10/18/2012 1

FLOUNDER FISHING

Fishing & Gigging For Flounder

Presented by

Tom Putnam

Owner of Half Hitch

Hosted by

Bob Fowler

(850) 708-1317

Marinemax.com halfhitch.com

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SIZE & BAG LIMITS

• 12 in. size limit all species

• 10 bag limit per person per day all species

combined

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SOUTHERN FLOUNDER Family: Paralichthys Lethostigma

Description: The Southern flounder is left-eyed, and is most readily separated from its close relatives

by the lack of prominent ocellated spots on the body. It does possess numerous diffused, dark spots

and blotches on the olive-brown side and fins, but these are not conspicuous and tend to disappear in

large fish.

Similar Fish:

Where found: The Southern flounder, as its name implies, is found in the more southerly latitudes of

the United States. This fish will prefer estuaries, mud flats and even occaissional freshwater.

Size:

Florida Record: 20 lb. 9 ounces Nassau Sound, Florida

World Record: 20 lb. 9 ounces Nassau Sound, Florida

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GULF FLOUNDER

Family: Paralichthys Albigutta

Description: body color brown, its shade depending on color of bottom, with numerous

spots and blotches; 3 prominent eye-like spots forming a triangle; one spot on lateral line,

one above, one below; numerous white spots scattered over body and fins (albigutta,

white-spotted); strong canine-like teeth; caudal fin in shape of wedge, its tip in the middle.

Similar Fish: southern flounder, P. lethostigma (no eye-like spots; color pattern is key to

distinguishing the two species).

Where found: INSHORE on sandy or mud bottoms, often ranging into tidal creeks;

occasionally caught on NEARSHORE rocky reefs.

Size: common to 2 pounds, generally smaller than southern flounder.

Florida Record: n/a

World Record: 20lbs 9 oz. 1983 Larenza Mungin Nassau Sound

Remarks: hatches into usual fish form, but right eye migrates over to left side early in life;

a bottom dweller; thought to spawn OFFSHORE; feeds on crustaceans and small fishes.

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SUMMER FLOUNDER Family: Paralichthys Dentatus

Description:

Similar Fish:

Where found:

Size:

Florida Record: n/a

World Record: 22 lbs. 7 ounces NY

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FLOUNDER IDENTIFICATION

Gulf Flounder – Paralichthys albigutta

Note three spots forming a triangle

Southern Flounder – Paralichthys lethostigma

Note absence of spots

Summer Flounder – Paralichthys dentatus

Note five spots on the body near the tail

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Super Braid vs. Mono

Mono

•Reasonable priced

•Able to stretch

•Multiple colors

•Has memory

Braid

•Zero Stretch

•Small Diameter

•No memory

•Can not color, coat

only not able to die

•Pricey

•Very durable

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Power Pro

• Low stretch helps with

hook set

• Keep fish from getting

in the bottom

• Small diameter

increased line capacity

• Less water drag

• High abrasion

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Power Pro • Knots with only 2 or

3 twist do not work well with braids – most knots with 6 or more twist will work – best knots palamar – Uni – Bimini twist

• When using Super Braid’s most knives and wire cutters will not work – scissors, preferable braid scissors work best

UNI to UNI KNOT

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Fluorocarbon

• Great Leader

– High abrasion resistance

– Stiffer

– Larger Diameter

– Same density as water

– Carbon fleck stops light transmittal

– Has UV inhibitors – last longer in sun

– Very slick, passes through guides easily

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Rod Action

• Light tip rods are more

sensitive but lack

backbone for pulling fish

off their wreck

• Long rods are easy to

feel bite but very poor

leverage

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LANDING NETS

• Tangle free nets allow you to net a fish

with lure. The lure will not get tangled

in netting.

• Rubber nets are great to release fish.

Doesn’t have the rough knotting that

would damage the fish and remove it’s

protective slime.

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Diurnal Tides

www.saltwatertides.com

Because of East/West shore line & the

effect of our Bay - only have 2 tides daily

1 high

1 low

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Chart #11390

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Grass Beds

• Now protected by law

• Shallow water is marked with signs

• When fishing shallow water, Pole

instead of motoring to avoid

damage to sea grass

• You can be fined for destroying

grass beds

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Bait

Shrimp – all fish love

Pinfish (Choffer) – hardy good bait

Finger Mullet – hardy good bait

Bull Minnows

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Gulp • Best saltwater plastic bait ever

made. Although not a true

plastic. Available in all popular

shapes & sizes.

• Biodegradable

• Leeches out scent as used, and

when placed back in the

container the bait will absorb the

scent to regenerate the bait.

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Flounder Jubilee

• Southern flounder

move out to the Gulf

to spawn in

September –

November while Gulf

flounder move into the

Bay to spawn

• 6 types of flounder live

in our bay

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FLOUNDER GIGGING

3-12’ water around docks &

structure & sandy patches

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GIGS • Gigs can be either stainless steel or

painted steel

• Painted steel economical

• Stainless Steel durable but expensive

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SOUTHERN STARGAZER

• Will bury in the sand

and with his fan

shaped pectoral fins

appear to be a

flounder

• Can produce

electrical shock

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Night Fishing - Lights

• Light attracts bait that

attract fish

• Great in summer months

when so hot

• Green light has best light

distance

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Popular Knots

Loop to Loop

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Knots

MEETINGS

Next Meeting Scheduled

• October 29 - November 2, 2012

Marriott Courtyard

1600 E. Beach Blvd.

Gulfport, MS 39501

Gulf Of Mexico Fishery

Management Council Meeting

Schedule 2203 N Lois Avenue, Suite 1100

Tampa, Florida 33607 USA

Toll Free: 888-833-1844

Email: info@gulfcouncil.org

gulfcouncil.org

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MEETINGS

Next Meeting:

December 5-6, 2012

Apalachicola

Florida Fish and Wildlife

Conservation Commission

Farris Bryant Building

620 S. Meridian St.

Tallahassee, FL 32399-1600

(850) 488-4676

Saltwater Regulations

myfwc.com/fishing/saltwater/

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How to Measure

• Fish regulated by fork length are measured from the tip of the jaw or tip of the snout with closed mouth to the center of the fork in the tail.

• Fork Length Species Include: Amberjacks, Bluefish, Rudderfish,

King Mackerel, Hog Fish, Spanish, Mackerel, Dolphin, Permit, Cobia, Pompano, Mullet, African Pompano

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Fishing Newsletter

Visit halfhitch.com select Fishing Club and sign up for the Half Hitch Fishing Newsletter

By registering your email you will stay informed about what's going on in the fishing industry and receive notification of special buys, seminars and tournament information.

Email Address: ___________________

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Future Classes

• November 10th – Hands on Rigging