How to catch Flounder
Paralichthys lethostigma
Also known as southern flounder, flatfish.
Flounder are ambush-feeding flatfish targeted along inlets, docks, and channel edges throughout the US South, prized for the table.
🏆 World record: The IGFA tracks all-tackle world records for several flounder species. IGFA records can change over time, so confirm the relevant current mark at igfa.org. All records →
Where to find them
Sandy bottom near structure, inlets, and docks
Season
Best in the fall migration ('flounder run')
Best baits & lures for Flounder
Slowly drag or hop a bait along the bottom near structure. Set the hook after a short pause when a flounder eats.
Timing matters as much as tackle. Baitful reads the tide stage, pressure trend, solunar windows and weather at your spot and scores the bite, so you fish Flounder when conditions line up.
Catch to table: Flounder
A classic mild flatfish that is excellent eating and easy to prepare. Keep legal-size fish within local limits.
Taste: Delicate, sweet, and mild with thin, tender white fillets. Light and quick-cooking.
Cleaning: Fillet both sides off the flat frame, then skin each fillet for four clean boneless pieces.
How to cook it
- • Bread and pan-fry for classic fried flounder.
- • Stuff and bake with crab or breadcrumb stuffing.
- • Broil with butter, lemon, and herbs.
Tip: Cook gently and briefly; the thin fillets overcook fast. Keep on ice until you fillet.
Ikejime this fish for firmer, cleaner-tasting fillets and longer shelf life.
Where to catch Flounder
Book a Flounder charter
Guides and charter boats that target Flounder, by destination:
Catching Flounder: FAQ
What's the best bait for Flounder?
Proven options include live mud minnows, finger mullet, soft plastic on a jig. Slowly drag or hop a bait along the bottom near structure. Set the hook after a short pause when a flounder eats.
When is the best time to catch Flounder?
Best in the fall migration ('flounder run'). Day to day, moving water and low-light periods around dawn and dusk usually fish best.
Where do you find Flounder?
Look for Sandy bottom near structure, inlets, and docks. Anglers target them at spots like Charleston, Tampa Bay, Port Aransas.