Flounder
From Freepedia
Winter flounder
Flounder are flatfish that inhabit ocean waters in Northern European waters and along the east coast of the United States and Canada. Flounder lie on their left sides on the ocean floor; in adulthood, both eyes are situated on the right, upward-facing side of its body, and are aligned along a roughly 70° angle. Flounder sizes typically vary from five to fifteen inches, though they sometimes grow as long as two feet in length. Their breadth is about one-half of their length. The flounder feeding ground is the soft mud of the sea bottom, near bridge spiles, docks, and other bottom incumbrances; they are sometimes found on bass grounds as well. Their diet consists of fish spawn, mussels and insects.
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Fishing and cooking
Flounder fishing is best in spring and autumn. Flounder may be caught in summer, but the meat will be soft and unpleasant for eating. Flounder will bite at almost anything used for fish bait, including any kind of tackle. Use a small hook; No. 8 being the recommended size. Flounder are an excellent pan fish, but they should be cooked as soon as possible after being caught.
Flounder Tramping
The Grande Internationale World Flounder Tramping Championships take place at Palnackie, Scotland, usually in the last week of July or first week in August each year. Competitors brave the mud flats of the estuary of the Urr Water in sun or rain to try and catch the heaviest fish, or the largest catch, or even the smallest fish for prize money and a trophy. Fish are caught by walking across the mud and trapping them below the competitors foot. Leisters which are traditional 3 pronged spears are no longer permitted to aid capture.
Flounder families
The fishes in the following families are called flounders. All the families belong to the order Pleuronectiformes, the flatfish.
- Achiropsettidae (Southern flounders)
- Bothidae (Lefteye flounders)
- Pleuronectidae (Righteye flounders)
