How Can I Catch Flounder?

The Flounder is a type of a fish. The best time for fishing for flounders is during the spring or autumn. Flounders can also be caught in the summer time; however the meat of the flounder caught at this time will be soft and unpleasant for eating.

To catch a flounder is a very easy task as these fishes will bite at almost on anything as fish bait, this bait can also include any kind of tackle. The recommended size of a hook to catch a flounder fish is that of No.8 Although any other hook can also be used, No 8. is most commonly used and thus recommended. The Flounder fish is also known as an excellent pan fish. However the only draw back of a flounder fish is that they should be cooked as soon as possible after being caught.

There are two ways to catch flounder.  First is Night gigging and the second is to fish the shollows or  find a channel with a drop off point from the shallows  (this is salt water fishing ).



Night giging can be fun and it can be dangerous - depends on how you look at it and how careful you are.  First find  a spot where it drops of into deeper water (normally scout this out during the day).  Get you a nice bright lantern with a shield that projects the light forward in front of you.  You'll also need wading shoes(old tennis shoes are grea)a barbless gig either 2 or 3 prong(i prefer the 3) a stringer with an extra length of rope tied to it so the fish won't be hanging on your leg and instead drag behind you.  Or if you don't have a stringer,  use a burlap bag with a rope tied to it in the same fashion as the stringer.

Now you're set.  When it's dark ease out to the flats or shallows, close to the drop off channel, get your lantern set with the light shield facing forward ( by the way you don't need one if you can't find one but it's wise -  with the light facing forward the fish will be blinded by the light.)  

Now this is when is can get dangerous!  As you ease along you're looking for a pair of eyes looking straight up with the body covered by the sand.  REMEMBER to shuffle your feet ( you protect yourself this way from stingrays lying in the sand because you'll kick them up instead of stepping on them and that can be BAD!

Pretty soon you'll see a pair of eyes looking up and the body covered by the sand.  Remember grown flounder have 2 eyes on the topside of their body.  Make out the outline of the body holding your lantern to blind it.

Then take your gig and stab it about  6 inches behind the eyes. ( it's generally wise to have a partner to go with you so once a fish is giged the other can hold the lantern)  Gently reach your hand under the fish and grab the gig barbs so when you pull the fish out of the sand it won't slide off.

Lift the fish up and have your partner string it or put it in your burlap sack.  THAT's it!  Good luck.  PS  In this type of fishing everyone develops their own style.  Remember watches out for the sting rays!

No Flounder fishing from a boat or wading along the edge of the channel is a little bit easier.  Ease up to the edge of the channel so you line can drift with the current along the drop off deep edge of the channel.  You should have preferably a steel leader or really heavy monofiliment line - say 18-20 test.

Set you cork about 3-5 feet from the treble hook (a medium size is suggested) put a couple of lead shots about 10 inches from the hook.  

Drop your line over and let it drift with the current along the drop off.  As for bait I would suggest live shrimp if you can get them or minnows.

Now watch your cork(flounders have a hard mouth-thus the treble hook) You'll see it go under DON"T SET THE HOOK! Wait it'll come up again and then go under again DON"T SET THE HOOK!

You see the flounder likes to chew on its food not just swallow it all at once.  So when the cork goes down for the 3rd time SET THE HOOK! And you've got a great fight on!

Of course experiences will vary and you may be able to set the cork on the second time.  This is just 20+ years of fishing experience talking.

Good luck!  If you want to see and hear more fishing and other outdoor experiences, go to this web site.

CHECK OUT ----   www.downthebarrell.com