The best time to catch flounder is during their fall migration to the Gulf, typically from October to December, in the channels and passes leading to the Gulf. Flounder may be caught using rod and reel but most people prefer gigs.
What is the best bait for flounders?
Using live bait is essential for many flounder (fluke) fishermen around the country, and can be extremely effective for picky flounder (fluke). Shrimp, crabs, smaller flounder, sardines, shad, mullet, and mud minnows can all be great options for live bait.
What month is best for flounder?
While flounder can be caught year round, they are more concentrated and easier to catch or gig in fall and early winter. The best rod and reel fishing starts mid-September and goes on through December, and sometimes well into January depending on weather and how cold it gets.
What time of day is best to catch flounder?
If there is food available, flounder will feed. The best time of day to catch big flounder offshore is early morning and late afternoon. The middle of the day can be great too. Nighttime is good for smaller flounder but bigger flounder prefer daytime feeding.
How many flounder can you keep in Texas?
5 fish
All species, their hybrids and subspecies
Daily bag is 5 fish except Nov 1 – Dec 14 (fishery closed; bag limit = 0). Possession limit = the daily bag. Bag and length limits apply to listed saltwater species. There are no bag, possession, or length limits on game or nongame fish, except as listed in this guide.
What size hooks for flounder fishing?
Due to the summer flounder’s, large mouth and aggressive nature, 4/0 to 6/0 sized-hooks work well and reduce the risk of gut hooking a fish. Wide gap hooks are most often associated and most popular with summer flounder anglers.
What does a flounder bite feel like?
Most times, a flounder bite is not neccesarily a hard bite, in fact, it might not even feel like a bite at all. There will also be sometimes where it feels like your retrieve just stops with no thump. When this occurs, you either snagged something on bottom, or a flounder has grabbed the tail of your Z-Man bait.
Where is the best flounder fishing in Texas?
North Texas
- Sabine Lake. This shallow water system is where the famous “fall Flounder run” takes place.
- Galveston Bay. This collection of bays is perhaps the most famous fishing location in North Texas, thanks to its impressive size – and you’ll find plenty of Flounder on offer here.
- Matagorda Bay.
Where do flounder go during the day?
Another useful resource when learning how to catch flounders and finding where flounder live are marine charts. The one below shows one of my spots. The green areas show the intertidal zone. The flounder spend the day in the deeper water in the middle of this bay and come in with the tide at night.
Why is flounder hard to find?
“When the pandemic hit, the boats came in and didn’t have a place to sell. We worked hard to find them places to sell, after we did the cutting and packing. I know flounder was a bit tight this week. Some weeks it’s plentiful and prices are lower; sometimes it’s harder to get, and prices inch up.”
What are flounder biting on?
Flounder respond well to live fish such as minnow, mullet and croakers. Sea worms and clams are also effective. Hook larger baitfish through the lips, and smaller baitfish through the eye. You can add some strips of fresh squid or live shrimp to vary the bait mix.
How do you fish flounder from a pier?
When fishing for flounder from a pier, you’ll have more success if you do the opposite. Hold the rod so you can cast the bait and reel in slowly where the waves are breaking closer to shore. Start by casting straight out behind the furthest wave from shore, and continue working your way closer to shore on each cast.
Why did Texas close flounder season?
Texas’ flounder season is closed from Nov. 1 through Dec. 14 to protect spawning flounder during their annual migration, or “fall run,” from bays to the Gulf of Mexico. The Texas Parks and Wildlife Commission approved the season closure in May 2020 but moved to delay it a year because of the emergent COVID-19 pandemic.
What is the Texas state record for flounder?
11.35 lbs.
All Ages/Rod & Reel
| Bass, Alabama 5.98 lbs. | Alan Henry |
|---|---|
| Drum, Freshwater 44.00 lbs. | Conroe |
| Drum, Red 36.83 lbs. | Fairfield |
| Eel, American 6.45 lbs. | Lady Bird Lake |
| Flounder, Southern 11.35 lbs. | Brazoria Reservoir |
What are the new flounder regulations in Texas?
The flounder fishery re-opens Dec. 15; anglers may resume fishing for flounder with all approved gear types. The bag limit is 5 fish per day per angler with a 15-inch minimum.
Does flounder bite at night?
Yes, they do bite a night. You will find them on the edge of lights (ambush style). Most of your larger fish are caught during the day.
Can you use circle hooks for flounder?
A 5/0 to 7/0 circle hook is a good size for summer flounder fishing, where a traditional J-hook would be size 1/0.
Is flounder gigging legal in Texas?
Texas Flounder Gigging Regulations
Texas Flounder Bag Limit: 5 per person per day from January through the end of October, the flounder fishery is closed to gigging and rod and reel fishing from November 1 to December 14, then back to 5 per person per day December 15-31.
Are flounder considered game fish in Texas?
Flounder are not legally recognized as a gamefish whereas redfish and speckled trout are. This means flounder are harvested commercially and can be pursued by means other than hook and line (gigging/bowfishing).
Where is the best fishing on the Texas coast?
Now, let’s get to the “where.” These are the best Texas coast fishing spots.
- Trinity Bay and East Bay.
- Baffin Bay.
- South Padre Island.
- West Bay.
- North Padre Island.
- Chocolate Bay.
- Matagorda Island.
- Freeport Jetty Park.
Lorraine Wade is all about natural food. She loves to cook and bake, and she’s always experimenting with new recipes. Her friends and family are the lucky beneficiaries of her culinary skills! Lorraine also enjoys hiking and exploring nature. She’s a friendly person who loves to chat with others, and she’s always looking for ways to help out in her community.