Whether you’re into fishing or are simply thinking of giving it a try, there’s one freshwater species you should go after. A member of the Flatfish family, Flounder promises plenty of fun for beginners and pros alike, along with a delicious treat at the end of the day. And I’m here today to talk to you about how to catch Flounder from shore.
Why from shore? Well, these bottom-dwelling creatures swim right close to beaches and jetties. That means you can catch them with ease without leaving dry land. But you need to know where to go, what gear to use, and more. So, in this article, I’ll give you all the tips and techniques when it comes to fighting these unique-looking fish. By the time you’re done reading, you’ll be ready to bring at least one home. Let’s dive in!
Flounder Varieties and Characteristics
There are over 200 Flounder species across the world that inhabit different bodies of water. That’s a lot! It’s estimated that currently, there are over 30 million of these fish roaming the ocean.
Some of the most common Flounder species include the Gulf, Summer, Southern, and Winter Flounder found in the Gulf of Mexico and Western Atlantic Ocean. In addition, the European and Witch Flounder commonly inhabit European waters, and the Halibut and Olive Flounder are popular species in the North Pacific.
While each species has its own unique traits, they all have a similar look. Flounders’ bodies are flat with all the “details” – such as colors, patterns, eyes, and mouth – on one side. The underside – the belly – is usually a smooth white. The dorsal and anal fins are large and occupy most of the body, with a smaller pectoral fin towards the head, and a tail in the back.
When you find a Flounder, you shouldn’t have any trouble realizing what it is, but it may be confusing to tell which species of Flounder you’ve got. The best thing to do is search online for Flounder species in the area you’re fishing in and compare the fish to the listed species to help you identify the exact one.
Where to Go Shore Fishing for Flounder
With Flounder available across the world, there are plenty of opportunities to locate them. As this article focuses on fishing for Flounder from shore, I’ll take a look at areas you can travel to without leaving the shoreline.
Flounder are bottom feeders and the best habitats you can fish are sandy, muddy, grassy, or rocky bottoms. These fish like structure, so fishing around docks, piers, pilings, jetties, oyster bars, sandbars, and any reefs or wrecks within casting distance from shore can provide high chances of running into some Flounder.
If you have access to any inlets, passes, bays, or channels, these also are great locations to try. But below, I’ve listed a few hotspots that provide excellent Flounder shore fishing opportunities:
- Galveston Bay, TX. This is one of the most popular locations in the United States to fish for a variety of Flounder species. Miles of beaches are available for excited anglers to get out there and search for some Gulf Flounder.
- Chincoteague Bay, VA.This muddy bay holds home to many Flounder species that sit camouflaged along the bottom, awaiting prey to stroll by. The Chincoteague Pier is a hotspot for Flounder fishing.
- Saint Augustine, FL. An extremely popular tourist location, St. Augustine brings in tons of visitors year-round. Some of these visitors get in on the fishing action with the large Flounder population during Spring.
- Bay of Biscay, Spain. This beautiful bay in northern Spain provides plenty of fishing opportunities from shore for a variety of species, European Flounder being one of them.
- Tokyo Bay, Japan. This is a popular destination for fishing in Japan. Olive Flounder is caught often by anglers on shore and is then taken to create some tasty meals.
These are just a few select options for where to go shore fishing for Flounder. As you can find these fish all over the world, we’d need an encyclopedia to cover all the places you can go! Basically, though, wherever there are Flounder, try and hit some of their favored hunting grounds, and go fishing. Read on to find out more tips!
A great way to start your shore fishing adventure for Flounder is by hiring a land-based guide. That’s right, there are experienced and certified guides out there that you can fish from shore with! These are a lot more budget-friendly than hiring a charter boat, so it’s a win-win!
When to Fish for Flounder from Shore
Next up, we have the best time to fish for Flounder from shore. One thing about Flounder is that they prefer cooler conditions. Therefore, the best time of year to fish for them will be the fall and winter months when water temperatures cool down.
The best time of day to fish for Flounder is around dawn and dusk. During these times, the sun will be peeking out rather than sitting directly over the water, which would make it too hot for the Flounder.
To add, the tide also plays an influence when figuring out the best time to fish for Flounder from shore. The best tide to fish will be high tide because it will bring the Founder closer in. When the water rises, they have more room to roam around and reach places that weren’t underwater during low tide. Another bonus is that, during an incoming high tide, bait will be pushed inshore as well, which will get hungry Flounder fired up.
If you have an opportunity to fish on a cool, fall day, with a high tide at dawn, your chances of catching a Flounder are already pretty high. Keep on reading to discover more tips and techniques on how to catch Flounder from shore.
Recommended Bait for Flounder
Here we have the most important tool for fishing, the bait. Without the bait, how will you get a fish to bite? Flounder tend to eat a lot of things, but a couple of things to keep in mind is that they don’t have very big mouths and they eat around the bottom. With that being said, I have a few baits to share that are proven to work for Flounder…
Favorite snacks of Flounder include shrimp, pinfish, pilchards, mullet, and more. You can use these live with a sinker added to keep them at the bottom, or you can use them as cut bait. For artificial bait, Gulp shrimp, jerk baits, bucktail jigs, and jig heads with soft plastics are great choices.
The Best Gear for Flounder Shore Fishing
Now that you’ve got your bait, it’s time to get your gear! Flounder aren’t too big or too heavy, therefore any basic saltwater setup you have should work just fine. When it comes to your line, a 15 lb braid paired with a 20 lb fluorocarbon leader is a good medium. For hooks, you should use sizes 1/0 or 2/0 due to the fish’s small mouths. Jig heads and lures should be similar in size.
The same goes for any setup you use, whether it’s spinning, conventional, bait casting, fly, etc. You want something that’s light enough to intensify but withstand the fight. Some anglers enjoy gigging or bowfishing for Flounder as they say it’s more of an excitement. These methods mostly come in handy during nighttime hours.
Flounder Shore Fishing Techniques
Moving on, I’ll now shed light on the best methods and techniques that are used to catch a Flounder from shore. From capturing their attention to getting them to bite, how to strategically fight them, and successfully bring them in, let’s take a closer look.
The best way to capture a Flounder’s attention is by having your bait sit along the bottom in an area they inhabit, whether you sightsee them place them close to structure, or find them on a sandy or grassy bottom. If it’s live, the bait will do the work. If it’s dead, the odor will attract Flounder. When it comes to artificials, give the bait some jerks to make it appear more realistic. The appearance, smell, and/or movement will capture their attention and will get them to bite.
Once your Flounder bites the bait, allow them a few seconds to actually get it into their mouth. If you go to hookset before it’s in the fish’s mouth, it will just pull the hook. Once the fish is hooked, reel them in quickly without increasing tension on the line. They’re known to jump, so be sure to prevent any slack and make sure it’s not too tight so the hook doesn’t pull.
Once you get them to shore, scoop them up with a net (if you have one) or just walk backwards until your fish is on land. It’s possible they can shake loose at the last second so don’t let your guard down. Once you successfully get them in, be sure to give yourself a pat on the back because you didn’t fall victim to losing to an escape artist!
Flounder Shore Fishing Regulations
As an angler, you silently take an oath to obey the rules of fishing and to always respect the sea life. The first step of obeying the rules for Flounder fishing includes having a saltwater fishing license. Most areas will require this if you want to participate in the act of fishing in the ocean. You can purchase them online, over the phone, in certain stores, and in government offices.
As Flounder fishing is done in various countries, rules can differ when it comes to licensing, as well as harvesting. The best thing to do is look online for your local fish and wildlife conservation and review the regulations for your area. What is mandated in Florida will differ from Japan, for example, so it’s important you do the research for your region.
Shore Fishing for Flounder: It’s Now Your Turn
Shore fishing for Flounder is a great opportunity for anglers who don’t have access to a boat and can’t get out further on the water. Turn your next beach day into a fishing opportunity by bringing along some poles and bait. And, by utilizing the tips I’ve given you above, you’re sure to come out successful! I wish you tight lines as you escape into your next fishing journey.
Have you ever caught Flounder from shore? What bait did you use? Do you have any favorite gear? Let us know in the comments below!
