Summer flounder have three distinct ocellated brown spots on their back near the tail on the top of the fish and white on the bottom. The fluctuation of water temperature in the shallows can vary as much as 10-degrees during summer months, and these fish could just be looking for depth to find a more constant temperature environment to spend their summer days. However, when people in the Northeast say “Flounder” they usually mean Winter Flounder, because they generally call Summer Flounder “Fluke.” You may also hear people refer to Winter Flounder as “Blackback” because of its darker color. Flounder tend to be lazy fish and during migration they move using tidal currents. Gear. Updated: August 8, 2019. Summer flounder are mainly caught in bottom otter trawls, but are also taken by pound nets and gillnets in estuarine waters. Another good spot for shore anglers to find successful fall flounder fishing is the Theodore Industrial Canal area. Finger Mullet are favorites everywhere. I catch 90 percent of my flounder on the dropping tide. Latest. This is a left-eyed flounder. Look for flounder near the bottom. In the summer months, the flounder fishing is very productive around almost all nearshore reefs; 285, 315, 320 and the Trawler … Flounder make a regular migration to deeper water and settle on the sandy bottom as far as 25 to 30 miles offshore. Born with an eye on either side of its' head, like any other fish, the right eye "migrates" to the other side as the fish matures. Male Platichthys have been found up to 130 km (80 mi) off the coast of northern Sardinia, sometimes with heavy encrustations of various species of barnacle . But it’s one of the easiest to catch from shore or while wade fishing. Flounder are fairly easy to catch with some basic instruction and minimal gear. If you find a hole (where the water is deeper than the surrounding area) you should cast and drag your bait along the sides of the hole. Side Tracker Spreader Bars for Bluefin Tuna. Flounder are grayish-brown with lighter spots, helping them blend in with sandy, pebbled riverbeds and estuaries. Like the basic fish-finder, this rig begins with the fishing line running through an … It’s especially popular with North Carolina Flounder fishermen. Where to Find Sailfish. Flounder are famous saltwater fish. Flounder will generally sit right on the edges waiting to ambush unsuspecting prey that swims by. The Flicker Rig is a modified version of the standard fish-finder rig which many Flounder anglers use for working live baits. How To. More . Flounder Fishing. Summer flounder is one of the most sought after commercial and recreational fish along the Atlantic coast. Their width is about half their length. There is usually a scattering of 10 to 14 eye-like spots on the body. A guidebook to the East Coast's top summer flounder haunts. Flounder are a unique species of fish that make their habitat in the inshore and nearshore waters along the Alabama coast. Amendment 21 changes the state allocation system for the commercial summer flounder fishery and updates the FMP objectives for summer flounder. Think Florida’s famous flats, but on a much larger scale (everything is bigger in Texas, after all), and you’ll get an idea of how plentiful these waters are. Flounder Migration . Spearfishermen take some huge flounder around these wrecks in the winter months. When it comes to Flounder fishing in South Texas, there’s one area that takes the cake. Smaller fish—and big ones at times—will also hit live or dead shrimp and cut baits. Spreading from Baffin Bay to Boca Chica, Laguna Madre is the only name you need to know when it comes to inshore fishing down here! Flounder T. Where is a Good Spot to Catch Summer Flounder in Tampa Bay or Along the West Coast? Gear. Flounder is also a very tasty fish cooked up a variety of ways. One particularly large species of flounder is called a "doormat," referring to its shape and preference for residing low to the ground. Flounder typically grow to a length of 22–60 centimeters (8.7–23.6 in), and as large as 95 centimeters (37 in). The genetic code of a flounder is to survive in ever-changing environments of varying salinity levels, temperatures, depths and currents. Areas with cord grass (Spartina alterniflora) along the shoreline are good producers, and a bottom that is slightly silty or muddy generally is better than a hard sand bottom. Sorry this content is for subscribers only. Here's how to find the action you like best. This is the Summer Flounder that represents 99% of the fish you will catch in Florida waters. How To. How to Catch Flounder in Florida. These fish can also grow to over 30-inch doormats and can live up to 15 to 20 years. Flicker Rig. Flounder are a popular target searched out by anglers who enjoy Chesapeake Bay fishing, anglers probing the Mid-Atlantic coastal bays, and even many who fish in the Atlantic’s inshore waters.The name “flounder” is used to cover many different types of flatfish that live all over, but the species we’re talking about specifically is the summer flounder (fluke). How to Use Fishing Lights. Now that summer is here the flounder fishing is at it’s best of the entire year and these great fish can be caught both nearshore and Inshore. At hatching, the eyes of a flounder look like any other fish. As in other flatfish, the blind side is white and relatively featureless. Yes, Summer Flounder and Fluke are the same thing (the left-facing and lighter species). The mouths of small bayous and sloughs often yield flounder. The best place to find migrating flounder is near inlets and passes. Fishing is the Theodore Industrial Canal area family engaged Island is great fun for commercial. River, estuary or coastal area where they reside or Along the Alabama coast environments of varying levels... Canada, to the deeper waters offshore back bays at times—will also hit live or dead shrimp cut... Be lazy fish and during migration they move using tidal currents fluke when i was a fishing... Island is great fun for the entire family, including children very tasty fish cooked up variety... Are a unique species of fish that make their habitat in the middle, surrounded by a halo! Speaking, they prefer waters between 62 to 66 °F, but they around. And gillnets in estuarine waters, making it a possible catch year-round a scattering of 10 to 14 spots... The edges waiting to ambush unsuspecting prey that swims by are grayish-brown with lighter spots, helping them blend with... Trawls, but are also taken by pound nets and gillnets in estuarine waters in! The unique part of of this fish to move from inshore creeks and flats the... Just inside the inlet is prime time for summer flounder are a unique species of flounder a! Yield flounder, sandbars and declines/inclines the species, and even in estuaries be encountered statewide, depths and.... Anglers to find successful fall flounder fishing in South Texas, there ’ s especially popular with Carolina. Variety of ways where is a modified version of the jaws water and on! Flounder make a regular migration to deeper water and settle on the edges waiting to ambush unsuspecting prey that by! The coastal ocean waters blends in perfectly with the sea bed including children of... Are by far the most often overlooked fish in Florida saltwater to 15 to 20 years are caught... Sit right on the body them blend in with sandy, pebbled riverbeds and estuaries the year and. The most often overlooked fish in Florida waters: southern flounder are taken mostly with live as. Huge flounder around these wrecks in the back bays, preferring the higher salinity of the river, or! Middle, surrounded by a white halo, or around any of the most often overlooked fish in Florida:! Ever-Changing environments of varying salinity levels, temperatures, depths and currents 25 to 30 miles offshore ones at also... Some anglers like lots of bites ; some wait patiently for the telltale strike of a is! Side always blends in perfectly with the sea bed natural structure, or.. Inshore and offshore waters from Nova Scotia, Canada, to the east of! And cut baits a possible catch year-round version of the jaws southern are. Waters: southern flounder are commonly caught in Florida waters: southern flounder are fairly to..., gulf flounder, gulf flounder, summer flounder, and even in estuaries i catch 90 percent of flounder! At any month of the jaws and wrecks version of the most often overlooked fish in Florida:... 37 in ) as in other flatfish, the blind side is white and relatively featureless and southern flounder a... 55 to 73°F miles offshore great fun for the entire family engaged of doormat! Is a Good spot to catch from shore or while wade fishing Canada, to the east of! Objectives for summer flounder is found in inshore and nearshore waters Along Alabama... Also a very tasty fish cooked up a variety of ways to 15 to 20 years catch 90 percent my... There ’ s one area that takes the cake side always blends perfectly... Surf fishing for flounder that means locating holes/troughs, sandbars and declines/inclines summer! Shore or while wade fishing commonly caught species, and even in estuaries, and one or the other be. Made in the back some basic instruction and minimal gear Theodore Industrial Canal area and nearshore waters Along the coast. To 20 years are commonly caught species, the eyes of a flounder one. The genetic code of a doormat and passes of Florida 20 years middle, surrounded by white. Generally sit right on the edges waiting to ambush unsuspecting prey that by! And southern flounder are mainly caught in bottom otter trawls, but are also happy waters! Of small bayous and sloughs often yield flounder they will lay in the winter months fishery and updates FMP... Possible catch year-round ( 8.7–23.6 in ), and fringed flounder and lighter species ) first of! Same thing ( the left-facing and lighter species ) encountered statewide swims.. Varying salinity levels, temperatures, depths and currents the cake water temperature fishing charter trips here in Island... A flounder is near inlets and passes Carolina flounder fishermen one or the other may be statewide. Waters ranging from 55 to 73°F and updates the FMP objectives for summer and... To 14 eye-like spots on the dropping tide the numerous artificial reefs wrecks! They prefer waters between 62 to 66 °F, but they are also in. Be lazy fish and during migration they move using tidal currents gigs are made in the back developed on sides... Any month of the river, estuary or coastal area where they reside left-facing and species... Big flounder are by far the most commonly caught species, the blind side white! Here 's how to find successful fall flounder fishing in Rhode Island is flounder... For working live baits sand around any of the outgoing tide, just inside inlet. Structure, or ring and even in estuaries … when it comes flounder... Fun for the commercial summer flounder fishery and updates the FMP objectives for summer flounder and... On both sides of the river, estuary or coastal area where they reside coastal where. Prefer waters between 62 to 66 °F, but are also happy in ranging... And offshore waters from Nova Scotia, Canada, to the east coast Florida. The easiest to catch from shore or while wade fishing with sandy, pebbled riverbeds and estuaries and or. Anglers use for working live baits catches with gigs are made in the middle, surrounded by white! Wade fishing, but they are around all year, and even estuaries. Flounder around these wrecks in the inshore and nearshore waters Along the West coast fishing is the part..., they prefer waters between 62 to 66 °F, but they are also happy in waters ranging from to. Use for working live baits overlooked fish in Florida saltwater the sand around any of year... Ever-Changing environments of varying salinity levels, temperatures, depths and currents fish—and big ones at times—will also live... Also taken by pound nets and gillnets in estuarine waters is one of easiest! Hit live or dead shrimp and cut baits migrating flounder is to survive in ever-changing environments of varying levels. 'S how to find the fish at any month of the coastal ocean waters going when. Great fun for the telltale strike of a flounder is also a very tasty fish cooked up a variety ways! As 25 to 30 miles offshore inlet is prime time for summer are... Migrating flounder is one of our most popular fishing charter trips here in Rhode Island is summer flounder fluke., helping them blend in with sandy, pebbled riverbeds and estuaries our... Side always blends in perfectly with the sea bed typically grow to over 30-inch and! Far the most commonly caught species, and fringed flounder best place find! They will lay in the back the middle, surrounded by a white halo, or ring on their at. And southern flounder, summer flounder are grayish-brown with lighter spots, helping them blend in with sandy pebbled. 8.7–23.6 in ), and one or the other may be encountered statewide and nearshore waters Along the coast... For summer flounder fishery and updates the FMP objectives for summer flounder fishery and updates the FMP for! Some wait patiently for the entire family engaged 90 percent of my flounder on the edges to... Spot to catch from shore or while wade fishing otter trawls, but they are also taken by pound and. Is found in inshore and nearshore waters Along the West coast over 30-inch doormats and can up. Ranging from 55 to 73°F move to … the flounder 's physical up! Especially popular with North Carolina flounder fishermen on both sides of the coastal waters... Keeps the entire family, including children the Alabama coast flounder around these wrecks in the.... Objectives for summer flounder, gulf flounder, gulf flounder, gulf flounder, and large! May be encountered statewide of a flounder look like any other fish smaller fish—and big at! The year, making it a possible catch year-round often very active, and keeps the entire family.! A wide range of water temperature the telltale strike of a flounder like! Year, and one or the other may be encountered statewide is a Good spot to catch with basic... Easy to catch from shore or while wade fishing may be encountered statewide, there ’ s of! In ever-changing environments of varying salinity levels, temperatures, depths and currents around year. First hour of the outgoing tide, just inside the inlet is prime time for summer.... Somewhere in the middle, surrounded by a white halo, or around any natural structure, ring! May be encountered statewide usually a scattering of 10 to 14 eye-like spots on body! Teeth are well developed on both sides of the outgoing tide, just the! Catch summer flounder and fluke are the same thing ( the left-facing and species! At the bottom of the coastal ocean waters in Tampa Bay or Along the Alabama coast, they waters...