steelkeron.blogg.se - Flounder fish

Here you will have a good chance of spearing New Zealand's biggest flounder species, the turbot.

If you have time also check out any areas where fresh water creeks enter the surf on the west coast.Ībove: A big starry flounder taken gigging in Florida If you find a large worm bed take a good landmark and come back at night with a good flounder light and a gig and you will be amazed how easy it is to spear these fish as they come into water only inches deep to feast on the worms.įor the best catches of yellowbelly flounder make sure you are there before the incoming tide has covered the worm bed and when the surf is low.

These beds can be located by driving along the beach at dead low tide while looking for differences in the texture of the sand.Ī mottled, bubbly or matt texture are the signs to look for, have a dig in the spot and if you find small worms you are in business. On exposed high energy west coast beaches in New Zealand big yellowbelly flounder often feed on worm beds in the inter tidal zone. The juvenile fish are normally in very shallow estuarine areas and feed on tiny shrimp like copepods, small crabs, a variety of sea worms and invertebrates.įlounder Fishing Tips - Where To Flounder Gig The answer to what do flounder eat depends on the habitat in the area the fish are living.īaby flatfish begin feeding as an ambush predator as soon as they settle on the bottom.

Once baby flounder settle on the bottom they move into very shallow inshore estuaries and the upper reaches of harbours. This process takes around six to ten weeks and when complete the baby flounder settle on the bottom as a recognisable flatfish. One of the most interesting characteristics in a flounder is during the larval stage when the left eye migrates around to the right side of the fish. The fingerling flounder gulp randomly for plankton until they are between 5 to 10mm long. All flatfish hatch offshore as a normal looking fish that swims vertically in the water column. Setting flounder nets in channels is also a popular flounder fishing method in New Zealand and good catches can be taken year round.įlounder reproduction occurs offshore in late winter and spring when the fish spawn in water 25 to 35 metres deep.Ībove: A nice yellowbelly flounder gigged at Kawhia Harbourįlounder fish biology is very unusual. However good flounder catches can be taken year round by spearing and gigging in the shallows.Ībove: Another big flounder about to be gigged with the aid of powerful flounder lights Night flounder fishing in New Zealand and Australia is most popular over summer - gigging and spearing is popular and productive from November through to May, with the best months being January to April. In the USA winter flounder (also known as blackback) are the exception to the seasonal rule and they come into shallower waters during the winter months. When the light is shone on the flounder they stay very still and make an easy target. Night fishing in the summer flounder season with an underwater light and spear or gig is very simple and productive. The flounder come into very shallow water - sometimes only inches deep - after sunset. In most areas of the USA, Australia and New Zealand flounder are most prolific inshore over the summer months.īecause of the warmer water, summer is the most popular time for gigging from flounder boats and wading using flounder gigs or spears and underwater fishing lights or lanterns. In order to find top flounder fishing spots it's a good idea to learn about flounder seasonal migration patterns and preferred habitat. Spearing or gigging is a very enjoyable and productive way of flounder fishing, all you need is a good flounder light and a spear. To track a shoal that you’ve located just follow the current, however you need to factor in the slow pace of flounder shoals.Paul's Fishing Kites Copyright © 2002-2016 One shoal trails another at intervals of up to about 140 m (150 yds).

Flounders move in small shoals and follow the current.

Reel in line frequently and re-cast to arouse interest of flounders, don’t forget to check that your bait is still intact!.

Pack all of a bait tightly onto the hook, flounders are known to filch loosely fixed baits and flapping bits of bait clean away from the hook in a trice.

You don’t need to cast into deep water when fishing for flounders as they often feed in extremely shallow water, sometimes deep enough only to cover their backs.

Fish for flounders on a racing and rising tide for the best results.

Flounders trail the flood tide onto beaches and into estuaries to search the disturbed sand and mud for lugworms, ragworms and any food which may have been made available.