Todd Olemann
As the days shorten and the North winds bring cooler temperatures this triggers the start of the flounder’s annual migration offshore to spawn. These flatfish move and begin to feed heavily in anticipation of the journey. Most of the summer, flounder are incidental bycatch to anglers seeking specks and redfish. Now, is the time that they can be targeted and expected to be caught in good numbers. October, November and December are prime months in the Ponchartrain Basin for catching these delicious fish. Here are some tips and tactics that will help you score.
Flounders are by design ambush predators. They do not have the long, slender built for speed look of a Jack Crevalle, they do not possess the broad shoulders of a bull red or its cousin the black drum. The two things flounders have going for them are stealth and camouflage. They blend in well with the surrounding bottoms of the lake. The mottled brown appearance and wide flat body are ideally suited to ambush unsuspecting prey such as minnows, mullets, pogies, crabs and shrimp. Flounders are built to hang on the bottom. If you want to catch them you have to fish where they are- on the bottom. Flounders are specific as to where they want to be. They will not stay on just any bottom. Certain conditions need to be met, conditions that I look for include moving water to bring bait to the fish, a ledge or drop off to ambush prey as it struggles to get out of current and/or structure such as the bridges over the lake. These areas concentrate the flounders when they are moving out to spawn. Ledges where shallow water meets deeper water are great places to fish. I’ve had my best trips fishing ledges with moving water that brings bait to them. The Rigolets and Chef Passes are two prime areas to target. My favorite area is where the old Rigolets lighthouse stood before Katrina swept it away. The ledge in that area has provided numerous flounders for my table. Other ledge areas to look for are the marsh run outs that empty into another bigger body of water. Flounder will gang up just out of the current waiting for bait to drain from the marsh. When the current sweeps the bait out of the marsh the flounders feed on the easy meals. Marshy areas around Lake Catherine and the ICW are excellent spots to try. Remember, they are not speedsters, they are ambush predators and feed accordingly.
Flounders are by design ambush predators. They do not have the long, slender built for speed look of a Jack Crevalle, they do not possess the broad shoulders of a bull red or its cousin the black drum. The two things flounders have going for them are stealth and camouflage. They blend in well with the surrounding bottoms of the lake. The mottled brown appearance and wide flat body are ideally suited to ambush unsuspecting prey such as minnows, mullets, pogies, crabs and shrimp. Flounders are built to hang on the bottom. If you want to catch them you have to fish where they are- on the bottom. Flounders are specific as to where they want to be. They will not stay on just any bottom. Certain conditions need to be met, conditions that I look for include moving water to bring bait to the fish, a ledge or drop off to ambush prey as it struggles to get out of current and/or structure such as the bridges over the lake. These areas concentrate the flounders when they are moving out to spawn. Ledges where shallow water meets deeper water are great places to fish. I’ve had my best trips fishing ledges with moving water that brings bait to them. The Rigolets and Chef Passes are two prime areas to target. My favorite area is where the old Rigolets lighthouse stood before Katrina swept it away. The ledge in that area has provided numerous flounders for my table. Other ledge areas to look for are the marsh run outs that empty into another bigger body of water. Flounder will gang up just out of the current waiting for bait to drain from the marsh. When the current sweeps the bait out of the marsh the flounders feed on the easy meals. Marshy areas around Lake Catherine and the ICW are excellent spots to try. Remember, they are not speedsters, they are ambush predators and feed accordingly.
Jigging the bottom along the shoreline in Lake Borgne
Flounder can be caught using a variety of natural and artificial baits. My favorite way to fish for them is with a Carolina rigged live cocahoe minnow. My preference is to hook the minnow through the lips. I feel that it gives the minnow a nice natural action. On my Carolina rig I try to use the lightest sinker that I can get away with. My preference is a 3/8 ounce egg sinker placed above a plastic bead (to prevent line damage) attached to a small barrel swivel. Tied to the other end is 18 inches of flurocarcarbon with a 1/0 kahle hook. Other natural baits that are proven producers are pogies, croakers, small mullets, live and dead shrimp and fish strips. Fish strips are small pieces of fish sliced thin off of a fresh caught fish such as a white trout, flounder or croaker. My favorite fish strip is the white belly area. Artificial baits jigged slowly along the bottom will put fish in the cooler too. The usual baits Shu Shu Shads, Deadly Dudley’s, Berkley Gulps, Saltwater Assassins and Matrix Shad are all proven producers. My favorite color to use is anything Avocado to mimic mullets that are abundant this time of the year. Once again the jig head should be the lightest that you can use and still reach the bottom quickly. Three eights of an ounce is a good all-around choice in most situations. Fish this bait slowly hopping it along the bottom. Artificials are great for covering large areas in search of flounder. My favorite area to fish artificials are the bridges that bisect Lake Ponchartrain with the Trestles being my favorite.
The much anticipated fall season is upon us. Outdoorsman have many options to choose from- Do you want to hunt, fish, or watch football? How about trying to do battle with one of the most overlooked and underappreciated fish in our local waters? Flounders are ripe for the taking now. They will not give you a heart pounding, head shaking thrill like a speckled trout or bass. They do not go on long drag peeling runs like red and black drum. What they lack in beauty and brawn they more than make up for at the dinner table. Whether you pan fry the little ones or broil the larger ones they are delicious and waiting in the water for you. Get out to the lake before they’re gone.
Tips
*A quick and easy way to clean a flounder is with a wire brush. Remember to buy a new one to use just for flounders. I buy the rectangular ones from the dollar store. They fit my hand perfectly and I can scale a flounder in seconds. They were much better than spoons your knife.
*Lots of times flounder will follow the bait to your boat and strike as you lift the bait out of the water. Always be alert for a strike.
*Rarely will a flounder viciously strike your bait. Usually, you will feel a slight tug or your line goes heavy. When in doubt set the hook.
* Flounders have small bony mouths. It is important that you have strong sharp hooks. If you find that you are missing a lot of strikes, try counting to five before setting the hooks.
*Always keep your bait moving. Artificials should always be slowly retrieved. Natural or live bait should be fish slowly too. Don’t just let in sit. Give the bait some action by moving the rod tip a few inches or give it a good “pop” every thirty seconds or so.
* Never leave home in search of flounder without a net. Many times the fish will “mouth” the bait and never actually be hooked. They are masters of opening their mouths to drop the hook as you sling them in the boat. Net every one of them.
* Remember the daily limit is 10 with no size restrictions. Keep what you can and release the release. Flounder freeze well if you want to stock up for the winter.
The much anticipated fall season is upon us. Outdoorsman have many options to choose from- Do you want to hunt, fish, or watch football? How about trying to do battle with one of the most overlooked and underappreciated fish in our local waters? Flounders are ripe for the taking now. They will not give you a heart pounding, head shaking thrill like a speckled trout or bass. They do not go on long drag peeling runs like red and black drum. What they lack in beauty and brawn they more than make up for at the dinner table. Whether you pan fry the little ones or broil the larger ones they are delicious and waiting in the water for you. Get out to the lake before they’re gone.
Tips
*A quick and easy way to clean a flounder is with a wire brush. Remember to buy a new one to use just for flounders. I buy the rectangular ones from the dollar store. They fit my hand perfectly and I can scale a flounder in seconds. They were much better than spoons your knife.
*Lots of times flounder will follow the bait to your boat and strike as you lift the bait out of the water. Always be alert for a strike.
*Rarely will a flounder viciously strike your bait. Usually, you will feel a slight tug or your line goes heavy. When in doubt set the hook.
* Flounders have small bony mouths. It is important that you have strong sharp hooks. If you find that you are missing a lot of strikes, try counting to five before setting the hooks.
*Always keep your bait moving. Artificials should always be slowly retrieved. Natural or live bait should be fish slowly too. Don’t just let in sit. Give the bait some action by moving the rod tip a few inches or give it a good “pop” every thirty seconds or so.
* Never leave home in search of flounder without a net. Many times the fish will “mouth” the bait and never actually be hooked. They are masters of opening their mouths to drop the hook as you sling them in the boat. Net every one of them.
* Remember the daily limit is 10 with no size restrictions. Keep what you can and release the release. Flounder freeze well if you want to stock up for the winter.