Overview
All flatfishes, including the southern flounder, are compressed laterally and spend most of their life lying and swimming along the bottom on their side. In the case of southern flounder, the left side is always the up side; in other species, the opposite is true. Small flounder grow rapidly and may reach 12 inches in length by the end of their first year. Males seldom exceed 12 inches, but females grow larger than males and often reach a length of 25 inches.
Taxonomy
- Kingdom
- Animalia
- Phylum
- Chordata
- Class
- Actinopterygii
- Order
- Characiformes
- Family
- Carangidae
- Genus
- Pseudopleuronectes
- Species
- schrenki
Habitat
Cresthead flounders inhabit shallow coastal waters, sandy or muddy bottoms in the Northwest Pacific, including the Sea of Okhotsk, Kuril Islands, and around Japan. They prefer depths from 10 to 200 meters, often burying themselves in sediment to avoid predators. This species is adapted to cold temperate marine environments with seasonal ice cover in northern ranges.
Diet
Cresthead flounders primarily feed on small benthic invertebrates such as polychaetes, amphipods, and small crustaceans, which they ambush from their hidden position on the seafloor. They exhibit nocturnal feeding behavior, emerging at night to hunt in low-light conditions. Their diet shifts slightly with age, with larger individuals consuming more fish and larger prey.
Behavior
Cresthead flounders are solitary and benthic, spending most of their time camouflaged on the ocean floor by changing color to match their surroundings. They are primarily nocturnal, actively foraging at night and remaining inactive during the day to avoid detection. This species shows territorial behavior during spawning, with individuals defending small areas.
Fishing
Target cresthead flounders with bottom fishing techniques using a simple rig with a sinker to keep bait on the seafloor, such as a Carolina rig or a drop shot setup for precise presentations; jigging with soft plastics or baited hooks works well for ambushing these camouflaged fish in their habitat. Use light to medium spinning tackle with a 6-8 foot rod rated for 6-12 lb test line, paired with a reel spooled with 10-15 lb monofilament or braided line for sensitivity, and include a 20-30 lb fluorocarbon leader to avoid spooking wary fish; effective baits include live shrimp, worms, or small crustaceans, while lures like 1-2 inch grub tails or jig heads mimic their natural prey. The best season is late spring through summer when they are more active in warmer waters, with prime times being early morning or dusk for nocturnal feeding; focus on shallow coastal areas in the Northwest Pacific, such as the Sea of Okhotsk, Kuril Islands, or around Japan, targeting sandy or muddy bottoms at depths of 10-100 meters where they bury themselves—use a fish finder to locate these spots. Record sizes include fish up to 1 lb 4 oz and lengths of 20-40 cm, with no specific IGFA records noted, but anglers can aim for personal bests through careful handling. Conservation-wise, while cresthead flounders are not evaluated by the IUCN, practicing catch-and-release for undersized fish supports healthy populations, and angler-funded programs in regions like Japan help protect marine habitats through licensing fees that fund habitat restoration and sustainable fisheries management.
Conservation Status
Listed as Not Evaluated by IUCN.