How to Rig Flounder Fishing Line
Flounder are a prized food fish found in coastal waters. Sometimes called fluke and summer flounder, the brown, spotted body and distinctive flat shape of the flounder, which has both eyes on one side of its head, makes the fish easy to recognize. These are stealthy game fish that hide in the shallows waiting for their prey. Knowing this, and by following these steps, you will be ready to rig a line for catching this delicious fish.
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Things You'll Need
- Medium-duty saltwater rod and reel spooled with 15-pound line
- Egg and pyramid sinkers
- Snelled hooks
- Live bait
- Tackle and rigging supplies, including plastic beads, spinners, and small, flat metal blades
- Ready-to-Fish Flounder rigs, available at coastal tackle shops.
- Pocketknife
Instructions
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1
Prepare two drop leaders by tying each leader to a 1/0 circle hook (larger hook diameter, to prevent fish from swallowing and being gutted by the hook).
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2
Add a few green plastic beads and 1 to 2 small, metal propeller blades or spinners to each leader above the hook. These parts are available at most tackle shops.
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3
Slide a 1/2 oz. egg sinker onto your main line.
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4
Tie a three-way swivel to the main line, and tie the leaders to the other two ends of the swivel.
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5
Bait each hook with a live mod minnow or mullet, hooking the baitfish under the spinal cord near the tail. Take care not to cut the bait's spinal cord with the hook.
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6
If live baitfish are unavailable, use live shrimp, chunks of shrimp or thin strips of frozen squid about 1/2-inch wide and 3 inches long. Squid are a durable bait and will last longer on the hook, especially in turbulent surf, but flounder generally prefer live minnows and shrimp.
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Cast into shallow water, and allow the rig to sink to the bottom. Flounder lay flat to the sand underwater and flap sand over themselves as camouflage to help them ambush baitfish.
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8
Slow, steady retrievals alternating with quick twitches of your rod tip help simulate a baitfish in distress.
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9
Wait a few seconds after you feel a strike before setting the hook. Flounder attack bait aggressively but take their time to swallow food by turning it around in their mouths.
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Tips & Warnings
Pre-made flounder rigs are available at almost any coastal tackle shop, but you can make your own as described above for a fraction of the price.
