Southern Flounder

FL Southern Flounder Fishing Guide

FLSaltwater
FishingParalichthys lethostigmaFlorida2026
  • Bottom-oriented flatfish with both eyes on the left side
  • May have five or more dark spots and blotches on the body, but spots are not eyelike
  • Strong canine-like teeth
  • Wedge-shaped tail, its tip in the middle

Similar Species: Gulf flounder, P. albigutta (has only three prominent eyelike spots); summer flounder, P. dentatus (have 5 or more ocellated or eyelike spots on the body)

Size: Common to 20 inches

Habitat & Range

Brackish bays and estuaries, sometimes ranging into tidal creeks and freshwater.

Life History

Right eye migrates over to left side early in life.

A bottom-dweller thought to spawn offshore.

Mostly feeds on small fishes.

Ability to camouflage by changing colors to match their surrounding habitat and avoid predators.

References