What is a good flounder setup with mud minnows I intend to fish around docks. Also are flounder in the flats?
carolina rig fished vertically butt lift it a bit off the bottom so the bait swims around freely works fine for me, but ive also been doing good off piers just casting and dragging a white paddletail on the bottoom then jigging it a bit when its straight below me. got one the other day that was 16" and usually get one most every time i go out for a bit too…theyre around!
You should also try a red or white lead head jig with a live mud minnow. Just move it along the bottom slowly and let it stop every now and then. The minnow will provide all the action you need. Gulp natural shrimp or a white ‘money minnow’ will also work on a jig for flounder. Don’t forget to fish in the really shallow spots as well. You’d be surprised at how shallow those guys will hang. I fish with a carolina rig with a 1/0 circle hook and 18" 40 lb. flourocarbon. As NavyNuke says, that is an excellent rig as well. If you plan on trolling, you might want to add a chrome spinner above the hook and a white bucktail with the hook. I’ve tried the ‘store bought’ flounder rigs but my methods seem to work better for me. White for flounder seems to be the magic color with smoke-metalflake coming in second. Good luck.
PioneerLouie
Pioneer Venture 175, Johnson 90
Summerville, SC
louie is right on the shallow spots. my best flounder so far was in 2 feet or less of water right near the pier pilings and many more in about 3 feet if even that. if possible try tossing a jig under the dock too and yes a majority of my flatties are on white. another thing ive tried with success is use a 3" white twister tail on the bottom like a paddletail. much smaller than the paddletails so it fits in their mouth better and you dont lose as many fish…plus at least for me it seems i get twice as many hits from trout with smaller jigs than the paddletails if you didnt mind a few of those. once in a while a nice red rips the smaller jig too.
I forget exactly what they’re called, but look for the jig heads that “stand up” on the bottom. Awesome for pitching mudminnows to flounder (or anything else) around structure. If I was targeting flounder, I’d use that or a basic carolina rig. And I also vote for white or red/white grubs - don’t know why, but they love it!
Was taught growing up that the “Kahle” style hooks were the ticket for flounder but honestly I haven’t noticed much difference between them and the standard Owner SSW bait hooks that are my default. Never tried circle hooks, but thats a good idea, I might! But I’ve caught them just about everywhere, on every kind of rig. Biggest flounder I’ve ever “caught” was in a cast net at the Bushy Park boat ramp!
Angler 204 FX
Yamaha 150
I have been concentrating on catching flounder in Charleston. Not a lot of success yet looking for some one to go with. I have a fishing kayak. I have no problem catching them in Murrells inlet area seems to be different habits for them south of Winyah. Just yesterday my buddy finally had some success on jig with mud minnow. When drifting for them i use a tri barrell swivel main line to one loop. 1 ounce weight with snap on 2nd loop and 18in leader with flounder hook on third. Mud minnow through the lips. piece of squid with minnow helps also. If you want someone to go with let me know.