What is the best bait to use fisihing for flounder?

Question

and rig

Answer 1

If fishing the La. or TX. coast or bays, then mud minnows are the way to go. Live shrimp will work good as well but flounders love the mud-minnows. Like the first answers they use a Carolina style when fishing the bottom in deeper waters. Along La. and TX. coast and bays you fish near the banks with a popping or adjustable cork with a mud-minnow. The flounder hang right on the steep river banks or in the shallows of the bays. I have gigged my share of flounder as well. 40yr exp.

Answer 2

I always use a bottom rig that allows you to use two different hooks at different depths. I usually then put squid on one hook and a minnow on the other. I always use two different baits. Observe what others in your area are using and if they are catching anything. Do not use a bait just because everybody else is, sometimes variety is key especially if the next fisherman is only a few feet away.

Answer 3

I just got a nice flounder this past weekend on about a 3'' mud minnow (live and fresh out of the casting net) fished near the bottom. It's important that you get the right size minnow, and they are far more useful alive and un-frozen. Stick a good-sized splitshot or two up above your leader (this puts it about 20'' from the bait, when using a 16-18'' wire leader) and this will keep the minnow nearer the bottom without sinking him. With the bait free to roam around a little, bring your line in very slowly with a long pause every two or three cranks. If you are unable to locate any flounder on your first cast, make your second cast a few degrees to the left or right. Continue sweeping like this and you will cover your area fairly quickly and you can move down the shore a bit and start again with a fresh spot.

Answer 4

I use a tandem rig with a jig head with a plastic on the top and a #2 khale hook with a mullet on the bottom.  For the plastic--either a 3" red with a white tail OR a 2" pearl Gulp shrimp.

Bounce the rig along the bottom near structure.  If wading, throw toward rocks or pier pylons.

Flounder lay up along the sides of a gut or drop off too.  If you catch one, throw back near the the same spot and there may be another.

Answer 5

Carolina rig with bull minnows, shrimp, or finger mullet.  Bull minnows are the best as speckled trout, white trout, and redfish don't really care for the bull minnows, but will eat the shrimp and finger mullet.

I've always used the Carolina rig when fishing for flounder.  Place an egg sinker on your fishing line and then tie a swivel onto the end.  Tie a 12" leader onto the other end of the swivel with a 1/0 to 2/0 bronze hook.  The size of the weight will vary, depending on the current in the water you are fishing in (heavy current requires a heavier weight, while lighter or no current would not call for a heavier weight).

The new Berkley Gulp! shrimp or pogy artificial baits are also good flounder baits.

Answer 6

I find a Gulp! shrimp on a jig bounced along the bottom works pretty well, or real shrimp, or mullet... trick is keeping it close enough to the bottom and not getting snagged on anything. And if a red or a trout or whatever else decides that it wants it, well... they're invited to dinner, too.

Answer 7

This answer depends on what area of the country you are fishing. In the Northeast, minnows, spearing, squid and the gulp baits are what most anglers use; however, in the Southeast, the bigger baits tend to be more predominate such as finger mullet and the larger shrimps. Jigs are also an excellent bait for flounder. Adding a minnow, shrimp or squid strip will increase your chances of hooking up. Try a variety of baits when you go... the fish will tell you what they want. Tight lines.