Fluke.

01The Fish

Summer flounder are left-eyed bothid flatfish — both eyes sit on the left side of the head, the dark pigmented "top" side. They start life upright as larvae and undergo a strange metamorphosis: one eye migrates across the skull as the fish flattens and settles onto sandy bottom. The underside (the "white" of the fish) is brilliant white; the topside is mottled brown and gray with dark spots, with chameleon-like pigment control that lets them blend into any substrate.

Unlike blackfish (crab eaters) or porgy (anything-eaters), fluke are dedicated ambush predators of baitfish. The mouth is full of small sharp teeth — angled inward to hold a struggling spearing or peanut bunker. Females grow significantly bigger than males; any fluke over 5 lb is almost certainly a female. The doormat class starts around 8 lb; true doormats are 10-12+ lb fish that put up a fight worth talking about for the rest of the season.

02When & Where

Opening Day (May 4). A small ritual. Anglers line the Peconic, the Race, and the south side ports. Early-season fish are scattered and the size limit is brutal — most days you'll release ten fish for every keeper.

June. The bay drift settles in. Peconic Bay, Gardiners Bay, the channel edges around Shelter Island, and the deep holes off Cedar Point all produce. Drift the sand-to-eelgrass transitions in 15-40 ft.

July – August. Peak. Bigger fish move out to ocean wrecks and the Block Island Sound in 60-100 ft. Inshore fishing continues but the average size drops. The doormats are mostly offshore now.

September – October. Bigger fish push back inshore for the fall feed. The min-size bumps to 19.5" on August 2 and stays there until the close. Cold pushes after October 15 end the legal season.

03How to Catch Them

Fluke fishing is drift fishing, almost always. Find sandy or sand-and-shell bottom in the right depth, let the wind and tide do the work, keep your bait moving along the bottom.

Bucktail + Gulp. The dominant rig of the modern era. A 1.5-3 oz bucktail tipped with a 6" Berkley Gulp swimming mullet (pink, white, or chartreuse), with a teaser hook 18" above. Bounce the bottom, lift slowly, drop. Most fish hit on the drop.

Hi-low rig with bait. The classic. Two hooks — one off the bottom, one a foot above — baited with a spearing-and-squid combo, or a killie hooked through the lips with a strip of squid as the "sandwich." Sinker on the bottom, drift naturally.

Set the hook hard. Fluke chew on a bait before committing. When you feel weight, drop the rod tip, let them eat for two seconds, then sweep-set firmly. And bring a net — a thrashing doormat at the rail breaks lines and breaks hearts.

04Regulations · NY 2026

Current regulations as of the May 12, 2026 NYSDEC update. Always verify before keeping fish — regs change.

• Minimum size: 19" total length from May 4 – August 1; 19.5" from August 2 – October 15.
• Daily possession limit: 3 fish per angler.
• Open season: May 4 – October 15.
• Cleaning rule: Summer flounder may not have heads or tails removed or be otherwise cleaned, cut, filleted, or skinned until brought to shore. Enforced — keep fish whole until landed.
• License required: NY Marine Registry (free) for recreational anglers 16+.
• Verify: DEC marine regs page — fluke regs change year to year.

05The East End Calendar

• May 4: Opening day. Cold-water fish, scattered. Mostly shorts.
• Jun: Bay drift settles in. Peconic and Gardiners produce.
• Jul – Aug: Doormats offshore. Inshore averages drop but action stays steady.
• Sept – Oct: Bigger fish push inshore. Min size bumps to 19.5" on Aug 2.
• Oct 15: Season closes.