European Flounder
Platichthys flesus
European flounder is a right-eyed flatfish common in estuaries, bays, and shallow coastal waters, with some populations entering brackish and lower freshwater reaches. It lies camouflaged on the bottom and feeds on worms, crustaceans, and small fish.
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Identification points
- Oval, flattened body with both eyes on the left side of the head
- Distinct bony tubercles and rough lateral-line area on the eyed side
- Usually brown or olive with orange to reddish spots and a pale blind side
Habitat
Soft-bottom estuaries, tidal rivers, lagoons, harbors, and sheltered shallow coastal waters; most abundant over sand, mud, and mixed sediment, often in brackish water and occasionally far upriver in low-salinity reaches.
Bait notes
Best baits are lugworm, ragworm, peeler crab, small strips of fish, and shrimp. Small soft-plastic shads, worm imitations, and scented lures also take fish, especially in estuaries.
Behavior
A bottom-dwelling ambush feeder, active mainly at dusk, night, and moving tide. It buries in sediment or settles flat to blend in, then takes benthic prey such as polychaete worms, shrimp, amphipods, and small fish.
Caution
No major toxin concerns, but manage spines and rough handling carefully; this species can be taken in estuaries that may have local harvest advisories for contaminants, so check local regulations and water-quality warnings.
Fishing notes
Fish light bottom rigs near tide edges, gullies, drop-offs, and channels on a moving tide. Keep baits close to the seabed and use slow retrieves or gentle lifts for lures; small hooks and fine leaders help in clear water.