Flounder

Southern Flounder are master practitioners of camouflage, blending perfectly into the muddy or sandy bottoms of estuaries and coastal bays. As flatfish, they possess both eyes on one side of their head, allowing them to remain buried in the silt while scanning the water column for unsuspecting prey. Because they rely on ambush tactics rather than chasing down meals, they are prized by anglers for the 'thump' they give when they strike, requiring a specific technique of allowing the fish time to turn and consume the bait before setting the hook.

Anglers target these fish primarily during their migration phases, particularly the fall 'gigging' and rod-and-reel run when mature flounder head toward the ocean to spawn. They are highly sought after not just for their challenging, deliberate strike, but for their status as one of the finest table-fare fish in North American coastal waters.

• Asymmetric body with both eyes located on the left side of the head.
• Dark brown to olive coloration with irregular, mottled spots that change to match the substrate.
• Large mouth extending past the eye with sharp, needle-like teeth.
• Ability to bury themselves entirely in sediment, leaving only eyes and mouth visible.
• White or pale underbelly.

Southern flounder are ambush predators that rely on their camouflage to bury in sediment, waiting for prey like shrimp and small fish to pass by. They are primarily visual hunters, making them most active during periods of moving water, especially incoming tides. While they can feed throughout the day, low light conditions around dawn and dusk often trigger increased aggression. As water temperatures drop in the autumn, these fish begin a significant migration from shallow backwaters toward offshore Gulf inlets.

Spawning occurs primarily during the late fall and winter months as mature flounder migrate out of estuaries into deeper ocean waters. This process is triggered by cooling water temperatures and shortening day length, which drives the mass exodus toward inlets. During this period, fishing becomes highly productive near pass mouths and deep-channel structures where the fish congregate. Once spawning is complete, adult flounder do not immediately return to the shallows, making spring fishing more hit-or-miss compared to the fall run.