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. The eyed side always blends in perfectly with the sea bed. There is usually a scattering of 10 to 14 eye like spots on the body. As in other flatfish, the blind side is white and relatively featureless. The teeth are well developed on both sides of the jaws. The dorsal fin has 85 94 rays; the anal fin has 60 63 rays. There are only 5 or 6 gill rakers on the upper limb of the first arch and 11 21 on the lower limb.
Taxonomy
- Kingdom
- Animalia
- Phylum
- Chordata
- Class
- Actinopterygii
- Order
- Perciformes
- Family
- Pleuronectidae
- Genus
- Paralichthys
- Species
- dentatus
Habitat
Occurs in the western Atlantic from Maine to South Carolina and possibly to northeast Florida. It may be found in water as shallow as 6 in (15 cm) during the summer, though the largest specimens are found in depths of 8 to 10 fathoms. In the winter the large fish move offshore into depths of 25 to 80 fathoms. It is a rapid swimmer and a good light tackle game fish that provides lively action. It prefers sandy or muddy bottoms and is common in the summer months in bays, harbors, estuaries, canals, creeks, and along shorelines as well as in the vicinity of piers and bridges.
Diet
Adults are largely piscivorous and highly predatory, feeding actively in midwater as well as on the bottom. They are often seen chasing bait fish at the surface.
Behavior
Summer flounder are solitary ambush predators that lie flat on the ocean floor, using their camouflage to surprise prey. They are most active during dawn and dusk, exhibiting rapid swimming bursts to chase food. They migrate seasonally, moving to deeper waters in winter and shallower areas in summer, and can change color to match their surroundings.
Fishing
Drift fishing is the most common fishing method and probably the most effective, since drifting covers more bottom and keeps the bait or lure in motion. Many are also taken by chumming while fishing at anchor, by trolling, or by casting from shore or pier. Effective baits include strips cut from shark, fluke menhaden, herring, porgy, young bluefish, or sea robin; or a piece of blue crab. Effective lures include a small spoon and soft luers. Some time must be allowed between the moment the flounder picks up the bait and the strike, or the bail may simply be yanked away. In other words, work your luer on the bottom slowly. Inshore fishing is best on a running tide, and the largest fish are caught late in the season. This is a very popular game fish, espicailly on the Gulf Coast, and is prouncely known by its taste.
Conservation Status
Listed as Least Concern by IUCN.