How to Catch Flounder: Depth, Bait, Lures and Rigs
How to catch flounder? Drift or slowly jig a bait or soft plastic right on the bottom along drop-offs, channel edges and inlet structure. Start with a minnow and squid strip combo or a white or chartreuse bucktail, follow the tide (shallow on high tide, deeper channels on low tide), and once you get bites, focus on that depth.
Below: where flounder live, how deep to fish, the best bait and lures, simple rigs, and answers to common questions. Flounder are one third of a Texas Slam, so see what a Texas Slam is and our guides on how to catch redfish and speckled trout.
Where do flounder live?
Flounder are flatfish that lie on the bottom and ambush bait. A FishTalk guide to flounder fishing for beginners says the most popular methods are "drifting bait on the bottom and jigging", and that where you fish (bays, inlets or the ocean) decides the best bait, tackle and technique.
- Bays and inlets: the easiest place to start, from a small boat, a pier or a bridge.
- Reefs and wrecks offshore: big flounder live there, but the same guide warns this is hard for beginners because you need "an ocean-worthy boat (or to get on a party boat)" and must deal with snags, currents and wind.
How deep should you fish for flounder?
Depth changes with the season and the tide. FishTalk notes that early in spring flounder are often "just a foot or two deep" in coastal bays, but once warm weather sets in most bay and inlet anglers find them "between five to 30 feet of water."
- Find the depth on a drift: drift across a steep drop-off. When you get a few bites, note the depth and focus there.
- Follow the tide: on a high tide most flounder move to shallower areas; on a low tide they slide into deeper water such as channels.
What is the best bait for flounder?
For a beginner, FishTalk recommends the "minnow/squid" sandwich: cut squid strips into a "V" shape, then add a minnow to the hook. The squid stays on the hook and the minnow adds scent and movement.
What lures work for flounder?
- Jigs: one half to two ounces with a four to six inch soft plastic body.
- Soft plastics: five or six inch Berkley GULP! Swimming Mullet.
- Bucktails: chartreuse or white double bucktail rigs, with or without a plastic tail or bait added.
Work any of them slowly along the bottom. Flounder rarely chase a lure far, so keep it in the strike zone near the sand or mud.
Which rigs and tackle do you need?
| Situation | Rig (from FishTalk) |
|---|---|
| Bait fishing in bays | A ready-made fluke killer rig (Sea Striker, Fin Striker, Bay Park or Aqua Clear) |
| Drifting a jig or bucktail | Double bottom rig: light 1/8 to 1/4 oz head on an 8 inch top leader, heavier 2 to 5 oz head on a 24 to 30 inch bottom leader, 15 to 20 lb fluorocarbon tied to braid |
| Reefs and wrecks | 3/0 to 5/0 hooks on three feet of 30 lb leader with four to eight ounces of weight |
Step by step: how to catch flounder on your first drift
- Pick a bay or inlet spot with a drop-off or channel edge.
- Check the tide: shallow edges on the high, deeper channels on the low.
- Rig a minnow and squid strip or a bucktail on a simple bottom rig.
- Drift across the drop-off and keep the bait touching bottom.
- When you get bites, note the depth and keep fishing that zone.
What to wear flounder fishing
Pier and inlet fishing usually means hours in the sun and wind. A long sleeve fishing shirt covers your arms while you drift. Our Texas Slam Fishing Shirt shows a redfish, speckled trout and flounder and can be personalized with your name; pick the style (long sleeve, hooded and more) on the product page.
FAQ
What is the best way to catch flounder?
Drift bait or jig a soft plastic or bucktail slowly on the bottom along drop-offs and channel edges, adjusting depth to the tide.
What is the best bait for flounder?
A minnow and squid strip "sandwich" is a simple, proven combo for beginners.
Why is flounder hard to catch?
They lie flat on the bottom and stay at a certain depth, so a bait that is too high or in the wrong depth gets ignored. Find the depth on a drift, then stay on it.
What lure should I use for flounder?
A white or chartreuse bucktail, a half to two ounce jig with a four to six inch soft plastic, or a GULP! Swimming Mullet.
Shop more best-selling fishing shirts.
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