The Directed Virginia Offshore Summer Flounder Fishery will close at 6 p.m. Friday.

Vessels that have entered Virginia waters and are secured to an offloading site prior to that time may possess and offload no greater than 12,500 pounds of summer flounder during the April 3-5 landing period, said Virginia Marine Resources Commission spokesman John Bull.

Based upon landing reports from the National Marine Fisheries Service, Virginia seafood buyers and VMRC Law Enforcement, it is projected that Virginia will have harvested 85 percent of the First Period Offshore Quota of 1,511,985 pounds of summer flounder by this Friday.

After 6 p.m. Friday, VMRC said it will be unlawful for any person harvesting summer flounder outside of Virginia’s waters to possess on board any vessel in Virginia waters any amount of summer flounder, in excess of 10 percent by weight, of Atlantic croaker or the combined landings, on board a vessel, of black sea bass, scup, squid, scallops and Atlantic m...