Capt. Spencer with a nice 20″ flounder.
By Capt. Brian “The Flounder Professor” Spencer
The fall flounder run showed some awesome numbers up and down the coast it was a great sight to be seen. During that time of year, the fish are typically way bigger since a lot of them are females heading out to deep waters to spawn. A few fish I have seen being pulled in have been in excess of 8 pounds! Granted, most of them are all around 5 or 6 pounds, which is still a hefty fish in anyone’s eyes.
My personal best is almost 27 inches and 8.7 pounds and she was caught late in the year a couple of years ago. I was fishing an old spot of mine during the run and was bouncing a lemon pepper Chickenboy Lure on the bottom when she decided to bite. She was fighting weird, almost like a big redfish so I didn’t try and tire her out and just horsed her in. Luckily, she was hooked well and I was able to land it but that is one memory I will never forget.
A good fishing memory is one thing a child will have ingrained in their mind if you get them out there and no matter the outcome, it is something that will always be in their memory. Even if you don’t catch any fish it is definitely the experience that means more than a cooler full of bounty. Although it is nice to catch also, the lesson on how to fish will get them further than a full belly. If you ever get the chance to take a person who is either a child or new to the sport you should do it so that the sport can be passed along to others and not be forgotten.
When fishing, a great place to lay your line would near any kind of structure with a nice big drop-off not too far away from it. Deep ship channels and basins are a great place to start, or even the jetty. Lately my bait of choice has been to run a tandem rig with a bubba clucker in the front, in one of the many great colors, but with stained water I would choose a good bright one and in the back, usually a Gulp! Swimming Mullet in either chartreuse or pink. I use a 1/4 ounce jighead in the front and 1/8 ounce in the back to keep it in the best area of the water column. But adjust accordingly to your depth and water current.
As we get further into January, the flounder will start to trickle out and then be gone until around March. You can still catch them year round it is just not always as easy as it is during the run.
Check out my YouTube channel at “Flounder Professor Outdoors” for tips on how to tie up the tandem rig and subscribe for a chance to win a free flounder trip! When I reach 500 subscribers I will pick one name and then when I get to 1,000 I will pick two names. Get out there and go catch a big one. Until next time, tight lines and sharp gigs.
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