Flounder
Paralichthys (genus)
Record Weight
20 lbs 9 oz
Nassau Sound, Florida
Average Size
1-5 lbs
Preferred Temp
56°-78°F
Lifespan
7-14 years
Fight Rating
2/5
Taste Rating
5/5
Identification
Flounder have a distinctive flat, oval body with both eyes on the left side (southern flounder) or left side (summer flounder/fluke). They are brownish-green to olive on the eyed side with the ability to change color and pattern to match the bottom substrate. The blind side is white. Southern flounder lack distinctive spots, while summer flounder typically have five or more ocellated spots. They have a large mouth with sharp teeth.
Habitat & Behavior
Found on sandy and muddy bottoms in bays, estuaries, inlets, passes, nearshore reefs, and surf zones. They prefer areas where current carries baitfish past their ambush position, such as channel edges, inlet mouths, bridge pilings, and dock structures. Flounder bury themselves in the substrate with only their eyes exposed.
Flounder are lie-and-wait ambush predators. They bury themselves in sand or mud and strike upward at passing prey with remarkable speed. During fall, flounder undergo a significant offshore migration (the "flounder run") to spawn in deeper ocean waters, creating one of the most productive fishing periods of the year. They are solitary fish but often concentrate along migration corridors.
Best Techniques
Show setup details
Snapping the hookset with circle hooks — just reel tight and the hook rotates into the corner of the mouth.
Best Baits & Lures
- Live mud minnow (bull minnow)
- Live finger mullet
- Bucktail jig with Gulp! strip
- Live shrimp on bottom rig
- Berkley Gulp! swimming mullet
- Carolina-rigged live bait
- White or chartreuse grub on jighead
- Live killifish
Recommended Gear
Mustad Demon Perfect Circle Hook 8/0
Mustad
$6.99
Berkley Gulp! Alive Shrimp 3 inch
Berkley
$9.99
Seasonal Patterns
SpringSpring Fishing
Flounder move back inshore from their offshore spawning grounds as water temperatures warm into the upper 50s and 60s. They set up along channel edges, inlet mouths, and the first grass flats they encounter. Spring fishing improves steadily through May as more fish arrive and feeding intensifies.
SummerSummer Fishing
Summer offers the most consistent flounder fishing as fish are well established on their inshore feeding grounds. Target sandy areas adjacent to structure, channel drop-offs, and grass flat edges. Drift fishing with live bait or bucktail jigs tipped with minnows or Gulp! strips is highly effective.
FallFall Fishing
The fall flounder run (September through November) is the most anticipated period for flounder anglers. Fish congregate near inlets, passes, and channels as they migrate offshore to spawn. This concentration of fish creates exceptional catch rates, particularly on outgoing tides near inlet mouths.
WinterWinter Fishing
Most flounder move offshore to deeper ocean waters for spawning during winter. Inshore fishing is slow to nonexistent in most areas. Some flounder remain in deep holes in southern regions but fishing effort is minimal. This is the off-season for most flounder anglers.
State Records
Tips & Fun Facts
- Flounder are born as normal, vertically oriented fish. During metamorphosis, one eye migrates to the other side of the head and the body flattens, a transformation that takes about 5-6 weeks.
- Flounder can change their color and pattern to match the bottom they are lying on, rivaling chameleons in their camouflage ability. Studies have shown they can even mimic a checkerboard pattern.
- The southern flounder is one of the few flatfish species that regularly enters freshwater, sometimes found miles upriver from the coast in tidal river systems.
- A flounder can strike and engulf prey in less than one-hundredth of a second, making them one of the fastest ambush predators in the ocean despite their sluggish appearance.
- Gigging flounder at night with lights in shallow water is a popular and traditional harvest method along the Gulf Coast, particularly in Texas and the Carolinas.