Range: Throughout sandy bottomed bays and inlets around Nova Scotia
Common caught Size: 12" - 24" (head to tail)
Eating Size: 14 Inches +
Record: Unknown
Bag Limit: Classified as Groundfish (5-10 depending on location) see here
Season: No closed season. Can be caught August - March

Appearance: Flounder are bottom-dwelling creatures which use their flattened shape and ability to change coloration and pattern on the eyed side of their bodies to partially burrow in the sediment, lie in ambush and wait for their prey. They are efficient predators with quick movements and well-developed teeth allowing them to capture small fishes, squid, seaworms, shrimp, and other crustaceans.

Winter flounder are larger than the summer flounder and usually are lighter in overall colour than the darker, smaller summer flounder. Winter flounder are also called witch flounder in Nova Scotia.

Angling: Although flounder can be caught from shore, fishing is usually best from a boat in 8 feet or more of water during the summer over a sandy/muddy bottom. This is especially true when water temperatures climb during the summer as the fish seek the cooler depths.

Commonly used baits are clams, clam worms, and worms; artificial lures that imitate these items are also effective although the majority of anglers use live bait. A line is generally rigged with two leaders on a vertical spreader so that one hook is fished on or near the bottom, while the second is held about 1 foot off the bottom. If an artificial lure is used in combination with bait, it is attached to the upper leader so it stays off the bottom and can move realistically in the current. A sinker of sufficient size must be used so the line stays on the bottom even when there is a strong tidal flow. See Dragging Up Flounder

Unless flounder are known to be in a certain area, it is usually best to drift for them, thereby covering a large area. Likely spots to try include places with rough or irregular bottoms, in or near inlets, and around wharves, breakwaters, and jetties. Food is abundant in these locations. If you are fishing in one spot, it helps to jig the line up and down so the bait does not lie motionless on the bottom, as Flounder (and other flatfish) are often attracted by movement.