Even though many Gulf flounder hibernate offshore during winter, you can still locate them inshore and even cast to them. (Note: Verify your state’s flounder regulations for open seasons.)
Chester Moore
The waters off the upper Texas coast are typically too murky for sight fishing, but on this particular late fall day, the small canal along Highway 87 in Bridge City appeared crystal clear. I spotted flounders in abundance. Some were visible as sandy shapes on the bottom; others aggressively surged toward the surface while feeding on shrimp. Indeed, this situation seemed like a flounder angler’s paradise. Not quite. I presented several baits as I strolled down the canal’s edge. The flounders rejected all of them.
Use Smaller Lures When Flounder Won’t Bite
Small jigheads and curly-tail grubs can be effective during fall and winter.
Chester Moore
Having just returned from a crappie-fishing trip, I had a medium-light-action spinning rod equipped with fluorocarbon line and a 2-inch curl-tailed grub in my truck. Curl tails are my preferred flounder lure, yet this one was half the size of what I usually use.
In a moment of desperation, I returned to my truck and retrieved the rig. I waited for one of the feeding flounders to move. The first cast yielded nothing. The second performed well, and so did the third. By day’s end, I had released 17 flounders.
This unexpected haul occurred in late November, shortly after the peak of the fall flounder migration into the Gulf. On that day, I acquired a valuable lesson that enabled me to succeed in catching quality flounders throughout the run and effectively extend my fishing endeavors into winter.
Years ago, a fellow named Ben Jarrett outperformed me on a redfish trip by using a small topwater bait while I was casting a larger Super Spook. “Elephants eat peanuts,” he said, referencing the well-known saying. To this day, it reminds me that sometimes downsizing my gear is necessary to land larger fish.
While sizable flounders occasionally consume big mullet, they seem just as content eating 100 smaller menhaden. They ambush their prey and typically feed on whatever the currents bring. Late fall and winter often sees them targeting tiny baitfish and crustaceans.
Light-Tackle Flounder Fishing
The author favors natural curl-tail colors like smoke in clear waters and brighter hues like pink when the water is stained or murky.
Chester Moore
My preferred rod for flounder fishing is a medium-action Abu Garcia combo spooled with 8-pound-test fluorocarbon line. Fluorocarbon mimics water’s refractive properties, making it particularly effective for catching flounders in clear conditions. It also provides superior abrasion resistance compared to monofilament.
For general flounder fishing, I tend to favor braided line, especially when aiming for larger catches. Typically, I utilize 50-pound SpiderWire on medium-heavy rods. However, while using microplastics, a finesse approach is essential. Although I may lose a few with lighter tackle, I receive far more bites than with heavier setups, especially from around the third week of November to Valentine’s Day.
Soft Plastic Baits for Flounder Fishing
This golden-shiner Sassy Shad performs well in clear waters. Employ these small jigs on 1/16-ounce jigheads.
Chester Moore
My favorite micro lures are the 2-inch Mr. Twister Teenie (pink for murky water or luminescent for clear) and the 2.5-inch Mr. Twister Sassy Shad in clear silver-flake/black-back patterns. Additionally, Mr. Crappie’s Shadpole Curlytail in salt-and-pepper colors, as well as Bobby Garland’s Baby Shad in eclipse or hologram-ghost designs, also work wonders. All my small flounder lures originate from the freshwater sector, illustrating that we shouldn’t confine ourselves to a specific section of the tackle shop.
If the water appears dirty, use vibrant colors like pink; however, if it’s clear, opt for natural hues. Flounders are highly visual and sensitive to even minute changes in water clarity and lure coloration.
I rig small plastics on a 1/16-ounce jighead and glide them slowly along the bottom. If you feel a firm “thump,” count to two before setting the hook. If you experience a gentle tap, wait approximately 10 seconds before attempting to hook. Occasionally, flounders simply hold onto a lure. Allow them a moment to move it within their mouths.
How to Find Flounder Late in the Season
Flounders are a sought-after target off the beaches and in the bays when the brief season is open.
Doug Olander
When targeting late-season flounders, search for canals and shorelines that facilitate quick access to deeper waters. As temperatures drop, these holdover flounders migrate to deeper, warmer zones but move back to shallower areas to feed as temperatures increase. Generally, the southern portion of a bay system and channels leading into the Gulf yield the best results.
When reports emerge about anglers catching sizable trout near ship channel spoil banks and deep-water drop-offs, head to those areas and look for flounders. Both species appear to transition from deep to shallow waters simultaneously.
As south winds push warmed water from the Gulf, target the rising tide for better activity. Minor temperature fluctuations can significantly affect flounders. Any south-facing shoreline may also prove beneficial on windy days as baitfish gather against the banks.
As fall transitions into winter, slow your fishing pace. If you feel your approach is too sluggish, you might not be slow enough. Start with an extremely gradual pace, and if you’re not getting bites, consider speeding up. Fish will cluster this time of year, so locate them and concentrate on areas with a high likelihood of catches. Once bites are established, fish slowly and pay attention to their subtle strikes.
When to Keep Flounder and When to Release Them
This angler caught a keeper flounder while fishing in the Louisiana marsh, south of Bay St. Louis, Mississippi.
Capt. Sonny Schindler
Flounders are immensely popular across the Gulf Coast, but the stock faces challenges due to rising water temperatures, increased commercial pressure, and other issues. In 2021, Texas imposed a moratorium on all flounder harvesting from November 1 to December 14, making the fishery catch-and-release only during this period. I release all flounders measuring 20 inches or more year-round and recommend that other anglers do the same. The more large, breeding-sized fish that are returned to the water, the better our chances for quality flounder fishing in the future.
Owing to their delightful taste, anglers often consider flounders a prized catch and tend not to release them as frequently as snook or speckled trout. However, flounders deserve the same respect. Retaining smaller, legal-sized fish for eating while releasing the larger ones has benefited other species and could contribute to ensuring the southern flounder’s future.