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SEVEN CASTS
Coastal Companionby Seven Casts · Coastal Virginia
Plate 58 of 79SaltwaterInshore & Chesapeake Bay

Flounder

Paralichthys dentatus — also called summer flounder, fluke

Summer flounder, the fluke — a left-eyed ambush fish of the inlets, channel edges, and pier pilings, and the most reliable keeper for a shore angler from late spring through fall.

Typically present

beginnerShore-accessibleBoat recommendedEstuarineNearshore ocean
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Practice this species

Try a simulated catch in Seven Casts. Use this guide and its official sources to plan a real trip.

This profile has not yet been checked against an official regional data source — confirm identification, seasons, and regulations before you rely on it.

Flounder (Paralichthys dentatus)
  1. 1Ringed spots — at least 5 dark spots arranged in an X pattern
  2. 2Both eyes on the left — Both eyes on the left side of the head
  3. 3Drab above — Brown/gray/drab above
Fig. 58. Paralichthys dentatus

Photo: Smithsonian, Smithsonian Institution — CC BY 2.0

Habitat
Inlets, Bridges & shorelines
Methods
Inshore boat, Surf, Pier
Typical size
15–20 in
Eating
good

Identification

Look for

  1. Both eyes on the left side of the head when viewed from above (a 'left-eyed' flatfish)
  2. Brown/gray/drab above with at least 5 dark spots arranged in an X pattern, white below; can change color to match the bottom
Typical size here
15–20 in
Notable fish
'Doormats' past 24 in, most often near the inlets and the Bridge-Tunnel

Tell them apart

Look first: Ringed spots mean summer flounder; diffuse blotches mean southern.

Flounder

Flounder (Paralichthys dentatus)
Southern Flounder
Southern Flounder (Paralichthys lethostigma)
Look at
Flounder
Southern Flounder
SpotsFive or more distinct ringed (ocellated) spots, often five in a pattern toward the tailNo ringed spots — diffuse dark blotches on a brownish upper side
EyesBoth on the left sideBoth on the left side — not a tell
WaterInlets, surf, channel edges, higher salinityLower-salinity creeks and rivers, often well upriver
Gill rakersAbout 15 or more on the lower archAbout 9–10 — a hand-lens count, not a glance
Numbers on the figures match the rows; a grey number has no mark on either figure. Summer flounder is by far the more common of the two in Hampton Roads; southern flounder is an occasional lower-Bay catch.NOAA Fisheries — summer flounder

Local waters

  • Inlets and channel edges
  • Structure near sandy or shell bottom
  • Docks and bridge pilings

Catchable both from shore (surf, pier) and by boat (inshore boat). 6 spots in this guide document it — see water to try below.

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When to fish

Typically present: spring, summer, fall

Late spring through fall, best during the fall migration toward the ocean.

Tide stage for this kind of water

Any strong current, either direction

Ocean water pushing in and out past rock and sand creates the seams and depth changes fish hold on; the stage matters less than the movement.

From: Reading tides without overthinking them

Water temperature

The water, not the calendar, sets the season here — a warm October or a cold snap moves these bands.

Water temperature and the seasons

Bite Windows shows the predicted tide stage, daylight, and forecast for a spot where this species is documented — planning context, never a catch forecast.

How to catch it

  • Flounder ambush from the sand, so movement is everything: drag a Carolina-rigged minnow or a bucktail slowly with the current, pausing every few feet.
  • Fish the transitions — channel edges, the down-current side of pilings and inlet rocks, and the line where sand meets shell.
  • When you feel the tap, give a slow three-count or feel for weight before lifting; flounder often grab the tail first, which is what the stinger-hook rig is for.
  • A strip of squid or a Gulp! trailer on the bucktail adds scent and stays on when the bite is short.
  • Common mistakelifting on the first tap and pulling the bait away from a fish that has not turned it yet.

Bait & lures

  • Bucktail tipped with Gulp! or a minnow
  • Live mud minnows or finger mullet on a Carolina rig

Tackle to start with

Ranges, not rules — match the day, the water, and the fish in front of you.

Rod
7 ft medium spinning
Line
15–20 lb braid
Leader
20–30 lb fluorocarbon
Hooks
1/0–3/0 wide-gap hooks for minnows and strips; ½–2 oz bucktails

Rigs for flounder

All rigs

Also: Jig head and soft plastic, Live-bait rig, Flounder rig (with stinger hook), Carolina rig.

Packing lists written for it

Terms usedPresentationStructureCurrent seam

On the table

Mild, lean, fine-flaked white fillets, four to a fish; fry, sauté, bake, or stuff. Freezes better than most local fish. Confirm current limits with VMRC.

  • Sharp teeth and gill plates — grip behind the head or use a lip gripper; a flat, wet surface keeps a release fish calm.
  • Lay kept fish flat in slush ice; flounder keep well on ice for a day or two.

Recipes written for it

Cleaning, chilling, and cooking a legal catch covers the steps between the cooler and the pan.

Where to try

Water that suits flounder

On the mapAll fishing spots