Fish

European flounder

Platija

Platichthys flesus

SaltwaterBrackishFreshwater

At a glance

Typical size

10–16 in, under 2 lb.

Depth

1–80 ft.

Best time

Day and night.

Found in

10 areas

Spot it, size it up and learn its habits.

Identification: A brown to greenish flatfish (usually right-eyed) with a white underside, rough bony knobs along the base of the dorsal and anal fins and behind the head, and sometimes faint orange spots. Plaice look similar but are smooth and have bright orange spots.
Typical size: 10–16 in, under 2 lb.
Maximum size: About 2 ft and up to about 6 lb.
Diet: Worms, shrimp, small crabs and cockles.
Behavior: The only European flatfish that swims far up rivers into fresh water; feeds on the mud flats on the rising tide.

Where, when and how deep to look.

Where to find it: Found from United Kingdom & Ireland, France, Northern & Central Europe, Scandinavia & Iceland (Norway, Sweden, Denmark), Spain & Portugal (Azores, Madeira & Canaries), Italy & Malta, Greece & the Adriatic, Black Sea & Caspian, Russia, Mongolia & Kazakhstan and Morocco & West Africa. Estuaries, harbors, sandy beaches and lower rivers from Norway and the Baltic to Morocco, the Mediterranean and the Black Sea.
Habitat: Estuaries, harbors, sandy beaches and lower rivers from Norway and the Baltic to Morocco, the Mediterranean and the Black Sea.
Depth: 1–80 ft.
Fishing depth: On the bottom.
Best season: Autumn and winter in UK estuaries; spring and autumn in the Baltic.
Best time: Day and night.
Best tides: The flood tide over the mud flats and the first of the ebb.
Best weather / conditions: Calm, settled days.

What to tie on and what to throw.

The rod, reel, line and lures BigJoe would use.

Also at Bass Pro Shops: Rod Reel Line Rig Weight Hooks Bait

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Step by step, from first cast to landing.

Go where it lives: Estuaries, harbors, sandy beaches and lower rivers from Norway and the Baltic to Morocco, the Mediterranean and the Black Sea.
Rig up: Light beach or estuary rod with a 4000 reel. 15–20 lb flapper rig, often with beads or a spoon.
Pick your bait: Peeler crab, ragworm, lugworm and mussels. Lures: Baited spoons dragged slowly over the bottom.
Fish it: Cast crab or worm baits into estuary channels and let the tide roll them along the bottom.
Time it: Day and night. The flood tide over the mud flats and the first of the ebb.

Fishing techniques: Cast crab or worm baits into estuary channels and let the tide roll them along the bottom.
BigJoe's tip: Flounders love colored beads and a small spoon above the hook; the flash draws them in.
Catch and release: Catch and release: wet your hands, keep the fish in the water when you can, and release it quickly. Use circle hooks and a dehooker.

Is it good to eat, and how to prepare it.

Edibility: Good eating when fresh.
Cleaning: Bleed and ice it right away. Fillet, then remove the skin and any dark bloodline.
Cooking suggestions: Mild white fillets, good fried or baked; smoked flounder is popular on the Baltic coast.

Safety, rules and taking care of the fishery.

Safety warnings: Harmless.
Regulations: Minimum sizes apply (around 25–27 cm in many areas). In the Baltic there are local seasons. Every country sets its own rules: sea fishing licenses or registration in some countries, a national or regional license plus a local permit for fresh water, and minimum sizes everywhere. Check before you fish.
Conservation: Keep only fish above the minimum size.

Tap an area to open its fishing map.

Sources & photo credits