Summer Flounder

[Sam]

Summer Flounder
Paralichthys dentatus
"Fluke, flatties 2-4lbs. Doormats 8+lbs "

Description: The summer flounder is a member of the family, Paralichthyidae. This left-eyed flatfish has both eyes on the left side of its body when viewed from above with the dorsal, or top fin, up. The eyed side of this fish is scattered with 10 to 14 eye-like spots which blend in with the ocean floor. Summer flounder are known as chameleons of the seabecause of their ability to change color to match the bottom on which they are found. Generally they are white below and darker above, but they can turn various shades of gray, blue, green/orange and almost black. The fluke may weigh up to 26 pounds with a length over 37 inches. Females may live up to 20 years and weigh more than 20 pounds, while males rarely exceed 7 years of age and 3 to 5 pounds in weight. It is called a "left-sided" flatfish because both of its eyes are on the left side of its head. They move horizontally across.

Similar Fish: Winter Flounder

Where Found: Summer flounder or fluke (Paralichthys dentatus) live in estuarine and coastal waters from Nova Scotia to Southern Florida, with greatest abundance between Cape Cod, Massachusetts and Cape Hatteras, North Carolina. Most summer flounder inhabit Chesapeake Bay in the summer and move offshore to depths of 120 to 600 feet of water during the fall and winter. However, some summer flounder winter over in the Bay. Flounder are more common the deep channels of the lower Bay than in the upper Bay, extending as far north as the Gunpowder River. Adults usually prefer hard sandy substrate where they can burrow; can exploit a broad range of lower and mid-estuary habitats including salt marsh creeks and seagrass beds, which usually have muddy or silty substrates, as well as sand flats. Occurs in bays, lagoons and shallow coastal waters.

Size: Up to 3 feet long and 22+ pounds.

World Record: 22 lb. 7 oz. Montauk, NY- by angler Charles Nappi-on Sept. 15, 1975

Bait used: Minnows, fresh cut bait, sandfleas and artificial lures.

Tactics to catch: Flounder agressively grab bait and fight hard when hooked, especially if the angler is using light tackle. Anglers chum, troll, cast and still-fish. The most popular is drifting bait along the bottom, waiting for the tug and allowing the hook to set in the flounder's mouth.

Fly Anglers look for flounder on sandy or muddy bottoms insure with fast moving rips that scoop up bait fish. They often use white and red bucktail jigs sauced with strips of fresh or frozen squidsand lance, 4-5" strips of meat cut from sea robin fish tails or bellies from fluke or bluefish. They retrive the jigs with a slow pumping action, lowering to slacken the line to allow the flounder set the hook when the line is again tightened.

A surf fisher will use medium weight spinning gear with 12-17lb test monofilament. Live minnows and sandfleas are often used for bait.

Anglers fishing from a boat in deep strong currents need a 15 to 20 lb. test line with light to medium conventional gear for the larger flounder.

Shoreline anglers use medium weight spinning gear spooled with 12 pound test monofilament line, while boat anglers fishing deeper water with strong currents need 15 to 20 pound test line on light to medium conventional gear to match the larger fish found there.

Climate:temperate: 45°N - 29°N

Spawning habits: Spawning begins at about age 2 when the fish are approximately 12 inches in length and generally occurs in the fall and winter during offshore migrations and/or at the wintering grounds. Winter spawning migrations in Chesapeake Bay occur in October. Fish begin to move south near shore along the beach from October to December. Fish spawning north of Chesapeake Bay begin in September and continue through December, while fish spawning south of Chesapeake Bay begin in November and end in February.

Table food: Flounder are appreciated for their delicate texture and flavor. Flounder is utilized fresh and frozen and can be steamed, fried, boiled, microwaved, poached, broiled and sauteed and steamed. Consider using the "door Mats" as grilled steaks over gas or charcoal.

Consumption Concerns: Limit to one meal per month. These advisories are for women ages 18-75, based on a body weight of 144 pounds (65.4 kilograms) and a meal size of 6 ounces (a little more than 1/3 pound) of fish before cooking. For advisories due to mercury, this advice is intended to protect women of childbearing age and errs on the side of safety for older women.

Feeding habits: A predator with quick movements and sharp teeth, the flounder is able to capture the small fishes, squid, sea worms, shrimp and other crustaceans that comprise the bulk of its diet.

Remarks: Summer flounder can live to 20 years of age with females living longer and growing larger than males. Flounder are bottom-dwelling creatures which use their flattened shape and ability to change coloration and pattern on the eyed side of their bodies to partially burrow in the sediment, lie in ambush and wait for their prey. Coastal regulations is 15 1/2" four flounders per day. Bay regulations 15" two flounders per day.


http://www.atlanticanglers.com/fish/summer_flounder.html


References:
wikepedia- moondigger
chesapeakebay.net
Fish Base
Captain Dave's Saltwater Fishing and Boating Pages!
University of Delaware
Land Big Fish

[RACN35]