Flounder fishing from a dock can be one of the most relaxing and rewarding methods of fishing there is. Flounder are ambush predators, meaning they find a good place to hide and wait for food to come to them, only moving small amounts at a time. Using they ambush nature against them can lead to some highly successful fishing in a very relaxing environment.
Equipment
Flounder fishing from a dock in Florida does not require any high tech or high price equipment. Any saltwater combo that can handle 10lb test line or higher will work for just about any sized flounder. A rod of around 6′ or under is recommended as many docs have roofs overhead and long rods are difficult to deal with under a roof.
For terminal tackle, a light wire 2-4/0 circle hook on a 12-20″ 15lb fluorocarbon leader attached to the main line with a swivel works best for flounder. Above the swivel place a glass bead and an egg sinker just heavy enough to hold bottom in the current being fished.
If using an artificial lure, one of the most effective is Berkeley Gulp Alive Shrimp. Use a jig head that is heavy enough to get to the bottom in the current but not so heavy the lure feels unnatural to the fish. IF using monofilament or fluorocarbon line there is no need for a leader, but if using braid, a 12-20″ leader of 12lb fluorocarbon works well.
Technique
The first thing to consider is where the founder are. They are ambush predators, so they will tend to set up in an area where a food source will pass by. Look for Flounder just down current from good structure, in almost any depth. Flounder of decent sizes have been known to hold in less than 6″ of water, so don’t only pay attention to the depths.
Live Bait Soaking for Flounder
Once a potential location has been identified, if you have to cast to get in the strike zone, cast about 30-40 feet past the area and slowly bump your bait along the bottom until it reaches the intended location. Let it sit! A Flounder will often have a very subtle bite, and sometimes is not even noticed. If you do not notice a bite in 10 minutes, retrieve your bait and try again (often there will be a flounder on your line that ate your bait and just stayed still)
Live Bait Bumping
Another highly effective method of catching Flounder is to bump live bait off the bottom in a VERY slow retrieve. Using a fan cast technique (multiple casts in an arch from left to right that cover 180 degrees of area in front of you), cast your bait (finger mullet or mud minnows work best of this, rigged through the lips) as far as reasonable. Using a VERY slow retrieve, lift the tip of your rod slightly before every turn of the handle. This will cause your sinker to bump the bottom, alerting fish to the presence of your bait. Once a bite is detected, DO NOT set the hook. Allow the Flounder about 10 seconds to get the bait in its mouth, and then lift the rod up and start to pull it in!
Lure Bumping
Lure Bumping for Flounder is a very similar technique to Live Bait Bumping. The main difference is the amount of time allowed before hook set. Because many lures do not feel or taste like live bait Flounder will often spit them out quick, so those baits the hook must be set much quicker. When using Berkeley Gulp Shrimp (or similar lures) you can allow the fish 5-10 seconds as the bait feels and tastes like a live fish.
Now get out there and catch some flounder from one of Florida’s many docks!