Flounder can be found throughout the bay and in the rivers feeding the bay. Certain areas are known for producing numbers of big fish. These include the area near the Cell, 36A off of Cape Charles,the Hump, Back River Reef, the channels at the mouth of the bay, and of course, the Chesapeake Bay Bridge Tunnel.
Where is most flounder caught?
About the Species. The summer flounder fishery in the U.S. operates from Maine to the North Carolina/South Carolina border. Summer flounder is one of the most sought after commercial and recreational fish along the Atlantic coast.
How do you catch flounder in Virginia?
In Virginia, anglers have several choices of bait, tackle, and equipment for catching flounder. Mummichogs, known locally as âbull minnowsâ are by far the most popular bait for catching flounder in Virginia. These hardy baits are inexpensive, readily available, and catch fish in a wide range of environments.
Are there flounder in Chesapeake Bay?
The summer flounder is a flat, brownish fish with large spots on the top side of the body. It visits the middle and lower Chesapeake Bay from spring through autumn.
What month is best for flounder?
The best time of the year to catch flounders is the late summer/early fall months. But they can be caught regularly during the spring and summer as well. The flounders migrate offshore during the colder months to spawn, so theyâll be more abundant at the beach as they move from the inshore estuaries to deeper water.
Whatâs the best bait to catch flounder?
Best Baits for Flounder Fishing
Heâll use a wide variety of baitfish, but the best bait for flounder include mullet, menhaden, croakers, spot and mud minnows (killifish). Shrimp work for flounder, too, according to Mark, but take a back seat to minnows.
What is the size limit on flounder in Virginia?
Size Limits
The minimum size limit for flounder fishing is 18.5 inches long. According to the Virginia Marine Resources Commission, measure fish length from the tip of the flounderâs nose to the tip of its tail in a straight line across. You may not possess any flounder smaller than the minimum size limit.
Where is the best flounder fishing in Virginia?
Flounder can be found throughout the bay and in the rivers feeding the bay. Certain areas are known for producing numbers of big fish. These include the area near the Cell, 36A off of Cape Charles,the Hump, Back River Reef, the channels at the mouth of the bay, and of course, the Chesapeake Bay Bridge Tunnel.
Do flounder like deep or shallow water?
While flounder are commonly found in deep water out to 100-feet or more around reefs and wrecks, for most anglers, flounder are usually targeted when they move into shallow water bays, inlets, river mouths and inshore creeks and marsh areas. These are some of the best flounder fishing areas.
What time of day are flounder most active?
Flounder are the most active early in the morning and late in the afternoon offshore at sites like wrecks and reefs. Inshore, flounder are the most active swimming and feeding at high tide. You can find them searching for food near grasses, channels, flats, and at the mouths of feeder creeks.
Can you catch flounder off the beach?
Flounder are special fish to catch from shore. Their excellent taste, the fight they give, and their great abundance in many coastal regions of the world, put them in the âWANTEDâ list of many surf anglers.
Can you gig flounder in Virginia?
It shall be unlawful for any person fishing in any tidal waters of Virginia, except the Potomac River tributaries, with recreational hook and line, rod and reel, spear, gig or other recreational gear to possess more than four summer flounder.
Where do flounder go in the winter?
Winter flounder get their name because of their migrations. In the winter, adults migrate from offshore areas where they feed to inshore bays and estuaries where they spawn. While inshore, they live on muddy sand, clean sand, clay, and pebbly or gravelly bottom habitats.
Where is the best place to gig flounder?
If the water clarity is bad enough, it is best to find an area with a harder sand bottom, oyster shell bottom, or even grass bed that you can flounder gig in. These areas are more likely to have better water clarity and hopefully will store some flatties.
How old is a 25 inch flounder?
7
Summer Flounder (Fluke)
| Age (years) | Length (inches) |
|---|---|
| 5 | 22 |
| 6 | 23.5 |
| 7 | 25 |
| 8 | 26 |
Can you catch flounder in March?
You can catch them using many methods, but LT trolling over shallow flats is a killer â hereâs how itâs done. Flounder fishing can be better than you might think during the month of March. Try to fish on days following a calm stretch, when turbidity is minimal.
What size hooks for flounder?
Hooks can and usually should be a bit on the larger size for flounder fishing. They have large mouths full of sharp teeth, not something you really want to play with. I either use 3/0 to 5/0 circle hooks or a 2/0â4/0 worm hook for flounder fishing. Jig heads in the 1/4â3/8ths range are well suited to flounder fishing.
What lures do flounder like?
Best Lures to Catch Flounder
- Soft Plastic Grub or Paddletail Jigs. Rig with 1/4- to 3/8-ounce jig head and slowly hop the lure across the bottom around dock pilings, jetties and oyster bars.
- Bucktail Jigs.
- Stick Baits.
- Shad Tails.
- Gulp!
- DOA Shrimp.
- Aqua Clear Flounder Rig.
Are flounder hard to catch?
Fluke is not a bad fish to start with for beginners; itâs not too hard to catch, many times of the year work, and itâs a great chance to try bottom fishing. Flounder, also called fluke, are a great target for Mid-Atlantic anglers.
How old is a 20 inch flounder?
Females grow faster than males, and juvenile summer flounder can reach a length of 9 to 12 inches during their first year. Fourteen-inch summer flounder are generally 2 or 3 years old and weigh about a pound. A twenty-inch summer flounder is usually 4 years old or older and weighs about 3 pounds.
How old is a 14 inch flounder?
12 â 14 inches, 1 â 2 pounds; South Carolina State Record: 17 pounds, 6 ounces (1974); maximum age: approx. males â 5 years, females â 7 or 8 years; females are generally larger and outlive males.