Fishbook: Flounder

‘Fishbook’: Our species-guide series based on “Get Fishing”
the brilliant how to fish book by Allan Sefton

We profile the UK’s most common as well as some lesser-known fish species to help newcomer anglers find out more about fish that can be caught in our lakes, canals, rivers, ponds and sea.

Understanding the kinds of fish you might catch will add interest and could even make your fishing easier! Here you’ll find out more about…

FLOUNDER

Name:
Flounder

Scientific name:
Paralichthys dentatus

Life span:
Between 6-8 years

Typical size:
4oz to 2lb

British record:
5lb 11oz

Waters:
All round the UK throughout the year. In winter they move to deeper water. In summer they feed in shallow water, favouring muddy and sandy estuaries, gullies and depressions on sandy beaches

Interesting fact:
These flat fish are there in good numbers and they may not fight hard when hooked but they take the bait greedily

About Flounder

Wherever you fish a sheltered shallow mark you will find flounder.

These flat fish are there in good numbers and they may not fight hard when hooked but they take the bait greedily.

It is exciting to catch a fish shaped like a dinner plate and designed to hide on the sandy bottom of the sea. Flounders are also excellent to eat.

Visit the rest of the How To Fish video gallery here to learn new tricks and discover more about the basics of angling.

Find out more about:

• Mackerel
• Coalfish
• Bass
• Wrasse
• Pollack
• Flounder

Read more about how you can get into sea fishing. Alternatively, find a venue near you where you can #getfishing!

Some of the above content is taken from the new book, Get Fishing – the ‘how to’ guide to Coarse, Sea and Fly Fishing by Allan Sefton published by Merlin Unwin Books. This colourful, lively book is aimed at complete beginners of all ages, those who have been out fishing a couple of times and want to take it further and families of all abilities. It’s also packed with top-tips and info that make it useful for more experienced anglers too. Find out more about, and purchase a copy of the book here.

Header image thanks to David Overland and text reproduced with permission and © Merlin Unwin Books.