Winter Flounder Fishing

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During the long, cold winter, many fishermen become bored and restless waiting for prime fishing weather. If you are lucky enough to live in or near New England, you know that you have a host of opportunities almost literally right outside your door, and ice fishing can become a great way to break up the monotony. Striped bass can be caught in early March, and fluke (or winter flounder) are available as soon as April. These fish are more abundant this time of year due to their spawning habits.

There have been new restrictions placed on winter flounder due largely to over-harvesting and unsuitable habitats for spawning. This has reduced the winter flounder season to 6 or 8 weeks. But, these 6-8 weeks provide ample opportunity for great fishing.

Not like summer flounder, even if you are an inexperienced fisherman you can fish for winter flounder with comparatively light line (needing just 8-12 lbs) and a rod as short as 6-7 feet. However, you have to take into account that these fish weigh 2-3 pounds per fish. Creating a winter flounder rig does not have to be hard, but this depends on your own unique tastes. In any case, it is nearly impossible to fail provided that you take advantage of smaller hooks, which are a very important part of fishing for winter flounder. These small hooks and weights are necessary to deposit bait at the bottom and are flexible for reaching both the winter flounder’s habitat and their small and practically toothless mouths.

Your next step is to combine bait for winter flounder with yellow grubs or beads fastened to the shaft. Winter flounder rigs are well known for their bright yellow bait. Regardless of whether you choose to fish with mussel, sandworms or bloodworms as bait, the bright yellow helps catch the attention of winter flounder.

Chumming is another good idea when you are fishing for winter flounder. This is true whether you fish while anchored in a boat or from the shoreline, and this method helps draw in jam-packed schools of winter flounder. You will have all the gear you need to maximize your winter flounder fishing experience once you simply pick up your chum pots at a local bait and tackle shop. Just attach the pot to an inflexible area near the shore or fasten it to your boat.

For those who prefer to cast dual rods, you can use one behind your boat (in the same direction as the current) and one along-side the boat near your chum pot. This method not only helps you catch more flounder but it helps you get the most out of your chum pots.

Since winter flounder tend to congregate in areas where they can find plenty of food, chances are good that you’ll find them in fairly shallow water. The more shallow the water, the warmer it is and the more food that will be found. If you’re near an area of sand and gravel that turns to mud regularly, you are sure to find a school of winter flounder nearby.

If you’re a saltwater angler, winter flounder is a great way to break back into fishing after a long and cold winter. These delicately flavored fish also help restock your freezer after the winter and before the summer fishing season gets underway.

When fishing for winter flounder you want to make sure that you have the proper equipment, some products to consider are Shimano Fishing Reel and Penn Fishing Reel

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