Southern Flounder Fishing Guide

Southern flounder are the Gulf Coast counterpart to the Mid-Atlantic's fluke — a large, left-eyed flatfish that is one of the most prized inshore species from Texas to North Carolina. They grow larger than most realize, with trophy fish exceeding 10 pounds and thick, dense fillets that are a staple of coastal seafood restaurants. Like summer flounder, they are active predators that use ambush tactics and exceptional camouflage to intercept prey in shallow estuaries. The fall flounder run — when fish stage near inlets before migrating offshore to spawn — is one of the most anticipated events on the Gulf inshore fishing calendar. Gigging at night in shallow water is a deeply embedded Gulf Coast tradition.

Southern Flounder is a saltwater species.

Habitat

Southern flounder inhabit estuaries, bays, tidal creeks, marsh edges, and shallow nearshore Gulf and Atlantic waters from Texas to Virginia. They favor sand, mud, and shell-bottom shallows typically 1–15 feet deep, often lying motionless in current breaks near structure. In fall they funnel through tidal inlets during offshore migration, creating predictable fishing at passes and channels.

Diet

Southern flounder ambush prey from the bottom, feeding primarily on small fish like mullet, menhaden, and killifish, along with shrimp and crabs. They bury partially in the substrate and strike upward with a rapid lunge, capturing prey with a large, well-toothed mouth.

Fishing Techniques

• Flounder gigging at night in shallow flats
• Live mullet on a fishfinder rig at channel edges
• Soft plastic swimbaits dragged slowly on bottom
• Gulp! baits on Carolina rigs in marsh drains

Best Seasons

Fall, Summer, Spring

Size & Records

Average weight: 4 lbs. World record: 20.9 lbs (Nassau Sound, Florida, USA (1983)).