Southern Flounder

Season in Big Bend

Weak: Cedar Key reports flounder as occasional; Steinhatchee lists flounder among October lure catches. FWC: brackish bays and estuaries, thought to spawn offshore. (Our inference)

Season by region

Where to find them

Brackish creeks and oyster bars; an occasional catch at Cedar Key (Sport Fishing; FWC).

On the bottom along trough edges, close to shore, and near inlets.

What to look for

Sand edges and drop-offs where bait gets swept, mullet schools moving along the beach. Southern flounder have no distinct eyespots; summer flounder show five and Gulf flounder three.

What to throw

Bucktail or jighead with a 4 to 5 in paddle tail1/2 to 1 oz, 4 to 5 in tail. Slow hops along the bottom: lift, drop, let it touch, repeat.

Jighead with a scented soft-plastic shrimp or mullet (Gulp style)1/4 to 1/2 oz, 3 to 4 in. Slow drag and hop on the bottom with pauses; scent does the work.

Gold spoon (weedless style)1/2 to 3/4 oz, 2.5 to 3 in. Slow to medium wobble with occasional pauses near the bottom of the trough.

Bait

Live finger mullet (4 to 6 in), Mud minnows. Carolina rig, 1 to 2 oz egg sinker, 18 to 24 in of 20 to 30 lb fluorocarbon, 1/0 to 3/0 hook.

Leader

20 to 30 lb fluorocarbon, 18 to 24 in.

Common mistakes

• Setting the hook immediately on bait (give it a few seconds)
• Fishing too fast; drag it slowly along the bottom
• Losing the fish at the edge; net or slide it, do not lift

Landing

Do not lift a flounder by the line; slide it up on a wave.

Handling

• Sharp teeth

Use pliers; they can cut fingers or line.

Keep or release

Excellent, lean white flesh (LSU). Florida flounder rules apply; see the regulations file.

Recipes for southern flounder

Typical: 12 to 14 in, 1 to 2 lb. Large: 5 lb and up ('doormats'). SC record 17 lb 6 oz (1974).

Limits

FishOS has not checked the FL limits yet. Check the size, bag and season rules with the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission before you keep a fish.

Sources

• Sport Fishing, Chris Woodward, updated March 12, 2020: Cedar Key, Florida, feast of inshore fishing riches (Angler knowledge)
• Visit Natural North Florida, Sept 5, 2018: Steinhatchee fishing forecast for September and October (Capt. Rick Davidson, Sea Hag Marina) (Angler knowledge)
• Florida FWC species profile: southern flounder (Official source)
• SCDNR species profile: southern flounder (Official source)
• Fisherman's Post North Myrtle Beach / Little River reports 2025-2026 (Angler knowledge)
• SCDNR species profile: summer flounder (Official source)

All the fish of Big Bend