The South Carolina Department of Natural Resources (SCDNR) recently released nearly 10,000 Southern flounder into the estuaries at Murrells Inlet.
The release is part of the Flounder Stock Enhancement Program, the first of its kind in the Southeast. The program aims “to help rebuild flounder populations by raising young fish in a hatchery and releasing them into the wild while making sure this doesn’t negatively impact wild fish,” according to Blaik Keppler, Deputy Director for Marine Resources at SCDNR.
Southern flounder are the most common flounder species found in South Carolina and have been a frequent target of recreational anglers. According to SCDNR, 99% of flounder caught in the state before regulations were put in place was done recreationally. In 2021, the state introduced new rules, raising the minimum catch size to 16 inches and limiting possession to five fish per person and ten per boat. Still, SCDNR says it’s too early to know whether those changes have been enough to rebuild the population…