Winter Flounder

Season in Maine

Maine DMR: the most common shallow-water flounder, a popular sportfish in Maine; Frisbee's Pier at Kittery Point is a winter flounder spot. OTW May 2021: a few flounder stirring off Wells and Ogunquit. No summer or fall month data; set low. (Our inference)

Season by region

Where to find them

Estuaries and coastal waters; Frisbee's Pier at Kittery Point; off Wells and Ogunquit in May (Maine DMR, OTW).

On soft bottom in bays and harbors, often buried.

What to look for

Soft bottom in bays and harbors with moving water near channels.

Bait

Blue mussels (early season), Bloodworms, Sandworms. Small-hook bottom rig with a sinker to hold the bait on the bottom..

Leader

NY Sea Grant: 10 to 15 lb mono on a medium spinning rod; heavier where current is strong.

Common mistakes

• Fishing slack water away from the current
• Hooks too large for the small mouth

Landing

Lift it in with a steady pull or a small net.

Handling

Unhook gently; return short fish quickly.

Keep or release

Maine DMR: the thickest and meatiest flatfish smaller than halibut, highly prized as food. Lures are mostly ineffective; use marine worms and clams.

Recipes for winter flounder

Typical: unknown. Large: Maximum around 23 in and 6 lb (Maine DMR).

Limits

FishOS has not checked the ME limits yet. Check the size, bag and season rules with the Maine Department of Marine Resources before you keep a fish.

Sources

• Maine DMR species sheet: Winter Flounder (Official source)
• Maine Saltwater Angler's Guide: Kittery to Cape Elizabeth shore sites (Official source)
• On The Water: New Hampshire and Maine Fishing Report, May 13 2021 (Angler knowledge)
• NOAA Tech. Memo. NMFS-NE-138: EFH source document, winter flounder (1999) (Official source)
• New York Sea Grant fish profile: Winter Flounder (Cornell, 2001) (Official source)

All the fish of Maine