How to Bait a Hook for a Flounder

Found most often in bays and inlets along the coastal regions of the Atlantic and Pacific oceans, flounder are a large family of flat fish that include fluke, halibut and sole. As bottom feeders the flounder's diet consists mostly of fish eggs and small bait fish such as minnows and anchovies. Aside from halibut, which are more aggressive feeders, most members of the flounder family tend to be more cautious when feeding, requiring hooks baited in a way so the fish cannot feel the metal.

Things You'll Need

  • 3/0 double swivel
  • 30-lb. test fishing line
  • 20-lb. test monofilament leader
  • 3/0 snap swivel
  • 3/0 fishing hook
  • 1/2-oz. split-shot sinker
  • Baitfish
  • Forceps
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Instructions

    • 1

      Tie a 3/0 double swivel to the end of a 30-lb. test fishing line. Tie a 2-foot, 20-lb. test monofilament leader to a 3/0 snap swivel. Snap the swivel on the leader to the free end of the double swivel attached to the fishing line. Tie a 3/0 fishing hook to the tag end of the leader. Tie all line and leader connections with triple half-hitch knots. Pinch a 1/2-oz split-shot sinker to the leader, 18 inches from the hook.

    • 2

      Hook a minnow, anchovy or other live baitfish through the inside of the mouth. Hold the fishhook with forceps. Push the hook as far back into the bait fish's mouth as possible, without entering the throat. Push the point of the hook down and out of the mouth -- through the fish's jaws. Run the hook back up through the jaw from the outside until the barb of the hook is embedded into the jaw, with just the point of the hook sticking out through the inside of the mouth.

    • 3

      Cast the bait into areas around structure, such as reefs or piers, with sandy or muddy bottoms.

      Except for halibut, when are commonly caught in waters up to 80 feet deep, most species of flounder are usually found in less than 30 feet of water. Allow the bait to drift with the current.

    • 4

      Set the hook lightly. Most species of flounder hold their prey gently, tending to turn the bait over before taking it fully in their mouth. Be patient and wait 20 to 30 seconds after a strike before setting the hook.