Class is in session Whether gigging or with rod and reel, follow these tips for fantistic flounder fishing BY BRIAN JOSEPH SPENCER Hi my name is Brian Joseph Spencer and I would have to say that fishing and hunting are my life. My favorite fish to go after is the flounder. You can either fish for them or gig for them. Gigging is using a very bright light either above or below the water while walking or using a boat. You shine the light and look for the flounder laying on the bottom, trying to camouflage themselves so that they can catch baitfish as they travel over them. Flounder are ambush predators. They spawn once a year in November or December depending on when the water temperatures reach 68 degrees, During that time the fish are working their way to the gulf and deeper water in order to spawn. They are unable to lay their own eggs without having to be in at least 60 feet of water at which the pressure allows the eggs to release. Once they have completed their migration and have finished fertilizing their eggs they will then come back into the shallower bays and flats where they will remain again until next year. The best spots to find flounder
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during the migration is going to be near deep channels that are leading to a passageway to the gulf. Flounder also like lying next to rocks or bridge pilings. I guess they feel comfortable when structure is around them. That and it is easy to ambush bait against a wall or rock. Another good spot to find flounder is around spoil islands and inlets and outlets to small channels. If you can find a shore with Roseau cane then you will most likely to be able to find them, bait likes to congregate and hide in that grass. Therefore by default, the flounder will be around. If you are going to be fishing for them with rod and reel I have a couple of go-to methods. One of them is using a live mullet or mud minnow on a fish finder rig (Carolina rig). I will tie a 30-pound leader below a swivel with a weight above the swivel that is free moving. You can work the bottom very well using that method. My favorite way of catching flounder is with artificial. Get whatever size jig head that will allow you to stay on bottom but not too heavy to where you get stuck, I normally use a quarter ounce jig with either my chickenboy lures
four-inch shrimp. I pick the colors by the water. If it’s clear water, use clear lures and for dark water, use darker lures. The most important tip I can give you is to fish with your rod tip and bounce it while working the bottom. When you feel the thump just stop and let your line loose so they can’t detect any pressure on the line. Count to 15 or 20 seconds and then tighten your line and set that hook good. Flounder have tough mouths. I hope that some of this info will help. If you have any questions feel free to email me or join my group Flounder Fanatics on Facebook. Thank you to my sponsors for making everything possible. Chickenboy lures, Stinky Pants Fishing, Fin Addict, Fishing Reactant Compound, Thump Kings and Team Ardent. Until next issue tight lines and sharp gigs. Brian Joseph Spencer Flounder Fanatics @ Facebook Flounderfanatics@gmail.com