Despite being available practically all year round in the British Isles, the best opportunity of large flounder fishing comes either side of Christmas, with the months of November through January being the most productive.
You may also like others blog of various species like COD, Black Bream etc.
Behavior: Flounder Fishing
During most tides, these flatfish may be captured. Many fishermen target the larger spring tides, but smaller neaps, when the founders do not have to go far to feed, may frequently provide the greatest fishing since it concentrates their numbers more. They feed best when the tide is flooding, so the hour following low water and into the middle of the tide period is ideal, with bites gradually diminishing as high water draws closer.
Time for Flounder fishing
Because they like to stay close to the inner surf tables, they may be caught from just a few yards away. Even in broad daylight, they are not hesitant to go into relatively shallow water, just a foot or two deep at most. The belief that flounders do not eat at night is widespread. It is, in fact, the ideal time to catch fish, but daytime catches may nevertheless be successful.
When it comes to flounder fishing, it seems that relatively calm seas are best, but larger fish may be caught in stronger seas, particularly during the pre- and post-Christmas season. In general, though, you should aim for stable predictable surf tables with a large gap between each wave. The flounders will be pushed even farther out to sea if the surf is short and heavy.
Favourable location for Flounder Fishing
However, flounders will sit in shallow gutters and are often spotted in regions where there are a succession of depressions as the flood tide begins to slow down as it approaches high water, feeding as they go. When the tide dumps food, the fish simply face the approaching tide and follow any smell trails that may have been left behind by the previous tide.
Where a little stream or river falls onto the shore is a great place to look for flounders on every beach in the world. Fishing the down tide side of where the water enters the beach is a good area to catch flounders since they like the freshwater environment.
Beaches that border the mouth of a small estuary will also have larger flounder populations than other areas. During the winter, these flatfish are leaving the estuary in preparation for their migration out to spawn, however this process takes a long time. They loiter on the nearby beaches, scavenging for food before slowly making their way offshore.
TACKLE for FLOUNDER Fishing
The majority of the time, a bass rod capable of throwing little more than 3-4oz is sufficient for flounder fishing. The majority of fish are caught at a distance of less than 30 yards, with just a few requiring a throw of more than 50 yards. 5000-type multipliers loaded with 15lb mono and a light 25-pound shock leader are ideal for this use.
A lighter option is to use a 1-3oz spinning rod with a 4000-sized fixed-spool reel equipped with 20lb braid if you can get away with using just 2oz lead weights or fewer. When using a bass rod, a basic one-up, one-down rig or a three-hook flapper with two Aberdeen hooks will do the trick.. The spinning rod is used in conjunction with a basic sliding leger consisting of a 1-2oz weight moving on a short (4ft) 20lb shock leader that is stopped at the end of the line with a swivel.
RIG for FLOUNDER Fishing
Finish the rig with an 18-inch, 15-pound fluorocarbon hook trace connected to the opposite end of the swivel and an Aberdeen hook ranging in size from 2 to 4. When fishing in milder surf tables, this rig is a fantastic all-around option since it allows the bait to wash about and organically move around. When using a spinning rod, you have far more mobility and may travel around the beach in small groups, such as cars, in search of pockets of fish.
Perfect BAIT for FLOUNDER Fishing
Blow lug is an excellent surf bait for flounders, with just enough to fill the hook being the ideal amount. It is also possible to catch fresh black lug in tiny parts, however frozen black lug is less effective yet will catch. They will also eat ragworms, although they are not as effective as the blow lug. Shellfish baits such as mussels, cockles, and razorfish, in particular, are good choices.
The razor is a popular winter bait because storms naturally wash razors from the sand along the surf beaches, making them a good winter bait. To use, cut it into two-inch parts and tie it together using bait elastic. You may use a short bit of razor to tip off a lugworm in order to select out the better-looking fish. Peeler crab baits of varying sizes are also effective.
Frozen mackerel is an underappreciated bait, particularly during the winter months. When flounders are building up their reserves in preparation for early-year spawning, they prefer the high protein content of mackerel, which has a strong aroma that makes it simple for them to locate at night in the surf. Using bait elastic, attach the strips to the hook, leaving the tag end of the mackerel free to flutter below the hook. Cut the strips two inches long by half an inch broad.
TACTICS for FLOUNDER Fishing
The key to successful beach flounder fishing is to remain mobile, so limit your gear to a bare minimum and move back with the tide, keeping your baits in the first 30 yards of the surf as much as possible. As you drop back, make a mental note of any depressions in shallow tidal gutters since the flatfish will descend into them as they advance, but they will also swim up them in an up-ride manner in search of food as you drop back.
In this case, the fish are being ambushed in deeper water, anticipating their arrival and moving on to freshly flooded terrain as soon as the tide recedes sufficiently for them to do so. When surfing in light surf, a decent technique is to use a lead weight that is just light enough to be softly pushed every now and again by line pressure. The weight and bait should be cast out somewhat downtide, then allowed to float along inches at a time under the influence of the tide pressure on the line in a broad arc.
If the weight suddenly comes to a halt, leave it where it is because it has discovered a dip of deeper water in which the founders are more likely to be located. This strategy covers a large amount of territory and is effective in locating flounder pockets time and time again. Bites are often comprised of three or four tiny tugs on the rod tip, followed by a break and then another series of pulls.
Experienced fisherman keep an eye on the rod and wait for the tip to begin to sag dramatically as the fish attempts to swim away from them. However, do not leave it for an excessive amount of time, since this can promote deep hooking. When fishing in calm seas and broad surf tables, consider dipping your rod tip at a right angle to the surf and as low as you possibly can while still maintaining a tight line on your line.
Bites will be more visible as a result of this. Having a little slack line bow of 2 or 3 feet below the rod tip while the rod is sitting at a forward-facing angle in the rod rest and keeping an eye on the line bow is another useful suggestion. You’ll quickly notice the natural lift of the waves, but you’ll recognise the significantly more active lift that occurs when a fish really grabs your bait immediately thereafter.