Southern flounder in Florida
Meet the species
Scientific name
Paralichthys lethostigma
Overview
Brackish bays and estuaries, sometimes ranging into tidal creeks and freshwater.
Typical size
Common to 20 inches brackish bays and estuaries, sometimes ranging into tidal creeks and freshwater. Right eye migrates over to left side early in life
At a glance
- Peak months
- March–may, september–november
- Regions
- Panhandle, northeast, central east
- Water
- Saltwater
- Bait
- Killifish (mud minnows), finger mullet, small sardines & shrimp
When to fish
Peak months
March–may, september–november
Good months
January–december
Season notes
Months mentioned in profile narrative (not a fishing calendar): may best-time months from FWC Where-to-Fish: peak from seasonal WTF bullets (n sea 9, n yr 1, thresh> 4). Peak mar, apr, may, sep, oct, nov good jan, feb, mar, jun, jul, aug, nov & dec.
Where to fish
Florida regions
Panhandle, northeast & central east
Water
Saltwater
Habitat
Brackish bays and estuaries, sometimes ranging into tidal creeks and freshwater.
How to catch
Carolina rig live bait along marsh and creek drop-offs
Bait
Killifish (mud minnows), finger mullet, small sardines & shrimp
Lures
Scented soft plastics on jigs & gold spoons
Videos
- I used these techniques to catch Florida surf flounder! · Open original
- Southern flounder [catch, clean, cook] ** delicious and easy ** · Open original
- How to catch & fillet BIG flounder EASY! · Open original
- Catch loads of flounder from the beach! *everything you need to know* · Open original
- Video from tiktok.com (source title unavailable) · Open original
- Video from tiktok.com (source title unavailable) · Open original
- Video from tiktok.com (source title unavailable) · Open original
- Video from tiktok.com (source title unavailable) · Open original
Sources
- Myfwc.com (2 pages)
- Floridasportsman.com
Information comes from the supplied source datasets. Check linked FWC regulations for current rules.