Delaware Fish Facts for The Recreational Angler

Windowpane Flounder have eyes on the left side (yellowtail, winter, and witch flounder have their eyes on the right side).

They have a compressed body which is more diamond shaped than oval.

They are very thin with numerous smaller spots not like the summer flounder or four-spot flounder which both have fewer larger spots.

Illustration by J.H. Richard, Courtesy NYS Department of Environmental Conservation

Season	Open Year-Round in State of Delaware waters CLOSED in Federal waters (3 to 200 miles offshore)
Size Limit	No Size Limit in State of Delaware waters (coast to 3 miles offshore) CLOSED in Federal waters (3 to 200 miles offshore)
Daily Limit / Person	No Limit in State of Delaware waters (coast to 3 miles offshore) CLOSED in Federal waters (3 to 200 miles offshore)
Delaware Range	Atlantic Ocean, Delaware Bay and Inland Bays
Abundance in Delaware Waters	Common
General Habitat and Food Preferences	Windowpane Flounder can be found on sandy and mud bottoms, but can be also found near artificial reefs. They prefer a steady diet of shrimps; however, they are known to feed on marine worms, small crabs, and small fishes.
Did You Know?	Smaller Windowpane Flounder are so thin that they appear transparent on the underside, enabling you to easily recognize the internal organs. You can nearly see right through them. This feature is how they got their name.
Common Lures and Baits	Windowpane Flounder are almost always caught accidentally by anglers fishing for other species. One can fish for Windowpane Flounder with bottom rigs with small hooks using blood worms, strips of squid, clams, and grass shrimp for bait.
Typical Sizes Caught	Windowpane Flounder are commonly caught in the range of 8 to 12 inches in length by anglers.
Citation Minimum Length and Weight	Live Release Award Adult: 25 inches minimum Youth (age 15 and under): 23 inches minimum Sport Fishing Tournament Award Adult: 7 pounds minimum Youth (age 15 and under): 5 pounds minimum Windowpane Flounder are eligible for the Delaware Sport Fishing Tournament and Live Release "Flounder" awards, but due to their smaller size, catching one large enough to qualify is unlikely. Windowpane Flounder are not currently eligible for an individual species citation.
Delaware State Record	17 pounds 15 ounces William Kendall 1974 Windowpane Flounder are eligible for the general "Flounder" record, but due to their smaller size, catching one large enough to qualify is unlikely. Windowpane Flounder are not currently eligible for an individual Delaware record.

Delaware's Government