Also known as
- Fluke US
- Northern Fluke US
- Flatfish US
- Doormat US
Identification
A laterally compressed ambush flatfish of US East Coast sand and structure — short deep muscular profile delivers explosive strikes from the seafloor. Females out-size males.
- Both eyes positioned on the left side after juvenile eye migration
- Five to fourteen eye-like ringed markings scattered across the dark upper side
- Excellent colour-change ability matching sandy or muddy bottom substrate
- Well-developed sharp teeth on both upper and lower jaws — a key separator from related flounders
Where it holds
- Inshore
- Estuaries
Behaviour
A migratory ambush flatfish of sand and mud bottoms — moves between shallow inshore bays and estuaries through warmer months and deeper continental shelf grounds (50-150m, 4-13°C / 39-55°F) through winter. Lies camouflaged on the bottom and explodes upward on prey passing overhead; smaller fish chase crustaceans, larger fish lean heavily on baitfish. Most active through daytime tide changes that move bait across the bottom; favours sand-and-structure transitions where current concentrates prey.
Diet: Small Baitfish, Anchovies, Small Mullet, Sand Eels, Shrimp, Squid, Small Crabs
How it's caught
Line Fishing
Drift Fishing
The signature New Jersey, New York, Rhode Island, and Chesapeake summer fishery — drift over sand-and-structure transitions in 5-30m presenting a bucktail jig tipped with a Gulp swimming mullet on a high-low rig with a strip of squid on the dropper hook. Just enough lead to keep the rig ticking the bottom. Slow lift-and-drop creates the puff of sand that triggers the strike.
Jigging
The bucktail-and-Gulp signature — cast or vertical-drop a 1/2-3oz white bucktail jig dressed with a Gulp swimming mullet or jerk shad onto sand patches between structure. Bounce the jig with sharp lifts to puff sand off the bottom and trigger the ambush strike. PE1-PE2 spinning or conventional, 30cm of 25lb fluorocarbon leader.
Bottom Fishing
An effective anchored or pier approach when current is light or fish are concentrated on a piece of structure — present a live minnow, fresh mullet strip, or fresh clam on a high-low rig with a #2-1/0 non-offset circle hook and a 2-4oz bank sinker. Keep the bait pinned tight to the bottom in the strike zone.
Live Lining
A productive light-tackle approach when the fish are working shallow estuarine flats and inlet edges — free-line a live mummichog, killifish, finger mullet, or shrimp on a #1-1/0 non-offset circle hook with a small split shot. Drift the bait through the strike zone of a marked or sighted fish.
Spinning
A useful search method on shallow inshore flats when fish are spread thin — cast a 1/4-1/2oz jighead with a 4-5in scented soft-plastic paddletail along bottom contours and structure transitions. Slow lift-and-pause retrieve with the lure ticking the bottom.
