Flounder species guide • Sea fish • Very easy (2/10)

Flounder junior fishing guide

Platichthys flesus

A clear, plain-English guide to flounder for parents, coaches and juniors. See where they live, the best starter tackle, simple bait choices and a three-step plan to help young anglers catch their first one safely.

🎣 View starter tackle setups 📋 Log a Flounder catch
Junior-first & welfare-aware • 3-step beginner plan • UK venues & seasons
Skill & size • Seasons • Beginner baits

Skill level

Very easy (2/10)

Perfect for first-ever fishing trips with young juniors.

Best time

Spring–Autumn

Pick mild, settled days for junior sessions.

Typical size

8 oz – 2 lb common.

Always match hooks, nets & lines to expected fish size.

Flounder

Beginner baits

Black lugworm, Blow lugworm, Cockles …

Keep it simple — small hook baits, little-and-often feeding.

Typical venues: Estuaries, harbours
Scroll down for detailed tackle setups, methods and parent-friendly guidance.
Catch your first flounder with confidence

Catch your first Flounder in 3 steps

A simple, repeatable plan juniors can follow with help from a parent, coach or older angler.

  1. Step 1

    Fish estuary mudflats and creeks safely

    Flounder inhabit muddy estuaries and channels. Always keep juniors on firm, known-safe ground and avoid deep gutters or soft mud.

  2. Step 2

    Simple running ledger with worm baits

    Use a light running ledger or two-hook rig with ragworm or lugworm baits, cast into channels or along the edges of banks.

  3. Step 3

    Gently unhook and release in the shallows

    Flounder can be unhooked in a shallow tray or the edge of the tide. Let juniors watch them bury or glide off over the sand.

Tackle setups that work

Designed with juniors and fish welfare in mind. Start with an IDEAL or GOOD setup for easier casting and safe unhooking.

👉 Swipe sideways to view different setups.

Beachcaster

Beginner tip: Teach safe casting with no one behind, and keep juniors away from the waterline in rough conditions.

IDEAL

Rod: 12–13 ft beachcaster or surf rod (4–6 oz rating).

Reel: 6000–8000 size fixed spool reel or medium multiplier.

Line: 15–18 lb mono with 40–60 lb shockleader.

Terminal tackle

  • ["Two-hook flapper or clipped-down rig"
  • "Size 1–2/0 hooks depending on target"
  • "Grip leads in strong tide"]

Extras

  • ["Rod rest"
  • "Headtorch"
  • "Disgorger and long-nose pliers"]

Standard beach / surf setup for flatfish, whiting and general shore fishing.

Surf Rod

Beginner tip: Teach safe casting with no one behind, and keep juniors away from the waterline in rough conditions.

IDEAL

Rod: 12–13 ft beachcaster or surf rod (4–6 oz rating).

Reel: 6000–8000 size fixed spool reel or medium multiplier.

Line: 15–18 lb mono with 40–60 lb shockleader.

Terminal tackle

  • ["Two-hook flapper or clipped-down rig"
  • "Size 1–2/0 hooks depending on target"
  • "Grip leads in strong tide"]

Extras

  • ["Rod rest"
  • "Headtorch"
  • "Disgorger and long-nose pliers"]

Standard beach / surf setup for flatfish, whiting and general shore fishing.

About the Flounder

Flounders are estuary flatfish that move far upriver into brackish and even fresh water. They are ideal winter targets for juniors on sheltered muddy banks and beaches.

Junior tip

Use simple running ledger rigs with worm baits and short casts along the estuary edge. Flounders often give gentle, nodding bites.

Logged a Flounder recently?

Add a catch report so juniors can see where they’re being caught, which baits work and how your tackle was set up.

Submit a catch report

Want to discover more species? Browse the full species guide.

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