Flounder

• Description
  • Body color brown, its shade depending on color of bottom, with numerous spots and blotches. Strong canine-like teeth; caudal fin in shape of wedge, its tip in the middle.
  
  

  ---

  
  
• General Information
  • This flat, bottom dwelling fish, represented in Florida by two species- the summer and southern flounder, is more common than many anglers think.
  • They can be caught at any time of the day, and stage of the tide is more critical than time. Moving water, generally incoming to high tide, is the best, especially around inlets.
  • Peak season is in the fall.
  
  

  ---

  
  
• Distribution
  • The largest fish come from the northern part of Florida although good numbers of smaller fish are caught in the southern half of the state.
  • The best places to find flounder are the passes, inlets, nearshore waters, and backwater bays close to the Gulf of Mexico.
  • Also found INSHORE on sandy or mud bottoms, often ranging into tidal creeks; occasionally caught on NEARSHORE rocky reefs.
  
  

  ---

  
  
• Tackle and Techniques
  • The traditional medium duty spinning or bait-casting rod and reel with 6-20 pound test line and a monofilament leader is more than sufficient for this species.
  • Light tackle also works best, since flounder rarely bite hard; they often just hold onto a bait before swallowing it.
  
  

  ---

  
  
• Bait
  • Small live finger mullet are the bait of choice along the Atlantic coast.
  • Bull minnows are a favorite of upper Gulf coast anglers.
  • Lures seldom generate strikes by flounder except for jigs tipped with shrimp and worked slowly along the bottom.
  
  

Secrets to Success

The flounder's bite can be very subtle so you must be feeling for a gentle tapping. With time you can learn to distinguish the fish's bite to determine when to set the hook. Resist your temptation to set the hook as soon as you feel the bite. Let the fish take the bait and swim away with it. Count to 15 giving the fish time to swallow the bait, and then set the hook hard.