Advanced Fluke Fishing - Winter Flounder

Winter in the Northeast means there are limited saltwater fishing opportunities. Your choices become very narrow – wait out the cold weather or venture out ice fishing. Fortunately, New England is rich in lakes and ponds that provide salt-water fishing opportunities. In March you’re likely to see schools of striped bass and April will provide an opportunity to fish for winter flounder or fluke. This is the time when these species begin spawning on the coastline.

Over-harvesting and habitat no longer suitable for spawning has resulted in new restrictions on open season. For anglers, winter flounder is usually limited to a six to eight week season.

Since winter flounder tend to be smaller than their summer relatives, the tackle you need is significantly lighter than you’d need for summer fishing. If you have eight to twelve pound line and a six or seven foot rod, you’ll have all you need to catch these two or three pound fish. You can craft a rig easily or if you elect for a more complex one, you’ll still enjoy success. Small hooks are essential for these flounder. This helps accommodate their small mouths that are basically toothless. A small weight to keep bait at the bottom of your catch area and you’ll be ready.

Bloodworms and sandworms are the perfect choices for bait. Some anglers prefer mussel. Whichever you prefer, you’ll find that adding yellow grubs or beads to your shank will help the fish identify your hook. Flounder rigs are renowned for their bright yellow bait.

Whether you elect to anchor in a single location, or cast from the shoreline, you may want to consider chumming. This popular method of drawing fish in will result in a likelihood of attracting a school of flounder. It’s fairly simply to find a bait shop that carries small chum or clam chum pots during flounder season. Tie the chum pot to a fixed object on shore or add to your boat cleat and you’ll soon have a school of flounder available.

Many anglers elect to cast two rods to maximize results. This allows for one to be behind the boat in the direction of the current while the other is over the side in proximity to the chum pot. Using both will help you catch more winter flounder, and maximize the chum pot at the same time.

One of the advantages of winter flounder is the shallow water they are found in. Winter flounder congregate in smaller areas where food is plentiful. Since most warm water areas are good sources of food, they tend to stay there for extended periods of time as well. Areas that offer a muddy bottom and layers of sand and gravel are the best locations for winter flounder. Any area where sand and gravel can become muddy is even more conducive to a plentiful supply of flounder.

Freshwater fishing isn’t for everyone. For those who consider themselves saltwater anglers, winter flounder fishing is the best way to find yourself fishing after a long winter. Flounder are a tasty, delicately flavored fish that will help refill an empty freezer.

James Swift is an avid outdoorsman who enjoys writing informative and educational articles on fishing. He has written a variety of articles including information on fishing supplies such as Shimano Reels, Daiwa Reels, and Shimano Spinning Reels.