Flounder Fishing

What's the best bait for summer flounder (fluke)?

Flounder will eat almost anything. They've been caught on eels, shrimp, crabs, silversides, strips of cut bait, and most predominantly live bait. Minnows and squid strips are far and away the most popular baits in most areas.

There are many flounder rigs available in local tackle shops. They are available in every color under the rainbow but if you have white, pink, and chartreuse you've probably got all you need.

Depending the depth and current, you'll need a selection of sinkers from 1/2 to 3 ounces. Some anglers prefer found that sinkers glide over the bottom easily and are less prone to hang ups.

While it's true that bigger baits catch bigger fish, don't forget that elephants eat peanuts too. Flounder are notorious for mouthing a bait before they eat it. When you feel a flounder bite, give them a little drop-back. Some people will feed them line for a few seconds. Other anglers hook flounder by pointing the rod at them and when you feel the weight of the fish, lift up the rod tip.

Play flounder steady, don't try to horse into the boat. When the fish reaches the boat, the anglers should lead the fish head first towards the net.

Southern flounder (Paralichthys lethostigma) occur from North Carolina to the mouth of the Rio Grande and southward into Mexico. The species are estuarine dependent members of the left-eyed flounder family that include summer flounder and Gulf flounder. Southern flounder migrate offshore and south during late fall and winter and inshore and northward during late spring and summer. Female of the species may reach lengths up to 36 inches and weigh over 20 pounds while males seldom exceed 12 inches in length.

Winter flounder are fun to catch on light tackle. Try using a medium action spinning rod with a 10-15 lb. test line. fasten snells or leaders with flounder hooks at the end of a wire spreader with a sinker attached 12 to 18 inches below. Pay attention or the flounder will sneak away with the bait.

Broiled Flounder Parmesan

2 pounds flounder fillets
2 tablespoons lemon juice
1/2 cup grated Parmesan cheese
3 tablespoons mayonnaise
1/4 teaspoon salt
1/4 cup butter, room temperature
3 green onions, chopped
thinly sliced lemon and parsley for garnish, optional

Place fillets in a single layer on a greased baking dish or broiler
pan; brush with lemon juice.

Combine Parmesan cheese, mayonnaise, salt, butter, and green onions in
a small bowl; set aside.

Broil flounder fillets 4 to 6 minutes, or until fish flakes easily
with a fork. Remove from oven; spread with cheese
mixture.

Broil about 30 seconds longer, or until cheese is lightly browned and bubbly.

Garnish with sliced lemon and parsley if desired.

Serves 6 to 8.

Yellowtail flounder reach maximum sizes of roughly 22 inches total length and 2.2 pounds in weight. They are found along the Atlantic coast of North America from the Gulf of St. Lawrence, Labrador, and Newfoundland to the Chesapeake Bay. Yellowtail flounder prefer sandy bottoms in waters between 130 and 230 feet.

Maryland's 2009 Summer Flounder season is underway, and the Maryland Department of Natural Resources (DNR) is urging anglers to get involved with the State's summer flounder survey.

"The anglers who volunteer their catch data as part of this survey play an important role in summer flounder management in Maryland, as well as along the Atlantic Coast," said Fisheries Director Tom O'Connell. "As we prepare to begin another exciting summer flounder season, it is important that anglers continue to provide us all of the same valuable data they have in the past which helps guide future decisions to ensure a sustainable summer flounder population."

By recording information on fishing trips that target summer flounder, anglers become active participants in summer flounder management. The survey data are later used to guide DNR's establishment of creel, minimum size and season limits for flounder.

For 2009, anglers are encouraged to measure to the nearest quarter inch, continue to report trips where flounder are targeted but not caught, and promote the survey to fellow anglers, especially in less-fished areas. Anglers are reminded to fill out the survey in full, providing data about the date, location, and number of anglers in the party, method used and the total number of flounder kept, as well as the total number released.

The average length of flounder caught in 2008 was 13.4 inches, which has remained relatively consistent for the past seven years. In 2008, a total of 11,056 fish were reported caught on 883 trips. The majority of angler activity occurred along the Atlantic coast, with less than 6 percent taking place in the Chesapeake Bay. Approximately 10 percent of trips targeting flounder resulted in no flounder being caught.

To learn more or to participate in the survey visit:

http://www.dnr.maryland.gov/fisheries/survey/sfsurveyintro.html

Information and survey packets are also available by mail, through contacting Allison Luettel at 410-260-8343 or aluettel@dnr.state.md.us.

ATTENTION FISHERMEN:

Florescent green circular tags are pinned through the anterior dorsal region of the fish (see graphic). The "button" portion of the tag bears a serial number and a contact phone number. A select number of fish will also have acoustic tracking tags attached. We encourage the release of any tagged fish with the tag still attached, especially sub-legal sized fish, so that further data can be collected from subsequent recaptures. Any fish with tracking tags should be retained since the tags are reusable.

Whom to contact?

Fishermen encountering these tags are requested to report recapture information to Paul Caruso at the following addresses or phone number:

Massachusetts Division of Marine Fisheries
1213 Purchase St- 3rd Floor
New Bedford, MA 02740
E-mail: paul.caruso@state.ma.us
Phone number 508-990-2860 x 107

What to report?

The serial number, location of recapture, date captured, length of the fish, and your name, address, and telephone number should all be reported. Responders will receive a reward, and randomly selected responders will receive a $100 gift certificate, good for the purchase of fishing equipment or supplies.

Why are summer flounder being tagged?

Summer flounder are being tagged in Massachusetts's waters to determine movement patterns and if the same fish return to local waters in subsequent years. Results of this study could allow the evaluation of alternative management strategies in the future that could benefit local fisheries.