Texas Gulf Coast Fishing

Gulf Flounder

GULF FLOUNDER Paralichthys albigutta

The Gulf Flounder is one member of a large family of distinctive benthic flatfishes that inhabit continental shore waters in the tropical and temperate zones of the Atlantic, Pacific and Indian oceans. Flatfishes such as flounders are unlike most other fishes in that they begin life as bilateral animals, swimming similarly to other fishes.

Description: The Gulf Flounder is a left-eye flounder, thus it lies on its right side. Body color in this species is brown overall, and can vary in shade depending on the color of the substratum. There are numerous splotches and spots on the upper surface of the body, with 3 ocellated (eye-like) spots prominent: 2 are posterior to the pectoral fin, and 1 is located inside the base of the tail. Together, these form a triangle on the body surface. Teeth are strong and canine-like. The blindside is white or dusky.
Distribution: The Gulf Flounder occurs from North Carolina south through Florida and the Gulf of Mexico to Texas. Its range is very similar to that of the Southern Flounder. It rarely enters waters of reduced salinities, and never enters fresh water.
Habits: Similar to Southern Flounder, adult Gulf Flounder leave the bays during the fall for spawning in the Gulf of Mexico. The young fish along with the adults in the Gulf will re-enter the bays in the spring. Most studies indicate that the Gulf Flounder prefers a hard and/or sandy substrate. The contrasting relative abundance of Southern verses Gulf Flounder in the eastern Gulf of Mexico probably reflects this habitat preference.
Size: Adults usually average about 2 lbs.