UTERFlounder fishing in The Treasure Coast
In The Treasure Coast, flounder peak April and October–November and are around year-round, spawning in November, according to Fish Scouter's month-by-month season calendar. November: The Sebastian and Fort Pierce flounder run on the outgoing.
Peak mullet run; reds and trout in the lagoon; flounder at the inlets. Follow the mullet down the beach; reds and trout feed on the lagoon flats as the water cools; flounder stage on the inlet sand.
Flounder in The Treasure Coast, month by month
- JanuaryAround
- FebruaryAround
- MarchArriving
- AprilPeak
- MayAround
- JuneAround
- JulyAround
- AugustAround
- SeptemberAround
- OctoberPeakPeak mullet run; reds and trout in the lagoon; flounder at the inlets. Follow the mullet down the beach; reds and trout feed on the lagoon flats as the water cools; flounder stage on the inlet sand.
- NovemberSpawningThe Sebastian and Fort Pierce flounder run on the outgoing.
- DecemberAround
Where to fish flounder near Boca Raton, Jupiter, Stuart
The inlets and the Intracoastal behind them, the southern Indian River Lagoon's grass flats and spoil islands, the St. Lucie and Loxahatchee rivers, the beaches, and a reef line that comes within a mile of the sand from Jupiter south.
Fish Scouter charts 349 dock / pilings, 48 beach / surf, 7 pass / inlet spots in the Palm Beach & the Treasure Coast map area — the kinds flounder hold on.
What to use for flounder
- Mud minnows (killifish)Lip-hooked on a jig head or a 1/0 hook dragged along the bottom — the flounder bait.
- Finger mulletLip-hooked on a 2/0 to 4/0 circle hook and free-lined, or on a fish-finder rig in the surf. Cut mullet on the bottom for redfish and drum.
- Live shrimpUnder a popping cork or free-lined, hooked under the horn on a #1 to 2/0 circle hook; on a jig head for the bottom. The universal inshore bait.
- PinfishHooked through the back ahead of the dorsal on a 2/0 to 4/0 circle hook; the small ones free-lined, the big ones on a fish-finder rig.
- Leader20–30 lb fluorocarbon
- Hook1/0–2/0
- Jig head1/4–1/2 oz
- Braid10–20 lb
Feeds in 54–82°F water, best at 60–75°F.
Questions anglers ask
When is the best time to catch flounder in The Treasure Coast?
Peak season is April and October–November, with fish spawning in November (often a closed or catch-and-release window — check the rule). Flounder are here year-round. November: The Sebastian and Fort Pierce flounder run on the outgoing.
Where do flounder hold in The Treasure Coast?
Look on channel edge, dock / pilings, pass / inlet, beach / surf — around Boca Raton, Jupiter, Stuart, Fort Pierce, Vero Beach, Sebastian.
What is the best bait for flounder in The Treasure Coast?
Live bait: mud minnows (killifish), finger mullet, live shrimp, pinfish. Mud minnows (killifish): Lip-hooked on a jig head or a 1/0 hook dragged along the bottom — the flounder bait. Tackle: leader 20–30 lb fluorocarbon, hook 1/0–2/0, jig head 1/4–1/2 oz, braid 10–20 lb.
What are the rules for flounder in The Treasure Coast?
Size and bag limits and closed seasons are set by the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission (FWC) and change — read the current rule at https://myfwc.com/fishing/saltwater/recreational/ before you keep a fish. A licence is sold at https://myfwc.com/license/recreational/.
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All about flounder · Palm Beach & the Treasure Coast, the whole year