Catching HUGE flounder in deep water
Today I'd like to talk about targeting the really big ones in the section of ship channel between a bay system and the Gulf. Shrimpers who drag these areas can validate this by the amount of big flounder bycatch that ends up in their nets there. Now after some experimentation, I can say with certainty anglers can catch trophy flounder by targeting these areas. (Those of you who want to participate in our online catch and release flounder tourney take note!)
As noted in my book Flounder Fever, "Targeting these deep-water flatfish requires electronics because there are no openly visual markers to go by. Underwater however, there are plenty of signs that point to possible flounder "holds" or areas where they congregate."
"The ideal "hold" is a small spot or shelf on the edge of a steep drop-off. This "hold" might be a 20 square foot area in 15 feet of water that borders a 30-foot drop-off. In most situations the 15 feet zone would gradually get shallower as you move toward bank, but then drop off suddenly into the main channel."
Flounder on a ledge. Photo courtesy NOAA
Such places provide a zone where flounder can feed on baitfish that might also be attracted to this spot and it provides them with a place to trade between the deeper main channel and the shallower shoreline.
I know of one guy who fishes areas like this in Sabine Pass all the time and will have three or four rods set out with live mud minnows. He doesn't drag anything. He is so confident of flounder moving onto these ledges he just leaves them on the bottom and waits for the flounder to come to him. And I have seen his stringers. He is doing something right.
Have any of you had luck in these kinds of areas? Let us know your favorite deep water tactics.
What your saying here is true. There are a few places along the ship channel going to Sabine Pass that are amazing for flounder. The only problem I have is water clarity. I don't do well in really murky water. Has that been the experience for everyone?
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Thanks for writing this, it's very informative. I'm so addicted to sight fishing it's hard for me to fish deep water, but I know of a couple of places in the Aransas Pass area that are very similar, and I intend to give them a try.
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