Starry Flounder
Platichthys stellatus
Starry flounder is a left-eyed flatfish of cool North Pacific coastal waters, often mottled brown with white spotting and orange-tinted fins. It feeds on bottom invertebrates and small fish in estuaries, bays, and nearshore mud or sand flats.
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Identification points
- Left-eyed flatfish with both eyes on the left side of the body
- Distinct white spots scattered on the dark upper side
- Dorsal, anal, and caudal fins often show orange to reddish margins
Habitat
Shallow coastal bays, estuaries, eelgrass edges, tidal channels, and soft-bottom sand or mud flats; juveniles often use brackish waters and adults commonly range into nearshore marine shallows.
Bait notes
Best baits include sand shrimp, bloodworms, clam strips, squid, and small pieces of oily fish; small jigs tipped with bait also work. Small soft plastics or curly-tail grubs bounced low can trigger bites in clear water.
Behavior
An ambush bottom feeder that lies buried or camouflaged on the substrate by day and forages along the bottom on worms, amphipods, shrimps, crabs, and small fishes. It is most active near moving tide water and often takes bait near the seafloor.
Caution
Check local advisories before eating; flatfish from some coastal areas can accumulate contaminants. Handle carefully to avoid stressing the fish if released, and use legal size/season rules because regulations vary by region.
Fishing notes
Fish light bottom rigs or sliding sinker rigs and keep bait just off the bottom in shallow flats, channels, or tide rips. Drift-fishing at moving tide, slow retrieves near bottom, and subtle lifts work well; use smaller hooks and short leaders for cautious bites.