SECTION 7 

 Summer flounder {Paralichthys dentatus) 



Life History Summary 



The summer flounder (also called fluke) is a highly marketable flatfish 

 which has been found from Nova Scotia to Florida, with its center of abundance 

 generally in the Middle Atlantic Bight. South of Cape Hatteras three similar 

 species (P. albigutta, P. squamilentus, and P. I etho stigma) occur and are 

 often confused with the summer flounder. North of Cape Hatteras to Cape 

 Charles, the southern flounder (P. I etho stigma) is present sporadically and is 

 sometimes also mi sidenti fied. 



A significant offshore commercial fishery for summer flounder exists in 

 the Mid-Atlantic during the spring as they move inshore and as they move 

 offshore in the autumn, as well as while on their wintering grounds. The 

 major recreational fishery occurs during the summer when the bulk of the 

 population is concentrated inshore. Creel surveys indicate that angler 

 catches reach their peak during early summer, then drop off rather sharply in 

 August. Summer flounder is a mainstay of the nearshore recreational fishery 

 along the Mid-Atlantic coast, with larger catches taken from bridges, jetties, 

 and small boats. As of 1978, recreational catches have been consistently 

 higher than commercial catches (McHugh and Ginter 1973). 



Spawning begins by mid-September in the northern portions of the Mid- 

 Atlantic as the summer flounder migrate offshore. As the season advances, 

 spawning moves progressively southward, and by mid-December most spawning 

 ceases (Smith 1973). Larvae and postlarvae drift and migrate inshore to 

 coastal and estuarine nursery areas. Juvenile summer flounaer spend their 

 first year and a half in the inshore estuarine areas, with the heaviest 



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