Overview
Classic New England flatfish. Caught mainly in winter and spring when waters are cold.
Identification
Eyes on the right sideDistinctive flat bodyAsymmetric mouthLong dorsal finShort pelvic finRounded tailOval bodySmall scales
- Body
- Flat body with eyes on one side.
- Colouration
- Brown with irregular dark spots, lighter on the underside.
- Sexual dimorphism
- Absent/not very noticeable
- Growth
- Slow, typical of species in cold waters.
Taxonomy
- Family
- Pleuronectidae
- Order
- Pleuronectiformes
- Class
- Actinopterygii
Related species
Hippoglossus hippoglossusPlatichthys flesusParalichthys dentatusScophthalmus maximusLimanda limanda
Habitat & distribution
- Environment
- coast, estuaries, brackish
- Preferred bottom
- sand, mud
- Geographic distribution
- Northeastern coasts of North America, from Labrador to Georgia.
- Micro-habitat
- Prefers to bury itself in sandy or muddy bottoms to hide from predators and ambush prey.
Prefers sandy and muddy bottoms near coasts and estuaries.
Presence by sea area
Na Atlantico NwPeak
Na Costa Est NordPeak
Diet
- Primary prey
- gastropods, bivalves, amphipods
- Secondary prey
- small crustaceans, annelid worms, zooplankton
- Occasional prey
- small fish, insect larvae
- Feeding behaviour
- Feeds on the sea floor, preying on small organisms by suction with its mouth.
- Natural predators
- sharks, seals, large predatory fish, seabirds
Favoring a benthic habitat, it has adapted to a diet of small bottom organisms.
Behaviour
- Activity
- diurnal
- Social behaviour
- solitary
- Aggressiveness
- low
- Migration
- Non-migratory, with small seasonal movements to deeper waters in summer.
- Seasonal behaviour
- In summer, tends to move to deeper, cooler waters to escape the heat.
- Juveniles
- Juveniles tend to stay nearshore in shallow waters.
- Adults
- Adults are mostly found in sandy and muddy bottoms.
Reproduction
- Spawning season
- March, April, May
- Spawning depth
- between 3 and 33 feet
- Eggs
- Small benthic and adhesive eggs.
- Larval stage
- Planktonic larvae that develop in the water column before settling on the bottom.
- Sexual maturity
- 3-4 years
When to catch Winter Flounder
Activity calendar
Jan
Feb
Mar
Apr
May
Jun
Jul
Aug
Sep
Oct
Nov
Dec
PeakGoodLowInactive
Activity by season
Best times
DayDawn
Night—
This species shows peak fishing activity in spring, summer and autumn, when the productivity index (FPI) reaches its highest values.
Fishing activity decreases in winter, when conditions are less favourable.
Ideal conditions
Water temperature
10°COptimal zone: 14-24°C27°C
Preferred tide: moving
Where to catch it
Best spots
sandy bottomsestuariesshallow coastal areasnear sandbars
Bottom preference
Spot type
Fishing techniques
Recommended
gillnetlonglineset nethand line
Other applicable
Pesca A FondoBeach FishingBeach LedgeringPesca A Fondo LeggeraSurfcastingSurfcasting Leggero
Recommended baits
shrimpwormsmolluskssoft plastic lures
Baits by pressure
Low
Jig head + softbaitSoftbait piccolo / LRF
Medium
Gambero morto / GamberoStriscia di calamaro
High
ArenicolaVerme americanoVerme di mareVerme di sangueCozzaVongola / ClamEsca naturale (generica)
Catch & handling tips
- Fight
- Tends to offer little resistance and is often brought to the surface with ease.
- Handling
- Handle carefully from the flat side to avoid damaging the skin.
- Release
- Gently release onto the bottom to minimize stress.
Curiosities & culture
- Record catches
- The IGFA world record for the winter flounder, Pseudopleuronectes americanus, is 9.5 lbs, caught in 2012 at Martha's Vineyard in the USA. Large specimens can exceed 20 inches in length.
- In the kitchen
- Excellent when steamed or grilled, often paired with potatoes in the traditional dish 'Fish and chips'.
- Cultural notes
- An integral part of recreational fishing in New England.
- Historical notes
- Important fishery in New England, traditionally caught since the early days of colonization.
