Member Article Flounder Fishing With Artificials

A few years ago I watched a guy catch three flatties on menhaden under the Port Orange bridge. I made a mental note to learn how to catch flatties on artificial bait. I went to Youtube and watched about a dozen videos on flounder jigging. I armed myself with some 1/8 oz jigheads in red, white and chartreuse and bought an assortment of soft plastic baits, including paddletails, swimming mullet and Berkley Gulp shrimp in several colors. I had also read about 100 testamonials from Gulp baits users online. They all seem to like the new penny and white shrimp the best.

I will mention I fish entirely from shore so finding a place to fish that is not posted is hard these days. On 25 July 2011, I stopped under the PO bridge, baited with a new penny Gulp shrimp and let fly. Second cast I get a flattie! Now I’m excited! But that was it for the morning. I tried all of the baits I had brought but no luck. The next few days I tried every spot I could think of to fish from the shore. I would catch one or two flatties and other assorted fish on just about all of the baits I had. But the most came on the Gulp shrimp. I dropped the other baits from my arsenal and started trying different retrievals. I learned the slower the better with a slight twitch occasionally. Cast your bait out and let it lay for a few seconds. Then start your ever so slow retrieval. The flatties will tap the bait, sometimes 3 or 4 times before they get the bait in their mouth. I know now many times I yanked before the flattie had the bait. The larger fish usually just pick up the bait and run. You still need to let him take it for a few seconds before setting the hook. I have learned through trial and error and talking to other flattie fishermen. I try to open my bail when Mr. Flattie gives the tap. All I want to do is give him a few feet of line before setting the hook.

The flounder are ambushers, meaning they hide in wait for a bait to swim by. They like a moving current but will stay out of the current such as behind a piling or beside a dropoff where the current moves by. I haven’t found any tide to be better, although the slack tide or slowing tide is usually the best tide to fish from the bridge. The fast moving current makes it hard to give a good presentation on the Gulp shrimp. When fishing from shore the tide doesn't matter. Originally, I thought the flounder hit a little better when the sun is up but I have changed that theory. I have been catching more in the dark! I have zeroed in on just a few baits. The new penny Gulp shrimp with a chartruese jig head is the best producer (for me). I also like the white Gulp shrimp and the white Gulp mantis shrimp. They both produce about the same. Everyone has a favorite bait so be sure to try an assortment.

I like to fish fairly light tackle for the enjoyment. I use a 6' medium light Abu Garcia Conolon one piece rod with a Penn Fierce 3000 spooled with 8# Suffix Seige mono. I use a 15" flourocarbon leader in 20# tied with an old fashioned barrel knot (blood knot). I do not use a swivel. I tie the jig head on with a loop knot (canoeman knot).

I’ve caught 33 species so far including Flounder, Trout, Redfish, Snook, Bluefish, Jack, Sea Robin, Lizardfish, Catfish, Ladyfish, Whiting, Spot, Rabbitfish, Southern Stargazer, Butterfly Ray, Cow Nose Ray, Pogey, Sailors Choice, Gag Grouper, Goliath Grouper, Puffer, Spanish Mackerel, Sennet, Pompano, Ribbonfish, Croaker Pigfish and Tarpon.

My favorite bait is a 1/4 oz chartreuse jig head with 3" new penny Gulp shrimp. If you fish a lighter current use a 1/8 oz jig head. Don’t be afraid to try different baits and retrieval.

If you're fishing from a dock or bridge, cast alongside the bridge. The flatties like to lay around the pilings.

Now go catch 'em!

 

The rock is top secret!

 

Thanks for the kind words - Alan. I always said I would never fish that bridge because of the traffic and noise. But after my son started catching flatties and trout there I couldn't stand it! The flatties haven't moved in there yet this year. I don't know why. I'll try it again after this wind lets up. It's blowing about 20 right now (4:20am Wed).

 

Bruce - someone has to get up early and feed the fish! That's hard work!