Gulf flounder

US fish and state coverage

Paralichthys albigutta

A state link is a recorded source association, not a catch guarantee or confirmation that targeting is legal. Check current regulations with the responsible state agency.

Peak months
Mar · Apr · May · Sep · Oct · Nov
Typical depth
2-8 typical inshore ambush; nearshore reefs occasionally (FWC) ft
Typical size
commonly up to 14 inches (2 pounds) Inshore on sandy or mud bottoms, often ranging into tidal creeks. Occasionally caught on nearshore rocky reefs
Catch minimum
National record

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Biology, seasons and size reflect the canonical source record, which may contain Florida context. They are not state-specific guidance for every linked state. Missing fields remain unfilled.

Overview

Habitat summary
Inshore on sandy or mud bottoms, often ranging into tidal creeks. Occasionally caught on nearshore rocky reefs.
Diet
Feeds on crustaceans and small fishes.
Water type
saltwater

When to fish

Peak months
Mar · Apr · May · Sep · Oct · Nov
Good months
Jan · Feb · Mar · Apr · May · Jun · Jul · Aug · Sep · Oct · Nov · Dec
Seasonality
A bottom-dweller thought to spawn offshore. lethostigma (may have 5 or more spots but they are not eyelike) ; summer flounder, P. · FWC Where-to-Fish best times (regional): Spring, fall; May, fall; Year-round; Fall-spring; Winter-spring
Migration notes
Right eye migrates over to left side early in life.
Bite time of day
moving tide windows; warmer midday in winter (guide)
Best time of day
moving tide windows; warmer midday in winter (guide)
Tide effect
strong falling tide preferred at creek mouths, oyster cuts, and marsh edges
Preferred tide
outgoing preferred at creek mouths/channel edges; winter incoming also cited
Tide notes
Common inshore guide table: flounder ambush on outgoing at sandy channel edges, creek mouths, bridge bases. Salt Strong FL W Coast: winter incoming often best; new-moon outgoing also works for some captains. Moving water critical.
Moon notes
Salt Strong: new-moon outgoing sometimes productive (Capt. Danny)—anecdote.
Water temp notes
No FWC numeric preferred band. Salt Strong West Coast flounder blueprint (guide): winter warmer part of day with tidal movement; spring talk around ~76–78°F shelf activity—forum/guide, not FWC. Left out of optimal field.
Wind preference
any fishable
Pressure notes
Not flounder-specific in sourced materials.

Where to fish

Habitat summary
Inshore on sandy or mud bottoms, often ranging into tidal creeks. Occasionally caught on nearshore rocky reefs.
Habitat zone
inshore
Fishing zone
inshore
Structure types
creek mouth · channel edge · bridge · sand flat · mud flat · dock · jetty · pothole
Water clarity salinity notes
FWC: sandy or mud bottoms; tidal creeks; camouflage to match bottom.
Current flow notes
Ambush where bait drains on outgoing; points with deep washouts.
Typical depth
2-8 typical inshore ambush; nearshore reefs occasionally (FWC) ft

How to catch

Techniques
Carolina/slip-sinker live bait; hop jigs along bottom; target ambush shelves
Reel type
spinning
Drag gear notes
Light–medium spin; soft plastics on jig heads; live mud minnows/finger mullet freelined or under float near bottom.

Bait & lures

Preferred bait
killifish (mud minnows); finger mullet; small pinfish; shrimp
Preferred lures
scented soft plastics on jig heads; gold spoons; swimbaits at creek mouths
Bait live
killifish/mud minnows · finger mullet · small pinfish · shrimp
Lures
scented soft plastics on jig heads · gold spoons · swimbaits

Size

Typical size
commonly up to 14 inches (2 pounds) Inshore on sandy or mud bottoms, often ranging into tidal creeks. Occasionally caught on nearshore rocky reefs

Records

Recorded catches retain their source scope; state and world catches are not national records.

No record catch is in the source.

Browse sourced catches for this species

Related states & places

Place links are planning context, not proof of local species presence. Florida city links marked local context follow existing directory relationships, not catch reports.

Source-linked directories

Real local listings currently cover Florida only. Boat-ramp, charter and creator links below follow existing Florida species relationships. Bait-shop links are city context only, not species-targeting evidence.

Boat ramps — Florida

Selected examples from 735 source-linked directory records.

Browse the Florida boat ramps directory

Charter captains — Florida

Selected examples from 22 source-linked directory records.

Browse the Florida charter captains directory

Bait shops — Florida

Selected examples from 412 source-linked city-context records.

Browse the Florida bait shops directory

Fishing creators — Florida

Selected examples from 76 source-linked directory records.

Browse the Florida fishing creators directory

Related species

Navigation links share a recorded scientific genus or a source state and water-type grouping. This is not a claim of identical habitat or legal targeting.

Source evidence by state

Legacy Florida source profiles

LoveToFish is a national fishing guide. Fish species coverage spans all 50 states. Ramp, charter, bait shop, and creator directories currently cover Florida. Verify current local regulations with the responsible agency.