Doc's Perspective On Flounder Fishing

During the summer months and also into fall, flounder make a big showing in front beach angler's catches. Most of these catches are incidental, with the flatfish coming off the bottom in shallow waters to take a live shrimp intended for trout or reds. There are, however, a fair number of fishermen who specifically target this species by fishing right on the bottom with a weighted, natural bait rig. You too can catch flounder by using their proven techniques.

The traditional way of catching flounders is, of course, by using a straight-point gig and a lantern at night. Most any evening when the water is calm, you can cruise down the front beach and see the lights of flounder fishermen wading the shallows in search of flounder. The expansive shallow flats just north and east of Moses Pier in Gulfport is a perennial hotspot for flounder gigging; but equally productive waters can be found all along the front beach. Because they do not depend on the fish to be feeding, gig fishermen can take flounder at any time. Still, the fish are most abundant in the shallows when the tide has brought them shoreward.

Native coastians, it seems, were born knowing how to catch flounder with a gig. For you transplanted Nevadans and Dakotans, some explanation might be in order. Standard equipment includes a straight-point flounder gig and a propane or white gas lantern. Add a plastic mesh bag or a stringer for your catch, and you're ready to try your luck. Slowly wading along the shallows with the lantern and looking for the tell-tale dark silhouette of a flounder on the bottom is the way this gigging business is done. Once you spot a fish, move the gig relatively close to the fish; and execute a quick thrust into the center of the fish, pinning it to the bottom. Then slide your hand underneath the fish from behind; and, holding it tightly against the gig, lift the fish from the water. With practice, you will be able to just lift the fish right out of the water without holding on to it. Place the flounder in your bag or on the stringer and go searching for another. That's all there is to it...

Catching flounder on hook and line is just as easy. Only here, you are depending on the fish to be feeding. And, as is the case with any other saltwater fish, the flounder will feed most actively whenever the tide is moving. A rising tide is best, but you can also catch fish on the front beaches during the first hour or so of a falling tide. Standard trout or bass tackle works fine for flounder fishing. Because they have strong jaws and formidable teeth, you need to use a heavy wire hook. My preference is a 2/0, long-shank O'Shaughnessy style hook. Using a long-shank hook, I can fish for this toothsome species without a wire leader. Attach a quarter ounce, crimp-on or egg sinker about two feet ahead of the hook to complete the rig. The advantage of using an egg sinker is that it can be selectively placed anywhere along the line and affixed with a toothpick.

For bait, there are many options. Dead shrimp, squid, or cut-bait (fish) all work well; and, of course, live shrimp or finger mullet are also quite productive. The best flounder bait of all, though, is a strip of sea robin belly. For some reason unbeknownst to me, flounder simply cannot resist sea robin belly strips. Unfortunately, you cannot expect to visit your local bait shop or seafood market to buy a sea robin. You'll either have to catch your own or pal up with someone who has a shrimp boat. Because they are bottom-feeders, sea robins are often caught incidentally by shrimpers. And they are promply discarded overboard. Persuade your shrimping buddy to save you a few of these, and you'll be an instant success at flounder fishing.

Flounder will, by the way, also strike at artificial baits, including even topwater baits in shallow waters. But fishing a jig and cheating a bit by sweetening it a bit with some natural bait will be considerably more productive.

Once you've mastered the technique and caught a mess of flounders, you will quickly appreciate why they are held in such high regard in culinary circles. Baked, broiled, fried, grilled, or even blackened, flounder are excellent table fare.