Winter flounder

Right-eyed flounder (eyes on the right side) with a small mouth, thick body and smooth reddish-brown to dark skin; the blind side is white.

1–2 lb (12–16 in).

About 25 in and 8 lb.

Small fish such as sand eels, silversides and killifish, plus squid, shrimp, crabs and worms.

Lies buried on sandy or muddy bottom and ambushes food that drifts past.

Found from Delaware & New Jersey, New York, Long Island & Connecticut, Rhode Island & Massachusetts and New Hampshire & Maine. Mud and sand bottom in harbors, coves, back bays and channels; moves offshore in summer south of Cape Cod.

Mud and sand bottom in harbors, coves, back bays and channels; moves offshore in summer south of Cape Cod.

5–30 ft in spring inshore.

On the bottom: 5–30 ft in bays and inlets, 40–100 ft on ocean lumps and wrecks.

Early spring (March–April) in the bays, when they come out of the mud; again in late fall.

Daylight on a moving tide.

A steady drift on a moving tide is best; slack water slows the bite.

Light wind for a slow, steady drift.

Sandworms, bloodworms, clams and mussels on small long-shank hooks, with a chum pot of crushed mussels on the bottom.

Not usually caught on lures.

7 ft medium spinning or conventional rod.

#6–#10 long-shank Chestertown or Pacific Bass hooks.

15–30 lb braid.

20–30 lb fluorocarbon, 2–3 ft.

Anchor in a cove or channel edge, chum the bottom, and fish a spreader rig with small baits; they bite softly.

Stir up the mud with your sinker — winter flounder come to the cloud looking for food.

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.

Excellent eating — one of the best-tasting fish in its range.

Bleed and ice it right away. Fillet, then remove the skin and any dark bloodline.

Delicate, sweet, thin fillets — sauté in butter or fry lightly.

Sharp teeth — use pliers to unhook.

The southern New England / Mid-Atlantic stock is low, so seasons and limits are tight; the Gulf of Maine stock has its own rules. Check your state. Saltwater licenses and limits are set by each state (VMRC, NJ Fish & Wildlife, NYS DEC, CT DEEP, RI DEM, MA DMF, NH Fish & Game, Maine DMR) and by NOAA Fisheries and the Atlantic States Marine Fisheries Commission — check the current rules for your state before you keep fish.

Keep only what you'll eat, release the rest quickly, and follow size and bag limits.