Flounder Bait - What And When To Use

The flounder is a species that can be found in Canada and along the Eastern and Western coast of the United States. This is a unique fish with some amazing qualities. For example, when they mature one of their eyes will migrate to the other side giving them two eyes on one side. This has a lot to do with the fact that they lie half buried in the sandy bottoms of the ocean waiting for a tasty meal to go by. The eye from the side that is next to the ocean's floor goes through metamorphosis and moves to the upper side.

The flounder is a flatfish that can put up a really good fight once hooked. They also taste delicious and this is the two main reasons so many anglers go out searching for them. They are considered a predator because they do ambush their prey from the bottom of the ocean where they are very hard to see. They mostly feed off of smaller fish, crustaceans and polychaetes.

If you want to catch and reel in flounder you need to get their attention first. This requires using baits they are attracted to. So what types of bait do you need to use and when should you use them? It really depends on where and when you're fishing but there are a few basic rules that you can follow that will yield some pretty good results.

Which Flounder Bait to Use and When
The first thing that you need to know is that the flounder will usually respond best to fresh live bait. This is true in most all situations so you really can't go wrong when using live bait. Some of the best options will include worms, clams, squid, minnows, mullet and shrimp. When it comes to size you need to choose something just big enough to stay on the hook. If you choose anything bigger than this it will probably be too big to fit in the mouth of this species.

Use live bait anytime and anywhere that you can for the best results. However, there are times when you can't use live bait or if you simply prefer not to, then you can fish with artificial bait as long as you choose something that will attract their attention. The soft plastic lures usually work the best because these resemble live bait so closely. Stick with the ones that look like the bait fish they are attracted to naturally.

When using artificial baits it's important to make sure you use them correctly. They should move through the water in the same way that live bait would. If you're having trouble with your presentation it would be wise to practice before heading out on your flounder fishing trip. If you don't present the lures correctly, you won't get any bites from this species.

Dan Eggertsen is a fishing researcher and enthusiast who is committed to providing the best salt water fishing information possible. Go to http://www.asksaltwaterfishing.com/editorials/flounder-bait.html for more information on salt water fishing.