Average Size – 1lb – 2lb

British Record – 5lb 7oz

Flounders are probably the most commonly encountered of all the species of flatfish, notably here in South Devon. As with all flatfish, the flounder has both eyes on the top of it’s head, a brown back and creamy white underside (occasionally you will see double sided flounders which are brown on both sides). They can sometimes be mistaken for plaice, usually when caught from beaches, as some specimens also sport a smattering of orange spots, these spots are usually less apparent and more irregular in shape. Flounder also have boney tubercles at the top of the spine which plaice do not have.

Flounders are most often targeted during the winter months with November through to February considered to be the best times hunt down this popular flatfish. They move offshore to spawn during February and March returning in the spring. April can be an excellent time to catch them as they feed up following their spawning efforts. Like the other member of the flatfish species flounders enjoy clean ground, usually flat sandy storm beaches close to the mouths of rivers. They are most well known however for being an estuary dweller. They have a good tolerance for fresh water and can often be found many miles upstream from the main estuary. Flounders will lie in the deeper channels of the estuary during low water, moving out onto mudflats to feed as the tide rises, often being found in water no more than a few inches deep. In South Devon we are blessed to have some of the best flounder fishing in the country with the estuaries of Kingsbridge, the Teign and the Exe being famous for producing some excellent specimens, the British Record was caught in the Teign. Any estuary will hold at least some flounders and it worth putting in the time to locate the likely feeding areas. Flounders will feed both day and night, with tide state and size having more of a bearing on whether they will be feeding. A prolonged cold spell is often good news for flounder fishing as this will put off crabs from getting to your bait before a flounder. The best baits to use are either a bunch of small ragworms or a juicy peeler crab. Each estuary has its own idiosyncrasies with the fish in one preferring ragworms, in another they will be switched onto the peeler crab. From the open coast the flounders are less picky and will readily take lugworms, shellfish and even strips of fish. Rigs for flounders can be kept simple as often you do not need to cast far to reach the fish, a simple running leger or 2 hook flapper will work well. Hooks can be fairly large to match the size of bait, flounders can easily swallow a 2/0 hook with half a peeler crab mounted onto it. Bites should be left to develop however. Do not strike at the first sign of a bite if you think you have a flounder, give it time to chew on the bait and either lift into the fish after 10 minutes or so or wait until it it obvious the fish is moving away with you bait. Light rod and lines can be used for flunder fishing and these feisty fish fight well against such balanced tackle.