Flounder Tips - The hook-up

From time to time I plan on posting some fishing tips that I have picked up over the years . This is the first of a planned series this winter.

Flounder are one of my favorite inshore fish to catch. They are fun to catch and they taste great! Catching them with any consistency takes practice though.

Flounder are opportunistic feeders not hunters, they wait for food to come to them, then they pounce. They use their great disguise to blend into the bottom and wait for a meal to pass near by and then they attack. However, once they take the fish, they often settle back down on the bottom to enjoy the meal, they usually do not run. This is where it can get tricky, especially if you are using live bait. If you try to set the hook before the flounder has swallowed the bait completely you will pull the fish out of his mouth and not set the hook. When the flounder first takes the fish you will sometimes only feel a slight tension on the line or a light tug, at this point, keep the rod still or play out line if needed and count to 20 or so, then take up any slack in the line and set the hook with a smooth short snap (not too hard). I think more flounder bites are lost because the hook set is attempted too soon than just about any other reason. It takes patience and attention to the line but its well worth the extra effort and patience.


Now keep the line tight and reel him in, be ready for the flounder to take off once he gets close to the boat or shore. Let him run a bit, this is where ensuring your drag is set properly beforehand is very important. Then pull him in again. A very large flounder may run several times before you should try to net him. Be patient and keep the line taunt.

(more tips to come in future posts)