Fish

Brazilian flounder (linguado)

Lenguado (linguado)

Paralichthys orbignyanus

SaltwaterBrackish

At a glance

Typical size

2–6 lb.

Depth

3–60 ft.

Best time

Moving tides, day.

Found in

2 areas

Spot it, size it up and learn its habits.

Identification: Big, left-eyed flounder (both eyes on the left side) with a brown top side covered in pale and dark spots, a large mouth with sharp teeth, and a white underside.
Typical size: 2–6 lb.
Maximum size: About 32 in and over 10 lb.
Diet: Small fish, shrimp and crabs.
Behavior: Lies buried in sand or mud and ambushes prey; moves into estuaries and lagoons.

Where, when and how deep to look.

Where to find it: Found from Southern Brazil, Uruguay & Argentina and Southeast Brazil. Beaches, estuaries and coastal lagoons from Rio de Janeiro to the Buenos Aires coast, including Lagoa dos Patos and the Río de la Plata.
Habitat: Beaches, estuaries and coastal lagoons from Rio de Janeiro to the Buenos Aires coast, including Lagoa dos Patos and the Río de la Plata.
Depth: 3–60 ft.
Fishing depth: 3–20 ft.
Best season: Spring and summer.
Best time: Moving tides, day.
Best tides: Moving tide.
Best weather / conditions: Calm, clear water.

What to tie on and what to throw.

Best bait: Live small fish and shrimp.
Best artificial lures: Soft plastics and bucktail jigs dragged on the bottom.
Tackle setup: Medium spinning rod.
Hook size: 1/0–3/0.
Line: 15–20 lb braid.
Leader: 20–30 lb fluorocarbon.

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

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Step by step, from first cast to landing.

Go where it lives: Beaches, estuaries and coastal lagoons from Rio de Janeiro to the Buenos Aires coast, including Lagoa dos Patos and the Río de la Plata.
Rig up: Medium spinning rod. 20–30 lb fluorocarbon.
Pick your bait: Live small fish and shrimp. Lures: Soft plastics and bucktail jigs dragged on the bottom.
Fish it: Drift or slowly retrieve live bait or soft plastics over sandy channels and estuary mouths.
Time it: Moving tides, day. Moving tide.

Fishing techniques: Drift or slowly retrieve live bait or soft plastics over sandy channels and estuary mouths.
BigJoe's tip: Give the fish a few seconds to turn the bait before setting the hook.
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: Excellent eating — one of the best-tasting fish in its range.
Cleaning: Bleed and ice it right away. Fillet, then remove the skin and any dark bloodline.
Cooking suggestions: Sweet, white, firm meat — one of the best fish of the region, fried, baked or in ceviche.

Safety, rules and taking care of the fishery.

Safety warnings: Sharp teeth.
Regulations: Brazil, Uruguay and Argentina set sizes and limits; check local rules. Brazil requires the amateur fishing license (Licença de Pesca Amadora); Argentina's coastal provinces and Uruguay set their own sport fishing rules. Several species have minimum sizes, bag limits or closed seasons — check local rules before you keep fish.
Conservation: A prized fish; follow size limits.

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Sources & photo credits