Hippoglossoides platessoides , also known as American dab, Canadian plaice, Dab. American plaice is a species of flounder that is found in relatively deep water from southern Labrador to Rhode Island. It is a popular seafood managed with other groundfish as par
Source: Species facts, status language, and imagery adapted from the NOAA Fisheries species profile (last updated 03/21/2025). Ocean City charter and Maryland
record notes are editorial orientation for OCEANCITY.MD readers. Always confirm current seasons, sizes, and
bag limits before you fish—rules change.
Illustration/photo: NOAA Fisheries — American Plaice (Hippoglossoides platessoides).
Quick facts
Lifespan: More than 20 years
Region: New England/Mid-Atlantic
Category: Fish · Mid-Atlantic
Maryland likelihood: 1★ out of 5
About the species
American plaice is a species of flounder that is found in relatively deep water from southern Labrador to Rhode Island. It is a popular seafood managed with other groundfish as part of the Northeast multispecies groundfish complex .
Maryland record catch
Confirm whether Maryland DNR publishes an Atlantic state-record category for American Plaice on the current sport-fish record board.
Maryland’s Atlantic recreational seasons/sizes/creel summary does not publish a dedicated line for American Plaice. Verify COMAR, DNR public notices, and federal rules for your exact waters before you keep fish.
Rule
Maryland / applicable detail
Maryland minimum size
Not listed — no dedicated American Plaice line on the MD Atlantic recreational table
Maryland daily creel (bag)
Not listed — no MD species-specific bag for American Plaice
Maryland open season
Not listed on the MD Atlantic Ocean / Coastal Bays summary table
Verify
Check DNR eRegulations, COMAR, and NOAA for your date and coordinates before you keep fish.
American plaice is a right-eyed species of flounder. Plaice have a large mouth, rounded tail, and nearly straight lateral line running lengthwise along their body. The upper side (eyed side) of adult plaice is typically reddish-brown in color, while the underside is white.
Biology American plaice can live for more than 20 years. Plaice spawn and fertilize their eggs near the ocean bottom. Fertilized eggs float and ultimately hatch near the ocean’s surface. When plaice first hatch, their eyes are symmetrical, with an eye on each side of their head. As the fish grows, it flattens out and the left eye moves over to the right side of its head. After this metamorphosis, the juvenile settles to the ocean bottom. Larval plaice mostly eat plankton and adults primarily feed on bottom-dwelling invertebrates, such as brittle stars, sand dollars, polychaete worms, shrimps, and bivalve mollusks.
Where They Live Range American plaice are distributed along the continental shelves from southern Labrador to Rhode Island in relatively deep water.
In the Northwest Atlantic, plaice are found along the Atlantic Coast of North America throughout the Gulf of Maine and Georges Bank.
Habitat American plaice are relatively sedentary. They are distributed throughout the Gulf of Maine and Georges Bank, and they can also be found in bays and estuaries in Maine and Massachusetts.
American plaice live on the ocean bottom in areas covered by sand, mud, or fine gravel. They are found in relatively deep waters between 130 and 980 feet deep. Juvenile American plaice occupy shallower areas than adults, and are typically found in waters between 130 and 590 feet deep.
Appearance
American plaice can live for more than 20 years. Plaice spawn and fertilize their eggs near the ocean bottom. Fertilized eggs float and ultimately hatch near the ocean’s surface. When plaice first hatch, their eyes are symmetrical, with an eye on each side of their head. As the fish grows, it flattens out and the left eye moves over to the right side of its head. After this metamorphosis, the juvenile settles to the ocean bottom. Larval plaice mostly eat plankton and adults primarily feed on bottom-dwelling invertebrates, such as brittle stars, sand dollars, polychaete worms, shrimps, and bivalve mollusks.
Where They Live Range American plaice are distributed along the continental shelves from southern Labrador to Rhode Island in relatively deep water.
In the Northwest Atlantic, plaice are found along the Atlantic Coast of North America throughout the Gulf of Maine and Georges Bank.
Habitat American plaice are relatively sedentary. They are distributed throughout the Gulf of Maine and Georges Bank, and they can also be found in bays and estuaries in Maine and Massachusetts.
American plaice live on the ocean bottom in areas covered by sand, mud, or fine gravel. They are found in relatively deep waters between 130 and 980 feet deep. Juvenile American plaice occupy shallower areas than adults, and are typically found in waters between 130 and 590 feet deep.
Fishery Management NOAA Fisheries and the New England Fishery Management Council manage the American plaice fishery.
American plaice, along with other groundfish in New England waters, is managed under the Northeast Multispecies Fishery Management Plan , which includes:
Permitting requirements for commercial vessels. Separate management measures for recreational vessels. Time/Area closures to protect spawning fish and habitat. Minimum fish sizes to prevent harvest of juvenile fish. Annual catch limits, based on best available science. An optional sector ( catch share ) program can be used for American plaice and other groundfish species. The sector program allows fishermen to form harvesting cooperatives and work together to decide when, where, and how they harvest fish. A rebuilding plan was put in place in 2004 and the stock rebuilt in 2019.
Harvest Commercial Fishery for American Plaice In 2022, commercial landings of American plaice totaled 1.5 million pounds, and were valued at $2.5 million, according to the NOAA Fisheries commercial fishing landings database .
Gear Types, Habitat Impacts, and Bycatch American plaice are commonly harvested using trawl nets and, to a lesser extent, gillnets.
Areas closures and gear restrictions reduce habitat impacts from trawl nets. Fishermen follow management measures designed to reduce interactions with marine mammals, including gear modifications, seasonal closures, and use of marine mammal deterrents.
Recreational Fishery for American Plaice American plaice are not commonly encountered by the recreational fishery. Regulations include a minimum fish size.
Scientific Classification Kingdom Animalia Phylum Chordata Class Actinopterygii Order Pleuronectiformes Family Pleuronectidae Genus Hippoglossoides Species platessoides Last updated by NOAA Fisheries on 03/21/2025
Biology
American plaice are distributed along the continental shelves from southern Labrador to Rhode Island in relatively deep water.
In the Northwest Atlantic, plaice are found along the Atlantic Coast of North America throughout the Gulf of Maine and Georges Bank.
Habitat American plaice are relatively sedentary. They are distributed throughout the Gulf of Maine and Georges Bank, and they can also be found in bays and estuaries in Maine and Massachusetts.
American plaice live on the ocean bottom in areas covered by sand, mud, or fine gravel. They are found in relatively deep waters between 130 and 980 feet deep. Juvenile American plaice occupy shallower areas than adults, and are typically found in waters between 130 and 590 feet deep.
Fishery Management NOAA Fisheries and the New England Fishery Management Council manage the American plaice fishery.
American plaice, along with other groundfish in New England waters, is managed under the Northeast Multispecies Fishery Management Plan , which includes:
Permitting requirements for commercial vessels. Separate management measures for recreational vessels. Time/Area closures to protect spawning fish and habitat. Minimum fish sizes to prevent harvest of juvenile fish. Annual catch limits, based on best available science. An optional sector ( catch share ) program can be used for American plaice and other groundfish species. The sector program allows fishermen to form harvesting cooperatives and work together to decide when, where, and how they harvest fish. A rebuilding plan was put in place in 2004 and the stock rebuilt in 2019.
Harvest Commercial Fishery for American Plaice In 2022, commercial landings of American plaice totaled 1.5 million pounds, and were valued at $2.5 million, according to the NOAA Fisheries commercial fishing landings database .
Gear Types, Habitat Impacts, and Bycatch American plaice are commonly harvested using trawl nets and, to a lesser extent, gillnets.
Areas closures and gear restrictions reduce habitat impacts from trawl nets. Fishermen follow management measures designed to reduce interactions with marine mammals, including gear modifications, seasonal closures, and use of marine mammal deterrents.
Recreational Fishery for American Plaice American plaice are not commonly encountered by the recreational fishery. Regulations include a minimum fish size.
Scientific Classification Kingdom Animalia Phylum Chordata Class Actinopterygii Order Pleuronectiformes Family Pleuronectidae Genus Hippoglossoides Species platessoides Last updated by NOAA Fisheries on 03/21/2025
Where they live
Range
American plaice are distributed along the continental shelves from southern Labrador to Rhode Island in relatively deep water.
In the Northwest Atlantic, plaice are found along the Atlantic Coast of North America throughout the Gulf of Maine and Georges Bank.
Habitat
NOAA Fisheries and the New England Fishery Management Council manage the American plaice fishery.
American plaice, along with other groundfish in New England waters, is managed under the Northeast Multispecies Fishery Management Plan , which includes:
Permitting requirements for commercial vessels. Separate management measures for recreational vessels. Time/Area closures to protect spawning fish and habitat. Minimum fish sizes to prevent harvest of juvenile fish. Annual catch limits, based on best available science. An optional sector ( catch share ) program can be used for American plaice and other groundfish species. The sector program allows fishermen to form harvesting cooperatives and work together to decide when, where, and how they harvest fish. A rebuilding plan was put in place in 2004 and the stock rebuilt in 2019.
Harvest Commercial Fishery for American Plaice In 2022, commercial landings of American plaice totaled 1.5 million pounds, and were valued at $2.5 million, according to the NOAA Fisheries commercial fishing landings database .
Gear Types, Habitat Impacts, and Bycatch American plaice are commonly harvested using trawl nets and, to a lesser extent, gillnets.
Areas closures and gear restrictions reduce habitat impacts from trawl nets. Fishermen follow management measures designed to reduce interactions with marine mammals, including gear modifications, seasonal closures, and use of marine mammal deterrents.
Recreational Fishery for American Plaice American plaice are not commonly encountered by the recreational fishery. Regulations include a minimum fish size.
Scientific Classification Kingdom Animalia Phylum Chordata Class Actinopterygii Order Pleuronectiformes Family Pleuronectidae Genus Hippoglossoides Species platessoides Last updated by NOAA Fisheries on 03/21/2025
Ocean City & Mid-Atlantic context
From Ocean City, Maryland, use this American Plaice profile as NOAA Mid-Atlantic directory context—not a promise you will meet the species on every charter.
Always verify current Maryland and federal size, season, and bag rules for your exact date and coordinates before you keep any catch.
Source facts and imagery are adapted from the NOAA Fisheries species profile for American Plaice.
What charter to book from Ocean City
American Plaice may appear on Ocean City trips depending on season and habitat—use the NOAA biology below and book the charter archetype that matches how you will actually fish.
Possible / related
Bay guide — Possible overlap depending on season, water, and boat program.
Inshore charter — Possible overlap depending on season, water, and boat program.
Commercial Fishery for American Plaice In 2022, commercial landings of American plaice totaled 1.5 million pounds, and were valued at $2.5 million, according to the NOAA Fisheries commercial fishing landings database .
Gear Types, Habitat Impacts, and Bycatch American plaice are commonly harvested using trawl nets and, to a lesser extent, gillnets.
Areas closures and gear restrictions reduce habitat impacts from trawl nets. Fishermen follow management measures designed to reduce interactions with marine mammals, including gear modifications, seasonal closures, and use of marine mammal deterrents.
Recreational Fishery for American Plaice American plaice are not commonly encountered by the recreational fishery. Regulations include a minimum fish size.
Scientific Classification Kingdom Animalia Phylum Chordata Class Actinopterygii Order Pleuronectiformes Family Pleuronectidae Genus Hippoglossoides Species platessoides Last updated by NOAA Fisheries on 03/21/2025
Harvest
See the NOAA wild-caught fishery section for landings and gear notes when published for this species.
Landings and management details matter most for the waters where American Plaice is actually fished—see the
NOAA species profile
.
Seafood facts
Fact
Detail
Availability
Year-round.
Source
Wild-caught from Maine to Rhode Island.
Taste
Subtle, sweet flavor.
Texture
Lean and flaky.
Color
Raw American plaice ranges in color from white to pinkish to tan. Cooked flounder is pure white.
Health
American plaice is a good low-fat source of B vitamins and miacin.
After a real OC boat day or market stop for American Plaice, Seafood after boat days covers
dock buffer and cook-your-catch pacing.
