familiar on the palate.
Atlantic Herring
Clupea harengus
Small fresh herring have a more delicate flavor, while larger herring have a fuller, oilier flavor.
Atlantic Pollock
Pollachius virens
Sweet and delicate.
Black Sea Bass
Centropristis striata
Mild, fresh, somewhat delicate flavor.
Bocaccio
Sebastes paucispinis
Delicate, nutty, sweet flavor.
Canary Rockfish
Sebastes pinniger
Delicate, nutty, sweet flavor.
Coho Salmon
Oncorhynchus kisutch
Smaller coho have a delicate flavor. Fillets from larger fish have a mild taste.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is Summer Flounder a good source of vitamin B12?
Yes — Summer Flounder provides 1.13 µg of vitamin B12 per 100 g raw, which is 47% of the 2.4 µg daily value.
Where in the water column does Summer Flounder live?
Range Summer flounder are found in the Atlantic Ocean from Nova Scotia to the east coast of Florida. In U.S. waters, summer flounder are most common in the mid-Atlantic region from Cape Cod, Massachusetts, to Cape Fear, North Carolina. Habitat Larval summer flounder live in estuaries and coastal lagoons.
Where is Summer Flounder found?
Range Summer flounder are found in the Atlantic Ocean from Nova Scotia to the east coast of Florida. In U.S. waters, summer flounder are most common in the mid-Atlantic region from Cape Cod, Massachusetts, to Cape Fear, North Carolina. Habitat Larval summer flounder live in estuaries and coastal lagoons.
Who manages the Summer Flounder fishery?
NOAA Fisheries , the Mid-Atlantic Fishery Management Council , and the Atlantic States Marine Fisheries Commission cooperatively manage the summer flounder fishery because significant catch of these species comes from both state waters (0–3 nautical miles offshore) and federal waters (3-200 nautical miles offshore).
Sustainability Story
U.S. wild-caught summer flounder is a smart seafood choice because it is sustainably managed and responsibly harvested under U.S. regulations.
Stock Structure
According to the 2025 stock assessment, summer flounder is not overfished and not subject to overfishing. Summary stock assessment information can be found on Stock SMART . Scientists at NOAA’s Northeast Fisheries Science Center estimate the abundance of summer flounder using data collected during their annual bottom trawl surveys, along with data from state- and university-run…
Population
The stock is not overfished.
Fishing Rate
Not subject to overfishing.
Habitat Impacts
Bottom trawls can impact bottom habitats. However, summer flounder live on sandy ocean bottom habitat, which is more resilient than other habitat types to the impacts of fishing gear.
Bycatch
Regulations are in place to minimize bycatch.
Management
NOAA Fisheries , the Mid-Atlantic Fishery Management Council , and the Atlantic States Marine Fisheries Commission cooperatively manage the summer flounder fishery because significant catch of these species comes from both state waters (0–3 nautical miles offshore) and federal waters (3-200 nautical miles offshore).
Data Source: NOAA Fisheries
Nutritional Profile
per 100 g raw edible portion · 22 values
Energy
Macronutrients
Omega-3 Fatty Acids
Vitamins
Minerals
Source: USDA FoodData Central (SR Legacy). %DV is percent of 2,000-kcal daily value for adults.
calendar_month Harvest Season
Frozen available year-round.