- Closed Season: None
- Size Limit: Minimum 12″ total length
- Bag Limit: 10 per person per day
The Southern Flounder is impressive table fare and a prized catch in Southwest Florida. Tolerant of low salinity, find southern flounder in the more brackish parts of the Bay near the mouth of the Imperial River. Camouflaged to match the bottom, this ambush predator uses the tide to their advantage to prey upon bait passing overhead – so be sure the water you’re fishing in has some movement if you want to land one. Try your luck at inlets and bridges at passes with an active current.
Southern flounders are not very picky eaters but they aren’t completely fooled either – live shrimp will suit them just fine as will a lure so long as it’s flavored. Cast in such a way that your bait will drift very slowly along the bottom with the tide. Pay attention because a southern flounder hit is gentle and difficult to detect at first. Allow 5-10 seconds after the initial hit before setting the hook, the flounder needs this time to get the bait fully into their mouths if you want a chance at keeping them on the line. Also make sure to use a net to get them into the boat – many a flounder is lost as they’re pulled out of the water!